If CSS Grid columns disappear in a PDF, first identify the renderer and its deployed version. A browser showing the layout correctly does not prove that the HTML-to-PDF engine supports the same Grid features. Then check whether the converter receives the intended print CSS, test a minimal grid with explicit columns, and isolate page-break behavior.
Why CSS Grid columns disappear in a PDF
“HTML to PDF” describes a conversion task, not a single rendering engine. Different products may use Chromium, another browser engine, or a separate layout engine, and their CSS Grid support can differ. Check the engine actually used by the production conversion path—not just the browser used to preview the page. A renderer comparison updated September 23, 2026, contrasts Chrome headless, wkhtmltopdf, WeasyPrint, and Prince, but it is secondary guidance; verify behavior against the relevant engine and your own output. WeasyPrint is one example of an engine whose Grid support depends on both version and feature.
Identify the PDF renderer and version
Record the binary or library, container image, hosted service, and version used by the failing conversion. A wrapper’s product name may not reveal which engine renders the document. Reproduce the issue in the deployed runtime when possible; a local conversion with a different version is not a reliable comparison.
For WeasyPrint, CSS Grid support was introduced in version 62.0, released April 30, 2024. Version 62.2, released June 4, 2024, added support for grid-auto-flow: column along with Grid fixes. Those release facts make the precise version important; they do not mean every Grid feature works in every release. See the WeasyPrint release history.
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Confirm the intended stylesheet reaches the converter
Check that the HTML sent to the converter includes or successfully loads the stylesheet containing display: grid and grid-template-columns. Then inspect print-specific rules, later declarations, and overrides that could change the container to another display mode or replace its tracks.
Compare the CSS the PDF renderer actually receives with the browser’s computed styling. WeasyPrint documents user-agent, author, and user stylesheet origins; by default, author stylesheets take priority over user stylesheets. A user stylesheet does not automatically override the page’s author CSS unless its rules are given higher priority, such as with !important. See the WeasyPrint stable API reference.
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Test a minimal grid, then add complexity
Reduce the document to one container and two short children. Use explicit tracks first:
.pdf-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 12px;
}Render that small case with the same engine and version as the failing job. If it works, reintroduce the original CSS in stages: track patterns, content-sized tracks, named lines, item placement, nested grids, and finally page breaks. The first stage that fails narrows the cause to a declaration or interaction worth investigating.
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WeasyPrint’s documented feature boundaries
WeasyPrint’s stable reference describes Grid as working for simple cases with limitations. It lists display: grid, grid-template-*, fr, minmax(), gaps, and grid areas among supported features. It lists or leaves untested features including display: inline-grid, subgrids, repeat(auto-fill, *), repeat(auto-fit, *), and fragmentation within rows. This list is specific to WeasyPrint, not a universal support table for every PDF renderer. Check the corresponding documentation for your engine. WeasyPrint’s Grid reference says the module works for simple cases but has limitations.
Check whether page breaks trigger the failure
Make two test PDFs: one short enough to fit on a single page, and another long enough to cross a page boundary. If the first retains its columns but the second does not, investigate fragmentation and page-break interactions before changing the grid’s track sizing. WeasyPrint lists fragmentation between rows as supported, but fragmentation in rows as unsupported or untested; that is a renderer-specific caution, not a claim about all engines. The feature reference documents these distinctions.
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Choose a workaround based on the confirmed limitation
Once a minimal test shows which declaration fails, choose the smallest change that meets the document’s needs:
- Simplify the Grid declarations to features documented by the renderer you run.
- Use a different layout mechanism if the current engine does not support the required Grid behavior.
- Select another renderer only after testing its exact version against a representative document, including the pages and break points that matter.
A comparison updated September 23, 2026, reports different Grid behavior across Chrome headless, wkhtmltopdf, WeasyPrint, and Prince, including a lack of Grid support in wkhtmltopdf. Treat that vendor-published comparison as a starting point, not proof that a particular deployment will produce your required layout. Confirm with the chosen renderer’s documentation and a representative PDF. Prince is among the renderers discussed in that comparison.
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Troubleshoot common symptoms
| Symptom | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The browser has columns, but the PDF has one | Whether the PDF engine and version support the Grid declarations in use | Record the production renderer and test the explicit two-track example with it. |
| The minimal grid works, but the real layout does not | Advanced track patterns, item placement, nested grids, or a declaration overriding the container | Add original rules back one at a time and check the engine’s feature documentation. |
| Columns work on one page but fail across pages | Row fragmentation and page-break interactions | Compare a one-page PDF with a longer version that crosses a page boundary. |
| The grid rule seems to have no effect | Missing CSS, failed stylesheet loading, print styles, or cascade priority | Inspect the HTML and styles actually passed to the converter and identify the winning declaration. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a successful browser preview prove the PDF will preserve CSS Grid?
No. The browser and PDF conversion may use different rendering engines or versions, with different Grid support.
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WeasyPrint introduced CSS Grid support in version 62.0, released April 30, 2024; version 62.2 added support for grid-auto-flow: column.
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