HTML to PDF in Claude Code

Convert HTML or any public URL to PDF from Claude Code with the html-pdf.com remote MCP server. Run one command to connect, then just ask Claude.

Quick answer: run claude mcp add --transport http html-pdf https://html-pdf.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer $HTML_PDF_KEY", then ask Claude "Render invoice.html to a PDF".

Get an API key

You need a key before you connect. Sign up with one call and copy the api_key from the response (it is shown once). Then open the link we email you to confirm your address. That adds 100 free credits, and 1 credit = 1 PDF page.

curl -X POST https://html-pdf.com/v1/signup \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email": "you@example.com"}'

You can also get a key by email at https://html-pdf.com/login. Then export it:

export HTML_PDF_KEY=hp_live_...

Connect

This step adds the remote MCP server (Streamable HTTP) to Claude Code. There is nothing to install and no npx.

claude mcp add --transport http html-pdf https://html-pdf.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $HTML_PDF_KEY"

Run /mcp inside Claude Code to check that html-pdf is connected. You get four tools: html_to_pdf, url_to_pdf, get_credits, and buy_credits.

No key yet? Add the server without the header and Claude Code opens an html-pdf.com login in your browser. New accounts get 100 free credits.

Try it

Once connected, you just ask in plain words. You don't write any code. For example:

• "Render invoice.html in this repo to an A4 PDF with 15mm margins and page numbers in the footer."
• "Make a PDF of https://example.com in landscape Letter, using screen styles."
• "Turn the README into a styled PDF report and give me the download link. How many html-pdf credits do I have left?"

The tool returns a download link valid for 24 hours, the page count and your remaining credits.

Tips

These requests help you get cleaner PDFs and repeatable builds.

• Page breaks: ask Claude to add break-before: page before each section and break-inside: avoid on tables and cards.
• Page numbers: footers use <span class="pageNumber"></span> and <span class="totalPages"></span>. Ask for a margin too, or the footer has no room.
• Guard against runaway documents: tell Claude to set max_pages (for example 10). If the PDF would be longer, the render fails and costs nothing.
• Scripts in your repo: for repeatable builds, ask Claude to write a script that calls POST https://html-pdf.com/v1/pdf directly with "response": "url" or the binary response.

Troubleshooting

Most issues come from an empty key variable or pages that need more time to load.

• html-pdf shows as failed in /mcp: check that $HTML_PDF_KEY was set in the shell where you ran claude mcp add. The header value is stored as you typed it, so re-add the server if the variable was empty.
• insufficient_credits (402): ask Claude to call buy_credits. It returns a Stripe payment link. Purchased credits never expire.
• 403 email_not_confirmed: the email behind the key isn't confirmed yet. Click the link we emailed you (it adds the 100 free credits), then try again.
• Blank or half-rendered page from a URL: the page needs JavaScript time. Ask for wait_delay of 2 to 3 seconds. Pages behind a login won't work, so send their HTML instead.

FAQ

How do I add a PDF MCP server to Claude Code?

Run claude mcp add --transport http html-pdf https://html-pdf.com/mcp with an Authorization: Bearer header holding your key. Then check it with /mcp.

Do I need to install anything locally?

No. html-pdf.com is a remote MCP server, so there is no npx, Chrome or Puppeteer to install. Rendering happens on our servers.

Is there a free tier?

Yes. Every new account gets 100 free credits once you confirm your email, with no card. 1 credit = 1 PDF page, and failed renders cost nothing.

Does it support page numbers?

Yes. Use <span class="pageNumber"></span> and <span class="totalPages"></span> in the footer and set a bottom margin so the footer has room.

Full reference: API docs · MCP server