HTML to PDF in n8n

Convert HTML or URLs to PDF in n8n workflows with the HTTP Request node and the html-pdf.com API. You get a binary PDF file or a 24h download link.

Quick answer. Add an HTTP Request node with these settings and run it. You get back a PDF download link.

• Method: POST
• URL: https://html-pdf.com/v1/pdf
• Header: Authorization = Bearer hp_live_...
• Body (JSON): {"html": "<h1>Hello</h1>", "response": "url"}

Get an API key

This step gives you a key. Get one by email at https://html-pdf.com/login, or with one call:

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

Then open the link we email you to confirm your address. That adds the 100 free credits. 1 credit = 1 PDF page, and no card is needed.

Connect

Here is the full node setup. Add an HTTP Request node:

• Method: POST
• URL: https://html-pdf.com/v1/pdf
• Authentication: Generic Credential Type → Header Auth. Set Name to Authorization and Value to Bearer hp_live_....
• Send Body: on. Body Content Type: JSON. Specify Body: Using JSON.

{
  "html": "<h1>Order {{ $json.orderId }}</h1><p>Total: {{ $json.total }}</p>",
  "format": "A4",
  "margin": "15mm",
  "filename": "order.pdf"
}

Your HTML may come from an earlier node and contain quotes or line breaks. In that case, build the body with an expression so it is escaped correctly.

{{ JSON.stringify({ html: $json.html, format: "A4", margin: "15mm" }) }}

Get the PDF as a file: under Options → Response, set Response Format to File. The PDF lands in the item's binary property data, ready for Gmail, Google Drive, S3 or Slack nodes.

Or get a link: add "response": "url" to the body and keep Response Format as JSON. You get {"url": "...", "pages": 1, "credits_remaining": 99, ...}. The link is valid for 24 hours.

For a web page, send {"url": "https://example.com"} instead of html.

Try it

These two workflows show common ways to use the node.

• Webhook → Code (build HTML invoice) → HTTP Request (PDF, Response Format File) → Gmail (attach data).
• Schedule → HTTP Request ({"url": "https://your-dashboard.example.com/report", "media": "screen"}) → Google Drive upload.

Tips

These settings help with layout, cost and monitoring.

• Page breaks: put <div style="break-before: page"></div> between sections in your HTML.
• Page numbers: add "footer_html": "<div style='font-size:9px;width:100%;text-align:center'><span class='pageNumber'></span> / <span class='totalPages'></span></div>" and a margin.
• Set max_pages so bad input never burns credits. Renders over the limit fail and cost nothing.
• Monitoring: turn on Include Response Headers and Status to read X-Pages and X-Credits-Remaining.

Troubleshooting

Most problems come from the response format or broken JSON.

• PDF shows up as garbled text: Response Format is still JSON or Autodetect. Set it to File.
• 400 invalid_json: your HTML broke the JSON. Use the JSON.stringify expression above.
• 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 run the workflow again.
• 402 insufficient_credits: top up at https://html-pdf.com/login. Credits never expire. Turn on Settings → On Error → Continue if you want to handle this in the workflow.

FAQ

Is there a free HTML to PDF node for n8n?

You can use the built-in HTTP Request node with html-pdf.com. New accounts get 100 free credits once, with no card, and each credit is one PDF page.

How do I get the PDF as a binary file in n8n?

Under Options → Response, set Response Format to File. The PDF is stored in the binary property data, which you can attach in Gmail or upload to Google Drive or S3.

Can I convert a URL to PDF in n8n?

Yes. Send {"url": "https://example.com"} in the body instead of html. The page must be publicly reachable.

Do credits expire?

No. Purchased credits never expire, and failed renders cost nothing. Packs start at $10 for 1,000 credits.

Full reference: API docs · MCP server