Chrome’s documented --headless --print-to-pdf command creates a PDF, but its command-line reference does not document switches for setting paper width or height. To control page size, use Puppeteer’s page.pdf() options or Chrome DevTools Protocol’s Page.printToPDF method. If the document’s print CSS should determine page geometry, declare it with @page and enable preferCSSPageSize.
Choose where to set the page size
Use the setting that matches who should control the PDF’s geometry:
| Approach | Set the size in | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| CSS-owned | Print stylesheet’s @page rule |
The document defines its intended paper size and margins. |
| Caller-owned | Puppeteer PDF options or CDP parameters | The rendering request chooses dimensions, including dynamically for different requests. |
With either API, preferCSSPageSize defaults to false. When false, content is scaled to fit the PDF paper size; set it to true when CSS @page dimensions should take priority over API-supplied dimensions. These controls are documented in the Puppeteer PDFOptions reference and the DevTools Protocol Page reference.
Set paper size with Puppeteer
Pass width and height to page.pdf(). Puppeteer accepts numbers or strings with units; strings such as 210mm make the intended units explicit.
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await page.pdf({
path: 'output.pdf',
width: '210mm',
height: '297mm',
preferCSSPageSize: false,
});This example selects A4 portrait dimensions directly and lets the options, rather than CSS, set the page size. If your CSS should be authoritative, define its size in an @page rule and change preferCSSPageSize to true. When setting dimensions directly, do not enable that preference unless CSS is intentionally meant to override them.
Use a named format instead
Puppeteer also provides the format option for supported standard paper formats. Use either a named format or explicit dimensions when selecting the page geometry; avoid relying on conflicting size settings. Consult the PDFOptions reference for the current supported options and units.
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Set paper size through Chrome DevTools Protocol
Call Page.printToPDF with paperWidth and paperHeight, measured in inches. For example, the following values specify approximately A4 dimensions; they are an example, not a universal default:
const result = await client.send('Page.printToPDF', {
paperWidth: 8.27,
paperHeight: 11.69,
preferCSSPageSize: false,
});The protocol documents defaults of 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches high. Set both dimensions explicitly when your output must use a particular size rather than those defaults. Set preferCSSPageSize: true if CSS @page sizing should take precedence. See the Page domain reference for the current protocol parameters; the protocol’s Page definition also describes print-to-PDF behavior.
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Let print CSS control the page
Declare page dimensions and margins in the document when they are part of the document’s print layout:
@page {
size: A4 portrait;
margin: 12mm;
}Then generate the PDF with preferCSSPageSize: true in Puppeteer or the corresponding parameter in CDP. Without that preference, the documented default is to scale content to fit the dimensions selected by PDF options or their defaults, rather than give the CSS page size priority.
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Keep paper size separate from screen and print styling
Puppeteer’s page.pdf() uses the print CSS media type. This determines which media-query styles are applied; it is separate from the PDF’s paper dimensions. To render using screen styles instead, select screen media before generating the PDF:
await page.emulateMediaType('screen');
await page.pdf({
path: 'output.pdf',
width: '210mm',
height: '297mm',
});Changing media type does not itself choose a paper size. The Puppeteer Page.pdf() documentation describes its print-media behavior and screen-media alternative.
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- Bright white paper (92 GE; 104 Euro) offers great contrast for crisp printing and vivid color
- Virgin copy paper providing professional quality results; acid-free to prevent yellowing
Why the command-line flag does not set custom dimensions
Chrome’s documented headless CLI flow uses --headless --print-to-pdf to save a PDF. The current Headless CLI reference does not document paper-width or paper-height switches, so use Puppeteer or CDP when you need programmatic dimensions.
The CLI reference also documents --timeout for controlling the maximum wait before capture and --no-pdf-header-footer for disabling PDF header and footer content. It notes that the latter replaced the older --print-to-pdf-no-header flag; older Chrome versions may require the prior name. These options affect capture timing or headers, not paper dimensions.
Troubleshoot unexpected PDF dimensions
- CSS page size appears ignored: Enable
preferCSSPageSize: truein Puppeteer or CDP. With its default value of false, CSS page dimensions do not take priority over the PDF options or defaults. - Content is scaled or does not fit as expected: Check whether the API-selected dimensions are the intended size and whether CSS should be authoritative. With
preferCSSPageSize: false, content is scaled to fit the selected paper. - The PDF uses Letter-like dimensions instead of the requested size: Set both width and height explicitly using Puppeteer or CDP. CDP’s documented defaults are 8.5 by 11 inches.
- The layout differs from the browser window: Puppeteer PDFs use print media by default. Review print styles, or call
page.emulateMediaType('screen')before PDF generation if screen styles are intended. - The command-line run produces a PDF but not the requested paper size: The documented CLI flags cover PDF output, timeout and headers, not paper dimensions. Move the size configuration to Puppeteer or CDP.
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