Set the PDF paper width in the options object passed to page.pdf()—not in page.setViewport(). For US Letter, use await page.pdf({ width: '8.5in', height: '11in' }). Use an explicit unit-bearing string for predictable, readable output. If you set format, it takes priority over width and height.
Choose the sizing method first
Puppeteer gives you three different ways to determine PDF dimensions. Select one deliberately because the options have different precedence.
| Goal | Use | What controls the result |
|---|---|---|
| Custom paper dimensions | width and optionally height |
Your supplied dimensions, as numbers or unit-bearing strings |
| Standard paper | format: 'A4', format: 'Letter', and so on |
The named paper format; it overrides explicit width and height |
| Let print CSS define the paper | preferCSSPageSize: true |
The size in the document’s @page rule; this option gives CSS priority |
With preferCSSPageSize left at its documented default of false, Puppeteer fits the content to the selected paper size instead of allowing CSS to replace it.
Set a custom width with page.pdf()
US Letter example
Letter paper is 8.5 by 11 inches. Pass both dimensions when you want a fixed, nonstandard page shape or want to make the output self-documenting:
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const pdf = await page.pdf({
width: '8.5in',
height: '11in'
});Use explicit units
The width and height properties accept either a number or a string with a unit. Unit-bearing strings such as '210mm', '8.5in', or '800px' make the intended physical size clear and avoid ambiguity when code is reviewed or maintained. For print work, use physical units (usually in or mm) rather than relying on a bare number.
await page.pdf({
width: '210mm',
height: '297mm'
});That example requests A4-sized dimensions directly. You can also use the named format when a standard size is all you need.
A complete runnable JavaScript script
Install Puppeteer, save the following as make-pdf.js, and run it with Node.js:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle0' });
await page.pdf({
path: 'letter.pdf',
width: '8.5in',
height: '11in',
printBackground: true
});
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();The width and height in this script describe the PDF paper. printBackground is included only to preserve page backgrounds when the page’s print styles permit them; it does not change the paper width.
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For a conventional paper size, format is shorter and less error-prone than converting dimensions yourself:
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await page.pdf({
path: 'a4.pdf',
format: 'A4'
});The paper-format reference lists Letter as 8.5 × 11 inches and A4 as approximately 8.2677 × 11.6929 inches. Do not combine format with conflicting width and height values expecting those values to win: when format is present, it takes priority.
Let CSS @page choose the size
Use this approach when the document’s print stylesheet is the source of truth—for example, when different templates declare their own paper dimensions.
@page {
size: 120mm 200mm;
margin: 10mm;
}await page.pdf({
path: 'ticket.pdf',
preferCSSPageSize: true
});preferCSSPageSize: true gives that CSS page size priority over width, height, and format. PDF generation uses print media by default, so put the rule in print CSS and verify that the rule is actually loaded. If you leave the option at false, Puppeteer scales the content to fit the paper selected by the PDF options instead.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteDo not confuse paper width with viewport width
page.setViewport({ width: ... }) controls the browser’s CSS-pixel viewport while the page is rendered. page.pdf({ width: ... }) controls the physical paper width of the generated PDF. Changing one does not replace the other.
await page.setViewport({ width: 1365, height: 900 });
await page.pdf({
path: 'report.pdf',
width: '8.5in',
height: '11in'
});Set the viewport to reproduce the layout you want to render, then set the PDF paper size independently. A wide viewport can still be printed onto a narrow sheet, in which case the content may be scaled or wrap differently.
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Control print and screen styling
Print media is the default
page.pdf() generates output using the print CSS media type. That means rules inside @media print apply by default and screen-only rules may not.
await page.emulateMediaType('screen');
await page.pdf({
path: 'screen-styled.pdf',
width: '8.5in',
height: '11in'
});Call emulateMediaType('screen') only when the PDF should look like the screen version. Otherwise, leave the default print media in place and fix the print stylesheet.
Preserve exact colors when required
Puppeteer notes that PDF generation modifies colors for printing by default. Add the documented CSS property when exact color rendering is important:
html {
-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact;
}This affects color treatment, not the dimensions of the page.
A reliable configuration workflow
- Decide who owns the dimensions. Choose custom
width/height, a namedformat, or CSS@page. - Remove conflicting settings. If
formatis present, do not expect width and height to override it. If CSS should win, enablepreferCSSPageSize. - Set the viewport separately. Pick a CSS viewport that matches the layout you are rendering; it is not the PDF paper width.
- Choose the media type. Keep print media for print CSS, or explicitly emulate screen media when that is the intended design.
- Wait for the page to be ready. Navigate with an appropriate
waitUntilcondition and wait for any page-specific selector before generating the file. - Generate and inspect a representative page. Check the physical dimensions in a PDF viewer and look for unexpected wrapping, clipping, or scaling.
Why Puppeteer may appear to ignore your width
format is still set
Remove format or accept that its named paper size wins. A configuration such as { format: 'Letter', width: '120mm' } does not produce a 120 mm-wide sheet.
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The width was applied only to the viewport
Move the paper dimension into the object passed to page.pdf(). Keep setViewport() for layout, not paper selection.
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If preferCSSPageSize: true is enabled, inspect the loaded print stylesheet and its @page rule. If the option is false, CSS is not supposed to replace the PDF options; Puppeteer fits content to the selected paper instead.
Print CSS changes the apparent layout
Because print media is used by default, print rules can hide elements, alter widths, or change wrapping. Temporarily call page.emulateMediaType('screen') to determine whether the difference comes from media-specific CSS, then correct the stylesheet rather than permanently forcing the wrong media type.
Content is clipped or unexpectedly scaled
Compare the viewport width, the CSS layout width, and the requested paper width. A layout designed for a larger viewport may not fit a narrow sheet. Check for fixed-width containers, long unbroken strings, and print rules that set dimensions larger than the paper.
Colors look washed out
PDF printing adjusts colors by default. Add -webkit-print-color-adjust: exact where color fidelity matters, then verify the result in the viewer and on the target printer.
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WebDriver BiDi compatibility
If Puppeteer is running through WebDriver BiDi rather than its standard browser protocol, verify the option support for the version you use. The official BiDi support list includes format, height, width, and scale, but it does not list preferCSSPageSize. Do not build a CSS-size-dependent workflow on that option in BiDi without confirming current support.
Version, reliability, and cost considerations
The current documentation surfaced for this API is for Puppeteer 25.12.0. Puppeteer and browser protocol support can change, so recheck the PDFOptions and protocol references when upgrading.
- Reliability: Keep width, height, format, and CSS ownership unambiguous. Explicit units and a fixed height make automated output easier to validate.
- Consistency: Pin the Puppeteer/browser version used in production and test both print and screen media if your templates support both.
- Performance: PDF generation occurs after page rendering. Waiting only as long as necessary for fonts, images, and application data avoids incomplete pages without adding arbitrary delays.
- Cost: Puppeteer itself resolves this configuration locally; the documented material establishes no usage statistic or external service fee for setting PDF width.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Puppeteer release should I check when PDF behavior changes after an upgrade?
The documentation referenced for this article is for Puppeteer 25.12.0. Treat PDF option and protocol behavior as versioned, and consult the current PDFOptions and BiDi support references when you upgrade.
Can a CSS page rule define a nonstandard page shape?
Yes. A rule such as @page { size: 120mm 200mm; } can define a custom shape, provided the execution mode supports preferCSSPageSize and you enable it.
Does changing PDF width change the browser window shown to page scripts?
No. Page scripts observe the CSS viewport configured with setViewport(); PDF width is applied during PDF generation.
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