To convert HTML to PDF in n8n, create a complete HTML document, turn it into a binary file named index.html, and send it as multipart form data to a renderer such as Gotenberg. The renderer returns a PDF binary that you can pass to cloud storage, email, a webhook response, or another n8n node. The main prerequisite for the self-hosted route is a running Gotenberg instance that n8n can reach.
Convert HTML to PDF with Gotenberg in n8n
This workflow gives you direct control over the renderer and avoids relying on a prebuilt conversion node. It uses an n8n workflow to prepare the HTML file, an HTTP Request node to call Gotenberg, and a downstream node to deliver the PDF.
1. Make a complete HTML document
Build the document in an earlier n8n node, for example with a Code node or a template step. Include the document structure, not just a fragment:
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Monthly report</title>
<style>
body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 32px; }
h1 { color: #18324b; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Monthly report</h1>
<p>Generated by n8n.</p>
</body>
</html>Include any CSS, images, and fonts the final PDF needs. If the HTML refers to external assets, they must be reachable from the machine or container running Gotenberg. Relative paths can work when the renderer has access to the associated files; an n8n-local path is not automatically available inside a separate Gotenberg container.
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2. Convert the string to an HTML binary
Gotenberg’s HTML conversion endpoint expects a multipart file field named files whose uploaded filename is index.html. In n8n, use a step that converts your HTML string into binary data and sets the filename to index.html. The exact control names for creating binary data can vary by n8n version and node, so confirm the resulting item has a binary property containing the HTML file before continuing.
3. Configure the HTTP Request node
Point an HTTP Request node at your Gotenberg service and send a multipart form request to POST /forms/chromium/convert/html. In the node, configure the request body as multipart form data and attach the HTML binary using the expected file field. Gotenberg documents this endpoint and supports an output-name header, Gotenberg-Output-Filename. For example, set that header to a stable name such as monthly-report.pdf.
For a Docker Compose setup modeled on the n8n workflow template, Gotenberg is shown as a separate service using gotenberg/gotenberg:8 and reachable to n8n at http://gotenberg:3000. That image tag is the template’s example, not a timeless version recommendation. If n8n runs in a container, use a hostname and port accessible from that container; localhost inside n8n usually refers to the n8n container itself, not a separate Gotenberg service.
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4. Keep and deliver the PDF binary
Configure the HTTP Request node to retain the response as a file/binary rather than treating it as JSON or text. Check the output item for a binary property containing the PDF, then connect it to the next node. Common destinations include an object-storage node, an email attachment, a webhook response, or a document-processing step. Set a predictable filename and, where practical, log the request or workflow execution details so a failed conversion can be traced.
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Make the HTML available to the renderer
Conversion is not limited to the HTML string. The renderer must also be able to retrieve resources that the document references. Gotenberg documents support for additional CSS, images, and fonts referenced with paths; ensure that those paths resolve in the renderer’s environment and that network access to any remote assets is allowed.
- Inline CSS: Useful for a self-contained document and reduces dependency on external stylesheets.
- Remote resources: Check that Gotenberg can reach their hosts and that the URLs do not require browser-only authentication unavailable to the renderer.
- Local files: A file present in n8n’s container is not necessarily present in Gotenberg’s container. Share or otherwise expose files using a method both services can access.
- Fonts and images: Confirm their requests succeed from the rendering environment. A PDF may still be generated if an asset fails, but the output can differ from the intended layout.
Handle JavaScript-rendered content and blank PDFs
Gotenberg warns: “If the page relies on JavaScript to render data, charts, or external content, the conversion might trigger before the rendering is complete, resulting in blank or incomplete sections.” This can happen when the HTML is valid but its important content is inserted asynchronously after the initial page load.
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- Check whether the missing text or chart exists in the HTML sent to the renderer. If not, the issue is upstream in the n8n workflow.
- If JavaScript must create the content, use the renderer’s documented wait or rendering controls so conversion does not begin before the page is ready.
- Test that the expected data is present at the point of capture rather than assuming a fixed delay always works. External scripts, APIs, and assets can respond at different times.
- Inspect asset and script requests from the renderer’s point of view. A URL that works in your own browser may be blocked or inaccessible from the Gotenberg service.
PDF.co exposes a DoNotWaitFullLoad API option: false waits for full page load, while true waits only for minimal loading and can speed conversion. This is an option specific to that API, not a universal setting or guaranteed fix for dynamic pages.
Choose a conversion route
The right approach depends on whether you want to operate the rendering service, call a hosted API, or install an integration. Published comparable performance and price figures are not established here, so compare providers using their current terms and your own workload rather than assuming one is faster or cheaper.
| Route | Hosting and setup | Useful when | Points to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gotenberg via HTTP Request | Self-host a separate Gotenberg service; call its documented endpoint from n8n. | You want control over a Chromium-based renderer and can operate the service. | Container networking, resource access, rendering controls, and operational costs for your infrastructure. |
| n8n HTML-to-PDF integration / PDFMunk | Use the integration described in n8n’s integration directory; HTTP Request can also connect services outside the prebuilt catalog. | You prefer an integration-oriented workflow or need HTML/CSS and URL-to-PDF capabilities. | Check current node installation details and service terms in your n8n instance. |
| PDF.co | Hosted API; send HTML to the vendor’s service. | You do not want to operate a Chromium container and are comfortable with an external API. | API credentials, current limits and pricing, and whether its page-load behavior suits the content. |
| CustomJS PDF Toolkit | Templates use a CustomJS API key and require self-hosted n8n. | You can use community-node workflows and an external API, including related compression or text-extraction steps. | Installation model, API requirements, and current service terms. |
For the n8n HTML-to-PDF integration and PDFMunk, consult n8n’s integration listing. For the Gotenberg endpoint and rendering details, use its HTML-to-PDF documentation and Chromium wait configuration. PDF.co documents its API options at PDF from HTML. CustomJS workflow examples are listed in n8n’s templates for HTML-to-PDF conversion and PDF compression and text extraction.
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Troubleshoot common conversion failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| Gotenberg rejects the request or returns an error | The request is not multipart, the upload is missing, or the required filename/field is wrong. | Confirm the uploaded file is named exactly index.html, is sent as a multipart file, and the request uses POST /forms/chromium/convert/html. |
| Blank or incomplete sections | JavaScript has not populated the page when conversion begins. | Use documented wait/render controls and verify the data is present before conversion; check external script and data requests. |
| Missing styles, images, or fonts | The referenced assets cannot be reached from the Gotenberg environment or paths resolve differently there. | Test the paths from the renderer’s network/container context and make required files accessible to it. |
| n8n cannot connect to Gotenberg | The hostname, port, network, or service availability is wrong. | Confirm both containers share a network, Gotenberg is running, and n8n uses the service name and exposed internal port it can resolve. |
| PDF arrives as unusable text or no downstream file | The HTTP Request node did not retain the response as binary data, or the next node references the wrong binary property. | Enable binary/file response handling and inspect the HTTP node’s output before wiring downstream delivery. |
| Unexpected output filename | No explicit output name was set or metadata was not carried downstream. | Set Gotenberg-Output-Filename and verify the next node uses the returned binary metadata or its own filename field. |
Cost, reliability, and operational considerations
With self-hosted Gotenberg, you operate the rendering service alongside n8n. Budget for the infrastructure and maintenance you actually use; no comparable published cost or throughput figures are established here. A hosted route such as PDF.co shifts service operation to a vendor, but requires checking its current API limits, credentials, terms, and pricing. For either model, test representative documents that include your real fonts, images, scripts, and page lengths, and monitor workflow failures rather than assuming that a successful HTTP response guarantees every resource rendered correctly.
For workflows that matter operationally, use deterministic filenames, retain execution logs or request identifiers where available, and create a failure path that alerts an owner or retries only when appropriate. A timeout or failed asset fetch can produce a different result from an invalid HTML document, so capture enough workflow context to distinguish them.
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Example using cURL to save a PDF:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -d format=pdf -o page.pdfSee the ScreenshotNeo documentation for API parameters and setup. This is intended for capturing an accessible website URL; it is not a replacement for sending an arbitrary HTML file to a renderer. ScreenshotNeo also accepts the parameter names used by other screenshot APIs, which can ease a switch. Every feature is available on every plan; the Free plan includes 1,000 shots a month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo free to get 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does n8n have to run on the same machine as Gotenberg?
No. It does need a network route to the Gotenberg service and must be able to resolve its hostname and port.
Can this workflow convert a URL instead of an HTML string?
The Gotenberg workflow described here uploads an HTML file. The n8n HTML-to-PDF integration listing describes URL-to-PDF capability; check its current setup and terms.
Quick Recap
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