Set the browser viewport before navigation when you need a predictable visible-page image: await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1280, height: 720 });, then call page.screenshot(). Playwright screenshot size can also mean the full document, a clipped rectangle, an element’s bounds, or output pixel density. Choose the option that matches the result you need.
Set a fixed screenshot size with the viewport
For a screenshot of the currently visible browser page, set the viewport width and height before goto. The values are CSS pixels.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1280, height: 720 });
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle' });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png' });
await browser.close();The resulting image represents a 1280-by-720 CSS-pixel viewport unless another screenshot option changes the output. Set the viewport before navigation whenever possible. Responsive sites select breakpoints and load layout-dependent content during navigation; resizing afterward can produce a different layout or require another reflow.
Set the viewport when creating a context
Use a browser context when several pages should share dimensions:
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const context = await browser.newContext({
viewport: { width: 1440, height: 900 }
});
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.screenshot({ path: 'desktop.png' });Context-level settings are convenient for suites and repeated captures. If you need to control the emulated physical screen separately from the viewport, configure the context’s screen and viewport options. Calling page.setViewportSize() resets the screen size, so apply those settings deliberately. See the Playwright Page API for the current behavior.
Four meanings of “screenshot size”
Before changing code, identify which dimension you are trying to control.
| Goal | Playwright setting | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Visible browser area | setViewportSize or context viewport |
CSS-pixel width and height used by the page layout |
| Everything in the document | fullPage: true |
Captures the full scrollable page; it does not create a permanently taller viewport |
| A precise rectangle | clip: { x, y, width, height } |
Coordinates and dimensions of the capture region |
| Output pixel density | scale: 'css'` or `scale: 'device'` |
Whether output pixels match CSS pixels or device pixels |
How do I take a full page screenshot in Playwright?
Pass fullPage: true to capture the entire scrollable document:
await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1280, height: 720 });
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.screenshot({ path: 'full-page.png', fullPage: true });The viewport width still controls responsive layout. The fullPage option extends the capture through content below the fold; it is not equivalent to setting a very large viewport height. Lazy-loaded content may need to be triggered or waited for before capture. Playwright’s screenshots guide documents full-page behavior and examples.
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How do I screenshot a specific element in Playwright?
Use a locator’s screenshot method when the image should match one element’s rendered bounds:
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await page.goto('https://example.com');
const card = page.locator('[data-testid="pricing-card"]').first();
await card.waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
await card.screenshot({ path: 'card.png' });Playwright scrolls the matched element into view and clips the image to its size and position. A scrollable element shows only the content currently inside its scroll position; it does not automatically capture every internal scroll position. Use a page-level clip when you need fixed coordinates instead of a selector.
Capture an exact rectangle with clip
A clip object defines the rectangle in page coordinates:
await page.screenshot({
path: 'header-region.png',
clip: { x: 0, y: 0, width: 1280, height: 180 }
});x and y identify the top-left corner; width and height define the region. The rectangle must fit within the page’s available screenshot area. For a component that moves with responsive layout, a locator is usually more robust than hard-coded coordinates.
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Control CSS pixels versus device pixels with scale
Screenshot output can be scaled independently of the CSS viewport:
await page.screenshot({ path: 'css-pixels.png', scale: 'css' });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'device-pixels.png', scale: 'device' });scale: 'css': one image pixel per CSS pixel, useful for predictable file dimensions and smaller visual-regression artifacts.scale: 'device': one image pixel per device pixel, the Page API default. On a high-DPI emulation, the file can be larger than the viewport’s CSS dimensions.
Scale changes output density, not the responsive layout width. If a 1280-CSS-pixel viewport produces an unexpectedly wide file, inspect the device scale factor and choose scale: 'css' when CSS-pixel dimensions are required.
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How do I change the screenshot size in Playwright?
- Decide whether you need visible viewport, full document, element, crop, or pixel-density control.
- Set
viewporton the context or callpage.setViewportSize({ width, height }). - Do it before
page.goto()for responsive pages. - Wait for the content that determines the final appearance.
- Choose
fullPage,clip, a locator screenshot, and/orscale. - Save the image and verify its actual dimensions with an image tool or your CI artifact viewer.
A reusable capture function
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
export async function capture(url, output, options = {}) {
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext({
viewport: {
width: options.width ?? 1280,
height: options.height ?? 720
}
});
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto(url, { waitUntil: options.waitUntil ?? 'networkidle' });
await page.screenshot({
path: output,
fullPage: options.fullPage ?? false,
scale: options.scale ?? 'css',
clip: options.clip
});
await browser.close();
}
await capture('https://example.com', 'example.png', {
width: 1440,
height: 900,
fullPage: true
});For pages with animations, freeze or wait for the relevant state before capture. For lazy images, scroll or use an application-specific readiness signal; a network-idle event alone does not guarantee that every below-the-fold image has been decoded.
Playwright Test: automatic screenshots are separate
Playwright Test can capture screenshots through its test configuration, but automatic capture is off by default. Configure the Test screenshot option when you want screenshots on test failures or as part of test execution, and set its fullPage property when appropriate. This is separate from calling page.screenshot() yourself. The available settings are listed in the TestOptions API.
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“Why is my Playwright screenshot twice as large as my viewport?”
The most common cause is device-pixel scaling. The viewport is expressed in CSS pixels, while scale: 'device' writes device pixels. Use scale: 'css' for one output pixel per CSS pixel, or intentionally configure the device scale factor when emulating a device.
The page uses the wrong mobile or desktop layout
Set the viewport before goto, and create a fresh context for each target size. A resize after navigation can trigger a different responsive state than the initial load.
The full-page image is short or missing content
Confirm fullPage: true. Wait for the page’s content, scroll to trigger lazy loading, and wait for images or a page-specific “ready” marker. Full-page capture extends the document; it does not force JavaScript components to render.
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The element screenshot is the wrong size
Wait for the locator to be visible, select the intended match with .first() or a stricter selector, and check whether the element has internal scrolling. A scrollable element’s screenshot reflects its current scroll position.
The clip option throws an error or cuts off content
Ensure the rectangle uses non-negative coordinates and fits within the page. Prefer a locator for responsive components whose position changes between viewport sizes.
Fonts, animations, or late resources make captures inconsistent
Wait for fonts and application data, disable or pause animations in a test stylesheet, and capture after a deterministic readiness condition rather than relying only on a timeout. Keep the browser, viewport, scale, and color scheme consistent in visual tests.
Performance, reliability, and file-size trade-offs
- Smaller viewports and CSS scaling generally produce smaller files and faster artifact handling.
- Full-page captures require more memory for long documents; split very long reports into sections when a single giant image is not required.
- Device-pixel output preserves high-DPI detail but increases image dimensions and storage.
- Fresh contexts per viewport reduce state leakage between responsive cases, at the cost of browser setup time.
- Deterministic waits improve visual consistency; arbitrary long delays slow the suite without proving that the page is ready.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing the viewport change the website’s CSS breakpoints?
Yes. Responsive CSS and JavaScript observe the viewport dimensions, so a new width can select a different layout. Apply the target viewport before navigation for the most representative initial render.
Can I combine fullPage and clip?
Use the combination only when the resulting region is valid for your Playwright version and page geometry. In most workflows, choose either a full document capture or a deliberate rectangle; use a locator for component-level images.
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PNG is lossless and useful for text or visual tests. JPEG or WebP can reduce storage when some compression is acceptable; the format does not change viewport dimensions.
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