Use Playwright’s Chromium browser and its page.pdf() method to print a webpage to a PDF. Install Playwright and its browser binaries, navigate to the page, then save the output with path="page.pdf". By default, the PDF uses print CSS and does not include background graphics.
Install Playwright and Chromium
- Install the Python package:
python -m pip install playwright. - Install Playwright browsers:
python -m playwright install. - Save the script below as
save_page.py, replacing the example URL with the fully qualified address of the page you want to capture.
The official Playwright Python guide documents package and browser installation. PDF generation through page.pdf() is supported by Chromium; launch Chromium explicitly for this workflow. The Page API link used here points to the Next documentation, marked “Version: Next.” Check the API for your installed Playwright release before relying on options that may not exist in older stable versions.
Save a webpage as a PDF
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch()
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://example.com")
page.pdf(path="page.pdf", format="A4", print_background=True)
browser.close()Run it with python save_page.py. The PDF is written to page.pdf in the current working directory. This example uses A4 paper and includes background graphics; remove format or print_background if you want the API defaults instead. The documentation describes the API behavior, but output depends on the page; inspect the resulting file for layout, fonts, and dynamic content.
Choose the PDF rendering and page layout
Print CSS or screen CSS
page.pdf() renders with print CSS media by default. This is usually appropriate for a printable document. If the page’s screen styling is what you need, switch media before creating the PDF:
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page.emulate_media(media="screen")
page.pdf(path="page.pdf", format="A4", print_background=True)Some sites define different layouts for printing, so changing media can substantially alter the result.
Paper size, dimensions, and CSS page rules
formataccepts named sizes such as"A4"and"Letter". The API documents A4 as 8.27 by 11.7 inches and Letter as 8.5 by 11 inches.- You can set
widthandheightinstead. Unlabeled values are interpreted as pixels; supported units includepx,in,cm, andmm, for examplewidth="210mm". - If both
formatand width or height are supplied,formattakes priority. - By default,
prefer_css_page_sizeis false, so content is scaled to fit the selected paper size. Set it to true when the page’s CSS@pagesize should take priority over API size options.
Margins, scale, and page ranges
Margins default to none. Set a margin such as margin={"top": "15mm", "bottom": "15mm", "left": "12mm", "right": "12mm"} to add page framing. The scale option defaults to 1 and accepts values from 0.1 to 2. Use page_ranges to restrict output to chosen pages when the document is longer than needed; consult the installed release’s API documentation for its accepted range syntax.
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Backgrounds, colors, headers, and footers
print_background defaults to false. Set it to True to include background graphics and colors. Printed colors may still be adjusted by browser print styling; the API documentation points to the CSS property -webkit-print-color-adjust when exact colors are required. The API also has header and footer options; check its documentation and the target page’s print layout when using them, since page content and print styling affect the result.
Save the PDF as bytes instead of a file
Omit path to receive PDF bytes, which you can pass to other Python code or write yourself:
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from pathlib import Path
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch()
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://example.com")
pdf_bytes = page.pdf(format="A4", print_background=True)
Path("page.pdf").write_bytes(pdf_bytes)
browser.close()The Page API documents that page.pdf() returns PDF bytes and that path saves directly to disk.
When the page downloads a PDF attachment
page.pdf() prints the rendered webpage; it is not the method for saving a PDF file offered by a page’s download link or button. For a page-initiated download, wait for the download event and save the resulting Download before closing the browser context:
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from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch()
context = browser.new_context(accept_downloads=True)
page = context.new_page()
page.goto("https://example.com")
with page.expect_download() as download_info:
page.get_by_role("link", name="Download PDF").click()
download = download_info.value
download.save_as("downloaded.pdf")
context.close()
browser.close()Replace the locator with one that matches the actual page. Playwright notes that downloads belonging to a context are deleted when that context closes, so save the file first. See the download documentation.
Common problems and fixes
- Browser executable is missing: Install the browser binaries with
python -m playwright install. If you only need Chromium, install that browser explicitly withpython -m playwright install chromium. - The PDF lacks background colors or images: Set
print_background=True. If colors still differ, check the page’s print CSS and consider-webkit-print-color-adjust. - The result looks unlike the browser window: The PDF uses print media by default. Call
page.emulate_media(media="screen")beforepage.pdf()if screen CSS is needed. - The page is clipped or scaled unexpectedly: Review
format,width,height,prefer_css_page_size, margins, and scale together. Remember that format takes precedence over width and height, and CSS page size takes precedence whenprefer_css_page_size=True. - Content is missing because it loads late: A navigation completing does not establish that every site-specific component or font is ready. Wait for the selector or condition that indicates the needed content is present before printing, then inspect the PDF. The correct readiness condition depends on the website.
- A PDF link does not produce the expected file: Determine whether it triggers a download or displays a PDF in the browser. Use the download event flow for an attachment; use
page.pdf()only when you want to print the rendered page. - An API option is rejected: Compare the option with the documentation for the Playwright version installed in your environment. The cited Page API is the Next documentation, and options can vary by release.
Async Python and reliability considerations
Playwright also provides an asynchronous API. Keep the calls awaited and close the browser as part of the script’s lifecycle:
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import asyncio
from playwright.async_api import async_playwright
async def main():
async with async_playwright() as p:
browser = await p.chromium.launch()
page = await browser.new_page()
await page.goto("https://example.com")
await page.pdf(path="page.pdf", format="A4", print_background=True)
await browser.close()
asyncio.run(main())For automated or repeated captures, define what counts as page readiness for your target site rather than assuming every page loads the same way. Browser installation, page behavior, fonts, dynamic content, and print styles can affect the file. The cited documentation establishes the API, not guaranteed fidelity for every website or platform.
Or skip the browser setup
If you need a PDF through an API rather than running Playwright locally, ScreenshotNeo accepts one GET request for a URL and can return a PDF. Its consent-banner, newsletter-popup, and chat-widget cleanup can be turned off; bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, with response headers indicating the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides capture_pdf alongside screenshot and page-info tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 shots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Playwright generate a PDF with Firefox or WebKit?
The cited Playwright PDF documentation identifies Chromium as the supported engine for PDF generation; use Chromium for this workflow.
Can I choose a subset of pages in the PDF?
Yes. The Page API provides a page_ranges option for limiting output to selected pages.
Does enabling tagged output or an outline guarantee an accessible PDF?
No. Those options are documented, but their presence alone does not establish accessibility or navigation quality. Inspect the generated file in the viewer and workflow where it will be used.
Quick Recap
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