Nutrient Python SDK

Convert HTML to PDF in Python

Q: How do I convert HTML to PDF in Python?

Install Nutrient Python SDK. Then open your HTML file with Document.open('input.html') and call document.export_as_pdf('output.pdf') . The SDK renders the HTML through Chrome and writes a PDF that preserves the page’s layout, fonts, images, and CSS. See the HTML-to-PDF guide for a complete working example.

Q: How do I handle errors during conversion?

Wrap the conversion in a try-except block and catch NutrientException for SDK-specific errors. Use the context manager syntax ( with Document.open(...) as document: ) so the document is closed automatically, even when an error occurs.

Start free HTML-to-PDF guide

Convert HTML files to PDF with a single API call — no template engine or browser automation to wire up
Rendered through Chrome, so CSS, fonts, images, and page layout are preserved
Server-ready with no GUI dependencies — runs on Linux, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines
Same two-step pattern as Markdown, Word, and Office conversions

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HTML-TO-PDF CONVERSION

HTML to PDF

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from nutrient_sdk import Document
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from nutrient_sdk import NutrientException
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def main():
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    try:
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        with Document.open("input.html") as document:
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            document.export_as_pdf("output.pdf")
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            print("Successfully converted to output.pdf")
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    except NutrientException as e:
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        print(f"Error: {e}")
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if __name__ == "__main__":
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    main()

USE CASES

When developers reach for this SDK

Generate invoices and receipts from HTML

Render an HTML invoice or receipt template — styled with your own CSS — into a fixed PDF for emailing, billing, and record keeping.

Produce reports and statements

Turn dashboards, statements, and generated reports built as HTML into print-ready PDFs with consistent pagination and layout.

Archive web content for compliance

Capture rendered webpages as PDFs for offline access, audit trails, and long-term archiving where a stable format is required.

Preserve full CSS and layout fidelity

Nutrient renders HTML through Chrome, so fonts, images, and CSS styling come through exactly as they appear in the browser.

Convert more formats to PDF in Python

Markdown to PDF

Convert Markdown to PDF in Python. The SDK parses Markdown and renders formatted PDF output.

VIEW GUIDE

Handles Markdown syntax and document structure
Renders code blocks and formatting
One method call: export_as_pdf()

Word to PDF

Convert DOCX to PDF in Python. The SDK renders Word documents to PDF with no Microsoft Office required.

VIEW GUIDE

Preserves fonts, styles, and layout
No Microsoft Office installation needed
One method call: export_as_pdf()

Excel to PDF

Convert XLSX to PDF in Python. The SDK renders spreadsheets to PDF for sharing and archiving.

VIEW GUIDE

Renders worksheets and tabular data
Keeps cell formatting intact
One method call: export_as_pdf()

Source formats

HTML Markdown DOCX XLSX PPTX

ADVANCED CAPABILITIES

Beyond a single conversion

The SDK handles more than one-off conversions. Build HTML-to-PDF conversion into automated workflows and deploy anywhere Python runs.

EXPLORE PYTHON SDK

Illustration of an HTML page being converted to a PDF document

Chrome-grade rendering

HTML is rendered through Chrome, so complex CSS, web fonts, and images appear in the PDF exactly as they do in the browser.

Batch HTML conversion

Convert many HTML files in a loop or with Python’s concurrency tools. Each conversion follows the same pattern: open and export.

Server-side processing

No GUI dependencies — run HTML-to-PDF conversion in background jobs, cron tasks, or API handlers on any server.

Docker and Linux ready

Run conversions in containers by including Chrome in the image and running as a non-root user, following the Docker deployment guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert HTML to PDF in Python?

Install Nutrient Python SDK. Then open your HTML file with Document.open('input.html') and call document.export_as_pdf('output.pdf'). The SDK renders the HTML through Chrome and writes a PDF that preserves the page’s layout, fonts, images, and CSS. See the HTML-to-PDF guide for a complete working example.

Does the conversion preserve CSS and styling?

Yes. Nutrient renders HTML through Chrome, so CSS, web fonts, images, and page layout come through in the PDF exactly as they appear in the browser. You don’t need to implement any rendering or pagination logic yourself.

Do I need to set up a headless browser or template engine?

No template engine or browser-automation framework is required in your code — the conversion is a single export_as_pdf() call. The SDK uses Chrome internally for rendering; on first run, it provisions the rendering engine for you.

Can I run HTML-to-PDF conversion in Docker or on Linux?

Yes. The SDK is server-ready and runs on Linux. Because HTML rendering relies on Chrome, a containerized deployment needs Chrome included in the image and the container run as a non-root user. See the guide on Chrome-based conversions in Docker for the packaged setup.

How do I convert HTML to PDF at scale in Python?

Loop over your HTML files, or use Python’s concurrency tools, and run the same two-step conversion for each one: Document.open(...) then export_as_pdf(...). Because there are no GUI dependencies, the same code runs in background jobs and CI/CD pipelines.

Can I convert other formats to PDF with the same API?

Yes. The open-then-export pattern is the same across formats. Use export_as_pdf() after opening Markdown, Word (DOCX), Excel (XLSX), or PowerPoint (PPTX). See the Python conversion guides for each format.

How do I handle errors during conversion?

Wrap the conversion in a try-except block and catch NutrientException for SDK-specific errors. Use the context manager syntax (with Document.open(...) as document:) so the document is closed automatically, even when an error occurs.