How To Convert HTML Files to PDF Format

Turning an HTML file into a PDF can be super handy if you've found an online article you want to keep, need to share a web page as a properly formatted document, or just prefer having things saved offline. While there are a number of tools and methods for this, not everyone wants to rely on bookmarks or article archiving software. Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to do it right from your computer. For free. And without installing anything new!

Once you have the HTML file saved as a PDF, you can easily convert it to Word format for hassle-free editing and formatting, before saving it as a PDF again. So you’re free to do whatever you want with the document, rather than being tied to a specific website.

Using a Web Browser for the Quickest Way To Save HTML as PDF

If you're looking for the absolute easiest way to convert HTML to PDF, your web browser has you covered. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all have a built-in Print to PDF option, making them a quick and easy HTML to PDF converter for both live web pages and local HTML files. Safari on macOS makes it even easier with a dedicated “Export as PDF” option under the “File” menu.

Here’s what to do:

1. Open the web page you want to convert in your browser. If it’s a saved HTML file, just drag it into an open browser window or right-click and select Open with > Chrome/Edge/Firefox.
2. Hit Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on a Mac) to bring up the print menu.
3. Under “Destination” (or Printer), choose “Save as PDF.”
4. Click “Save,” pick a folder, and boom—you've got your HTML in PDF format.

This method is fast and easy, but it's not perfect. The PDF will look mostly like what’s on the screen, so if the website has a weird layout or lots of ads, they might show up too. If things look off, try adjusting the Layout (Portrait or Landscape) or Margins before saving. Under “More settings” in the print dialog you also have options to include headers and footers, or to print background graphics. Just don’t expect things like videos, interactive elements, or fancy animations to transfer over.

Using Microsoft Word as a Simple Workaround for HTML Files

If you want more control over how the PDF looks, Microsoft Word is great for making small adjustments—especially if your HTML file is mostly text-based (like a simple article, a report, or an invoice or receipt).

Here’s how it works:

1. First save the web page as an HTML file. Go to File > Save Page As, and choose “Webpage, Complete” as the format.
2. Give the file a name, choose a location, and hit Save.
3. Open Microsoft Word, then go to File > Open and find your HTML file.
4. Now, change the view by selecting “View” from the top menu and changing it to “Web Layout.”
5. If it looks a little messy, don’t panic. Some formatting—like fonts, tables, or images—might need minor tweaks.
6. Once you're happy with how it looks, go to File > Save As, choose PDF as the file format, and save your HTML file to PDF.

One thing to keep in mind: If the HTML file has complex layouts or scripts, Word might not handle it perfectly. But for simple web pages or documents, it works like a charm. And it is worth experimenting with so, if you ever do need to adjust formatting and layouts, you'll know what to expect.

What About Batch Converting HTML Files to PDF?

If you only need to convert a file or two, the above methods will work perfectly. But if you need to process dozens or hundreds of HTML files at once, there aren’t many simple, built-in solutions.

There are tools like wkhtmltopdf, a command-line tool that converts HTML files in bulk, but it requires a bit of technical knowledge. If you frequently need to batch convert HTML files to PDF, it could be worth looking into. Otherwise, you might have to open and save each file manually using a browser or Word.

Using just your browser truly is the simplest and fastest method to convert HTML to PDF. But if you need or want to make some simple adjustments to the layout and formatting, converting your PDF and running it through Microsoft Word first won’t be tricky to manage.

If you don’t have Word, don’t stress! Google Docs, LibreOffice, and Pages on macOS would work just as well when it comes to tweaking the file first. And they’re all free to use.