Step-by-Step Guide to Printing HTML Pages as PDFs

Print webpages to PDF instantly with your browser’s built-in tools. No extra software needed—just a few clicks to save any webpage as a PDF.

Every modern browser comes with a built-in “Save to PDF” option, so you don’t need extra software. Whether you’re on a computer, phone, or tablet, you can print HTML pages as PDFs.

Printing an HTML Page to PDF on Desktop

If you’re using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari, you already have everything you need to print HTML to PDF. The steps might look slightly different depending on your browser, but the process is pretty similar across the board.

Chrome, Firefox & Edge

1. Open the webpage you want to save.
2. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to open the print menu.
3. In the printer options, select “Save as PDF.”
4. Click “Save,” choose where you want to store the file, and confirm.

Safari (macOS)

1. Open the webpage you want to save.
2. Click “File” in the menu bar.
3. Select the “Export as PDF…” option.
4. Select the destination and click “Save.”

This method, while direct, doesn’t allow you to modify any settings. If you want to change the paper size, orientation, or even set the margins, you can do this by following the same steps as for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.

That’s it! Now you’ve got a PDF version of the webpage you can read anytime, even without internet access.

Converting a PDF to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for Editing

Even though the print dialog allows you to change some settings before saving a webpage as a PDF, you may still want to adjust more. You can easily do this by converting the PDF into an editable format like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint using Smallpdf’s PDF Converter.

How to Convert a PDF for Editing

1. Upload your PDF file to our PDF Converter tool
2. Choose the format you want to convert to: Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
3. Wait a few seconds while the file processes.
4. Download your newly converted file—now ready for edits.

Open your converted file using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, LibreOffice, or iWork programs. Edit like you would any other DOCX, XLSX, or PPT document. This method is especially useful if you need to work with tables, structured layouts, images, or large amounts of text that would be frustrating to edit in a regular PDF viewer.

Saving a Long Webpage as a PDF

Sometimes, a web page extends way beyond the visible screen, and you want to save the entire thing—not just what you see at first glance. Thankfully, most browsers let you print the whole page, even if it scrolls. But you might need to adjust some settings in the print dialog window to prevent anything from being cut off.

Always check the preview pane before saving your PDF. This shows how the final PDF will look and helps you catch missing sections. If the page seems cut off, adjusting the scaling or page range settings can help. Or you can follow the steps above for converting your PDF to another format, then manually making more adjustments.

Preserving Page Appearance

To keep the webpage looking as close to the original as possible, enabling Background Graphics ensures that colors, images, and design elements are included. You can also experiment with the Page Size setting to fit all content properly, especially when dealing with web pages that have different layouts.

How to Print a Webpage as a PDF on Android & iPhone

If you’re on the go and need to print a webpage as PDF on Android or iPhone, you can still get a clean, readable file with just a few taps.

Android (Chrome & Other Browsers)

1. Open the webpage in your browser.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Share,” then choose “Print.”
4. Pick “Save as PDF,” adjust settings if needed, then tap the PDF button.

iPhone & iPad (Safari & Chrome)

1. Open the webpage and tap the “Share” button.
2. Select “Print” from the menu.
3. Tap the “Share” button again to save or send the PDF.

Easy, right? Now you can store web pages as PDFs on your phone, whether it’s a recipe, an article, or an important receipt.

Adjusting Print Settings for Better PDFs

Before you hit “Save,” take a moment to tweak your settings. The right adjustments can make a big difference in readability and overall formatting.

Controlling Margins and Layout

Margins determine how much space surrounds the content in the final PDF. If the webpage has narrow or crowded text, increasing the margins can improve readability. On the other hand, if you need to fit more content onto a page, reducing the margins can help.

Headers, Footers, and Background Graphics

By default, many browsers add headers and footers that include the page title and URL. If you don’t need this extra info, you can turn them off in the print settings. Similarly, enabling Background Graphics ensures that the webpage’s colors, logos, and images are included, making the PDF look more like the original page.

Choosing Portrait or Landscape Mode

For articles and text-heavy pages, Portrait mode is usually the best choice. If you're dealing with tables, charts, or wide layouts, switching to Landscape mode might make the content easier to read.

Extra Tips for Structured Pages

Not all webpages are just text and images—sometimes, you need to print an HTML page to PDF while keeping interactive elements like forms, tables, or structured content intact.

Ensuring Forms Are Fully Captured

When printing HTML forms, some browsers may not properly include text entered into input fields. Checking the preview pane before saving ensures all the details are visible. If fields are missing or appear blank, trying a different browser can sometimes fix the issue.

Adjusting Browser Settings for Accuracy

Browsers handle forms and structured layouts differently, so experimenting with print settings can help maintain the original structure. Adjusting scaling and page layout options ensures form fields and tables appear as they should. You can also follow the steps above using PDF Converter to change the format, and then make stronger edits, like manually adding page breaks.