Websites change and disappear. That article you bookmarked last year? Gone. The receipt from your online purchase? Buried in a redesigned account page. The only way to truly preserve web content is to save it as a PDF.
Converting HTML to PDF captures the webpage exactly as it appears — text, images, layout, and all. You get a permanent, shareable, printable document that doesn't depend on the website staying online.
Why Save Webpages as PDF?
There are plenty of practical reasons to convert web content to PDF:
Receipts and Confirmations
Online orders, flight bookings, event tickets — these confirmation pages are your proof of purchase. Save them as PDFs before the website logs you out or the page expires.
Research and Reference
Working on a report or project? Save source articles as PDFs so you have them even if the website changes or goes offline. Great for students, journalists, and anyone doing serious research.
Legal Documentation
Need to document something for legal purposes? A PDF captures the page as evidence — complete with content and layout — at a specific point in time.
Offline Reading
Flying somewhere without WiFi? Convert articles to PDF beforehand and read them offline. Works on any device without needing the original website.
Archiving Content
Websites shut down all the time. If there's content you care about — a blog post, a tutorial, your own work on a platform you don't control — save it as PDF before it's gone.
Methods to Convert Webpages to PDF
There are several ways to save a webpage as PDF, each with pros and cons:
Browser Print to PDF
Every modern browser has this:
- Open the webpage
- Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac)
- Select "Save as PDF" as the destination
- Click Save
Pros: Always available, no tools needed
Cons: Often includes headers/footers, navigation menus, and ads you don't want
Online Converters (Like CarePDF)
Upload an HTML file or paste a URL, and get a clean PDF back.
Pros: Cleaner output, works from any device
Cons: Requires uploading/entering the URL
Browser Extensions
Extensions like "Save as PDF" add one-click conversion.
Pros: Convenient for frequent use
Cons: Yet another extension to install and trust
How to Use Our HTML to PDF Converter
Our tool handles both HTML files and direct URL conversion:
- Enter the URL: Go to our HTML to PDF converter and paste the webpage address
- Or upload HTML: If you have a saved .html file, upload it directly
- Customize settings: Choose page size (A4, Letter, etc.) and orientation
- Convert: We fetch the page, render it, and generate your PDF
- Download: Save the PDF to your device
Getting Better Results
Not all webpages convert equally well. Here's how to get cleaner PDFs:
Use Reader Mode First
Many browsers have a "Reader" view that strips away ads, navigation, and clutter. Enable it before printing to PDF for a much cleaner result.
Watch Out for Dynamic Content
Some websites load content as you scroll (infinite scroll) or require clicking to expand sections. Make sure everything you want is visible before converting.
Handle Login-Required Pages Carefully
If a page requires login, you'll need to be logged in when saving. Browser print-to-PDF works best here since you're already authenticated. URL-based converters may only see the login page.
Check for Print Stylesheets
Some websites have special print styling that makes PDFs look better automatically. Others look identical to the screen version.
What About the Reverse?
Sometimes you need PDF → HTML instead of HTML → PDF. This is useful for:
- Extracting content from PDFs into web pages
- Making PDF content accessible and searchable
- Repurposing PDF reports as blog posts
While we don't have a direct PDF to HTML tool, you can convert PDF to Word first, then save as HTML from Word.
After Converting: What's Next?
Once you have your webpage as a PDF, you might want to:
- Merge multiple webpage PDFs into one research document
- Add page numbers for easier reference
- Compress the PDF if file size is too large
- Add a watermark indicating when you captured the page
- Convert to PDF/A for long-term archiving
HTML to PDF vs Screenshot
You could just take a screenshot — but PDFs are better for most uses:
| Feature | Screenshot | |
|---|---|---|
| Captures full page | Usually just visible area | Entire page, even scrolled content |
| Selectable text | No (it's an image) | Yes |
| Searchable | No | Yes |
| File size | Can be large for detailed pages | Usually smaller |
| Multi-page support | Multiple images needed | Single document |
Screenshots work for quick captures, but PDFs are better for anything you'll reference, search, or share.
Common Questions
Can I convert any website to PDF?
Most public websites work fine. Some sites with heavy JavaScript or dynamic loading may not render perfectly. Login-protected pages require you to be authenticated in your browser first.
Will the PDF include links?
Yes, hyperlinks in the original page typically remain clickable in the PDF.
What about images on the page?
Images are embedded in the PDF, so they'll display even offline. If you need to extract those images later, check our PDF to JPG converter.
Can I convert multiple pages at once?
For multiple webpages, convert them individually and then merge the PDFs into one document.
Does this work for HTML emails?
Yes! Save the email as an HTML file first (most email clients allow this), then upload it to our converter.
Related Guides
- How to Convert Word Documents to PDF
- Convert JPG Images to PDF
- Convert Excel Spreadsheets to PDF
- Optimize PDFs for Web Viewing
- Password Protect Your PDFs
Need to save a webpage before it disappears? Convert HTML to PDF now — free and instant.