About the Markdown to PDF Converter
What is this tool?
This tool turns Markdown into a polished PDF without your text ever leaving the browser. Write or paste your Markdown — GitHub Flavored Markdown included, so tables, task lists, strikethrough and fenced code blocks all work — and the preview shows the exact document that will end up in the file: same stylesheet, same spacing, same fonts. Pick a page size, orientation and margin, and the page-count estimate updates as you type.
There are two ways to get the file, because they serve different needs. Download PDF produces the file directly, rendering the styled document to high-resolution pages. Print / Save as PDF pushes the same document through your browser's print engine instead — one extra click, but the text in the result is selectable and searchable, which is what you want for README handoffs, reports and anything people might quote from. Both paths honor CSS page-break rules, and the built-in sample demonstrates a forced second page.
How to Use This Tool
- Add your Markdown. Type it, paste it, open a .md file, or load the sample to see the supported syntax in one place.
- Check the preview. It renders with the exact stylesheet used for the PDF, and the chip above it estimates the page count for your current page setup.
- Set up the page. A4 through Legal, portrait or landscape, margins in millimeters, and how page breaks should behave.
- Get the file. Download PDF saves it directly; Print / Save as PDF opens the print dialog for a selectable-text version — pick Save as PDF as the destination.
Common Use Cases
Where Markdown ends up needing to be a PDF:
- READMEs and docs for non-developers: stakeholders get a clean document instead of a link into a repository.
- Reports and meeting notes: written at typing speed in Markdown, delivered in a format that looks deliberate.
- Assignments and papers: many courses accept only PDF uploads; write in Markdown, submit the export.
- Changelogs and release notes: archive a release announcement exactly as shipped.
- Related tools: converting raw HTML instead? Use the HTML to PDF converter; plain text documents work best in the text to PDF converter; and the Markdown editor is handy for longer writing sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert Markdown to a PDF?
Paste your Markdown into the editor, check the rendered preview on the right, pick a page size and margin, and click Download PDF. Everything runs in your browser and the file saves straight to your device. For a PDF with selectable text, use Print / Save as PDF and choose Save as PDF in the dialog.
Does this tool support GitHub Flavored Markdown?
Yes. Tables, task lists with checkboxes, strikethrough, fenced code blocks and automatic links all render in the preview and in both PDF outputs. The sample document shows each of them in action, so loading it is the quickest way to check a specific feature.
What is the difference between Download PDF and Print / Save as PDF?
Download PDF renders the document to high-resolution images and saves the file automatically — zero clicks beyond the button, but the text is part of the image. Print / Save as PDF uses the browser's own print engine, which writes real, selectable, searchable text and usually a smaller file. Same document, same styling either way.
Can I use HTML inside my Markdown?
Yes, Markdown has always allowed inline HTML, and this tool passes it through — small things like keyboard tags, line breaks or a page-break div work fine. Script tags and inline event handlers are stripped for safety, since a document converter has no reason to execute anything.
How do I force a page break?
Drop a one-line piece of raw HTML where the new page should start: a div with the style page-break-before: always. The sample document uses exactly that trick before its second section. Tables, code blocks and other elements are also kept unsplit across pages where possible.
Why does the preview look different from other Markdown apps?
Every Markdown app ships its own stylesheet, so the same file looks slightly different everywhere. This tool uses one document stylesheet for the preview and both PDF outputs, tuned for print: clear heading hierarchy, bordered tables and readable code blocks. What you see in the preview is what lands in the file.
Is my document uploaded to a server?
No. Parsing, previewing and both conversion paths run locally in your browser — the Markdown parser and the PDF library are served from our site and execute on your machine. Your text never leaves your device.
Can I convert a README.md file directly?
Yes — click Open file and pick the .md file, or just drag-select its contents and paste. One caveat: images referenced with relative paths, like a screenshots folder inside the repository, cannot be resolved from your browser, so those images will appear as their alt text. Images with full https URLs work when their host allows cross-origin access.