Ubuntu Linux

How to Install wkhtmltopdf & wkhtmltoimage on Ubuntu Linux

Written by

Richard

Mar 27, 2020 Updated Jul 14, 2026 2 min read

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wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage let you turn web pages into PDFs or images right from your computer’s command line on Ubuntu Linux.

These handy tools use the same technology that web browsers use, called the Qt WebKit rendering engine, to understand and display web content. They are especially useful because they can work without needing a full graphical desktop, often called running ‘headlessly’.

Many programmers use wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage to automatically create things like reports from their web applications. This guide will show you how to get them set up on Ubuntu systems, including versions like Ubuntu 18.04 and 16.04.

⚡ Quick Answer

Install wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage on Ubuntu by first updating apt and installing wget and xfonts-75dpi. Then, download the .deb file from the wkhtmltopdf website and install it using dpkg. Finally, run ‘sudo apt -f install’ if needed and verify with ‘wkhtmltopdf –version’.

Install wkhtmltopdf & wkhtmltoimage

You can install wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage on Ubuntu by downloading the .deb file from the project's website. This download method often provides version 0.12.6 or newer, which is a more recent version than what's in the regular Ubuntu software list. Getting the latest version of wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage is best for the tools' functionality.

For the latest version, download the .deb file directly from the project’s website.

The current stable version, as of June 11, 2018, is 0.12.5.

Always check the downloads page for the newest release:

https://wkhtmltopdf.org/downloads.html

Before installing, ensure you have the required packages. If not, run these commands:

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo apt update 
sudo apt install wget xfonts-75dpi

Then run the commands below to download and install.

⬛Command Prompt

cd /tmp
wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/wkhtmltopdf/releases/download/0.12.5/wkhtmltox_0.12.5-1.bionic_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox_0.12.5-1.bionic_amd64.deb

If you encounter any issues during installation, try these commands:

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo apt -f install

After installation, you can check if they’re working by running these commands:

💻Code

wkhtmltopdf --version

The output should look similar to this:

💻Code

wkhtmltopdf 0.12.5 (with patched qt)

Next, run this command:

💻Code

wkhtmltoimage --version

This will produce output like this:

💻Code

wkhtmltoimage 0.12.5 (with patched qt)

Use wkhtmltopdf & wkhtmltoimage

After you install wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage on Ubuntu, you’ll use them from the command line to turn web pages into PDF files. To use wkhtmltopdf, you’ll provide the web address you want to convert and the desired name for your new PDF file.

The syntax below is how to use wkhtmltopdf.

💻Code

wkhtmltopdf  source_file    destination_file.pdf

For example, to convert the example.com webpage into a PDF, run these commands:

💻Code

wkhtmltopdf https://example.com    example.com.pdf

The web content will be generated into a PDF file.

For more details on using the command, check out this page:

https://wkhtmltopdf.org/usage/wkhtmltopdf.txt

That’s it!

Conclusion:

This guide covered installing wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage on Ubuntu 18.04 and 16.04. If you find any error, please report it in the comment form below.

Thanks!

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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