Turn Any Zapier Workflow into a PDF Generator
Pair Webhooks by Zapier with the PDF API to turn lead capture forms, CRM updates, or spreadsheet rows into beautifully formatted PDFs that land in Drive or Slack automatically.
Launch Zapier PDFs in three steps
- Capture structured data from your trigger app. Use Airtable, HubSpot, or Typeform to provide the HTML or the URL you want converted.
- Add a Webhooks by Zapier Custom Request action. POST to `/v1/render` with your API key stored as a secret. Include `options` when you need A4 sizing or background graphics.
- Deliver the PDF downstream. Follow up with Gmail, Google Drive, or Slack actions to email, archive, or notify the team.
Zapier integration code
Drop this snippet into your project, replace `PDF_API_KEY`, and generate your first PDF. Pair it with the curl request for quick smoke tests.
POST https://api.yourdomain.com/v1/render
Authorization: Bearer {{secrets.PDF_API_KEY}}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"html": "{{lead_name}}
{{proposal_html}}
",
"options": {
"format": "A4",
"printBackground": true
}
}
Test with curl
curl -X POST https://api.yourdomain.com/v1/render \
-H "authorization: Bearer ${PDF_API_KEY}" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{"html":"Zapier Deal
Closed Won
"}' \
--output zapier-deal.pdf
Common pitfalls & fixes
- Rate limiting is per API key. Upgrade to Pro if your zap fires more than 10 times per minute.
- Store the API key in Zapier Secrets Manager; never hard-code it in plaintext fields.
- Large HTML payloads increase render time—keep templates lean.
FAQ
Can I attach CSS or external images?
Host assets publicly. The Worker fetches external CSS, fonts, and images before rendering.
How do I retry failed renders?
Configure Zapier’s automatic retry or add a filter step that checks the HTTP status code before continuing.