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Create PDF with IronPDF in C#: A Quick Guide for .NET Developers

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Creating PDFs in C# doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're building invoices, generating reports, or exporting HTML content, IronPDF provides a powerful and flexible API for creating professional-grade PDFs in your .NET applications.

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to get started - from setup and basic usage to real-world applications. Designed for .NET developers, this article focuses on ease of use, performance, and integrating PDF creation into your existing C# workflows.

Introduction to IronPDF

IronPDF is a feature-rich .NET PDF library built to give developers full control over various PDF generation tasks and working with existing PDF documents. It allows you to convert HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into print-perfect PDFs without the need for browser dependencies or external tools like wkhtmltopdf or Puppeteer.

Unlike traditional PDF libraries that require low-level drawing commands or rigid document object models, IronPDF embraces web technologies. This means you can design your content as HTML and render it into a PDF that looks exactly like it would on a web page or printer.

Why Choose IronPDF for .NET?

  • 🧩 Seamless .NET integration: Works with .NET Framework, .NET Core, .NET 5/6/7+, and ASP.NET.
  • 🖼️ Browser-accurate rendering: Converts HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into PDF files that match browser print previews, meaning pages render exactly like the Microsoft Office print preview.
  • ⚙️ No external tools required: All rendering is self-contained - no need to install Chrome or wkhtmltopdf.
  • 🛠️ Flexible output options: Save to file, memory stream, or byte array for APIs and cloud applications.
  • 🔒 Commercial-ready: Great for enterprise use cases with licensing types for teams and projects of any size.
  • 📑 PDF Editing Support: Offers full support for developers looking to modify PDF files, such as adding PDF images, custom font size, page numbers, and more.
  • ✅ Good Documentation: IronPDF offers extensive documentation, so you can hit the ground running.

Getting Started

Getting up and running with IronPDF is fast and easy. Here's how to set up your environment and generate your first PDF document.

Install IronPDF via the NuGet Package Manager Console

To get the IronPDF library up and running in your project, all you need to do is run the following command in the Package Manager Console:

Install-Package IronPdf

This will install all dependencies, and you're ready to start coding.

Basic Setup in a C# Project

Start by creating a new project in Visual Studio, or open an existing one. You can use a console application, WinForms, WPF, or ASP.NET Core app - IronPDF works in all of them. Then import the namespace:

using IronPdf;

In the below code snippets, we'll explore how you can use IronPDF to easily generate PDF files.

Create Your First PDF in C#

Now that IronPDF is installed, let's generate a PDF using an HTML string. Thanks to its powerful rendering engine, IronPDF can carry out HTML to PDF conversion tasks with ease.

Generate PDF from HTML String

With IronPDF, you can easily generate PDF documents with HTML content.

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello, IronPDF!</h1><p>This is a test PDF.</p>");
pdf.SaveAs("HelloIronPDF.pdf");

Output

Here's what's happening in the above code example:

  • ChromePdfRenderer is the rendering engine responsible for converting HTML into PDF format.
  • RenderHtmlAsPdf() takes raw HTML content and renders it exactly as a browser would.
  • SaveAs() writes the final PDF to disk.

In just a few lines, you have a fully styled, print-ready PDF!

Create a Blank PDF Document

Alternatively, you can create PDF files that start out as a simple, blank PDF document of a custom size.

PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument(270, 270);

pdf.SaveAs("blankPdf.pdf");

Advanced PDF Creation Options

IronPDF supports advanced HTML rendering and layout features out-of-the-box.

Add Images, Styles, and JavaScript

You can embed CSS and external resources to style the PDF document:

string htmlContent = @"
  <html>
    <head>
      <style>body { font-family: Arial; } h1 { color: darkblue; }</style>
    </head>
    <body>
      <h1>Styled PDF</h1>
      <p>PDF with custom CSS and an image:</p>
      <img src='https://example.com/logo.png' width='150' />
    </body>
  </html>";

var styledPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);\
styledPdf.SaveAs("StyledOutput.pdf");

Output

IronPDF makes it easy to create a PDF document from styled HTML content. Do you have a complex report template that you want to use to add a visual appeal to those monthly reports? Or perhaps you're looking for something to handle turning your web portfolio into an easy to share PDF? No matter your needs IronPDF has you covered.

Beyond using CSS and JavaScript to create stand-out PDF documents, IronPDF also has powerful PDF editing tools such as a stamper that allows you to add images to your PDF with ease.

Use HTML Files or URLs

You can also render directly from an existing HTML file or a live web page:

// From file
var pdfFromFile = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("template.html");

// From URL
var pdfFromUrl = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.apple.com");

URL Output

This is particularly useful when you're converting templated pages or public content into PDFs. Always remember to reference the correct file path for your HTML file to ensure proper HTML to PDF conversion.

Use Cases for .NET Developers

IronPDF isn't just for simple PDF conversion. Here are real-world examples where it shines:

Invoice Generation

Design a Razor view or HTML template with placeholders for customer data, pricing, and tax. Fill the template with data at runtime and convert it to a downloadable PDF invoice.

Automated Reports

Use C# to pull data from a database or API, format it as HTML (including charts or tables), and export a styled PDF report automatically - ideal for monthly summaries or dashboards.

Web Content Archiving

If you need to archive web content - like legal documents, receipts, or dynamic dashboards - IronPDF lets you take a "snapshot" of any URL and save it as a timestamped PDF.

Conclusion

IronPDF takes the complexity out of PDF generation for .NET developers. With simple setup, rich HTML rendering, and extensive features like JavaScript support, custom styling, and real-time URL conversion, it's the ideal solution for any C# developer looking to create professional-quality PDFs quickly.

Whether you're building enterprise software or lightweight tools, IronPDF fits right into your workflow. If you want to see more of this powerful PDF library in action, be sure to check out the documentation, where you will see complete code samples in action, learn more about the different features it has to offer, and how you can utilize this tool to elevate your PDF tasks.

🧪 Try It Free Today

IronPDF offers a free trial, so you can test all features without limitations before licensing.
👉 Download IronPDF and start generating PDFs in minutes

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