A printer-friendly version of anything you paste
Strip the clutter, pick a typeface and a line width, then print or save as PDF. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is stored.
Make a printer-friendly version
Printer-friendly version
Why printed pages need a different layout
A web page is built for a lit screen you scroll. Paper is reflective, fixed in size and read in a single pass. Carrying one design across to the other wastes ink and makes the text harder to follow, which is why the "printer friendly version" link became standard on news sites, recipe pages and documentation.
What a good print layout removes
- Navigation, sidebars, share buttons and comment threads.
- Dark or coloured backgrounds, which drink ink and lower contrast on paper.
- Fixed headers that repeat on every printed sheet or cover the text.
- Images that carry no information, while keeping the ones that do.
Print settings worth changing
| Setting | Suggestion | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | 90 to 95 per cent | Pulls stray orphan lines back onto the previous sheet |
| Margins | Default or minimum | Minimum fits more text; default leaves room for binding or notes |
| Background graphics | Off | Removes tints and dark blocks that waste ink |
| Headers and footers | Off for reading, on for filing | The URL and date matter for a record copy, not a reading copy |
| Colour | Greyscale unless charts need colour | Cheaper, and usually just as readable |
Printing straight to PDF
Every current browser and phone can print to PDF without any extra software. On Windows choose Microsoft Print to PDF in the printer list, on macOS use the PDF menu in the print dialog, and on iOS or Android pick Save as PDF from the print sheet. The result keeps the text selectable and searchable, which a screenshot does not.
Common questions
How do I get a printer-friendly version of a web page?
Copy the text of the article, paste it into the box above and build the page. That removes navigation, adverts and sidebars, leaving the words at a size and line width chosen for paper rather than a screen.
How do I save a page as a PDF instead of printing it?
Use the print dialog and choose Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows, the PDF menu on macOS, or Save as PDF on iOS and Android. The text stays selectable and searchable, which a screenshot does not.
Why does my printout waste so much ink?
Most of it is background graphics. Turning that setting off in the print dialog removes coloured blocks and tints, and printing in greyscale removes the rest.
Does my text get uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens inside your browser.