Finance

Proforma invoice PDF generator API

A proforma invoice with itemized pricing, validity and payment terms, sent before the final invoice is raised.

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A proforma invoice tells a buyer what a sale will cost before it is completed. Buyers use it to approve a purchase, arrange a deposit or prepare shipping paperwork, while the final invoice follows once the goods or services are delivered.

This template covers itemized pricing, tax, shipping, a validity date and payment terms, and states clearly that it is not a tax invoice. Create one from an accepted quote or a draft order with a single API call.

Generate a Proforma Invoice PDF via the API

POST your data to /api/v1/generate and get a PDF back. Copy-paste an example, swap in your API key, and loop over a list to render thousands — one proforma invoice per record.

curl -X POST https://pdfgen.com/api/v1/generate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer pdfg_live_xxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "data": {
      "seller": {
        "name": "Pacific Supply Co.",
        "address": "500 Cannery Row\nMonterey, CA 93940"
      },
      "buyer": {
        "name": "Northwind Studio",
        "address": "120 Market St\nSan Francisco, CA 94103"
      },
      "proformaNumber": "PF-2026-112",
      "issuedDate": "2026-06-10",
      "validUntil": "2026-07-10",
      "currency": "USD",
      "items": [
        {
          "description": "Standing desk (electric)",
          "quantity": 4,
          "unitPrice": 480,
          "amount": 1920
        },
        {
          "description": "Ergonomic chair",
          "quantity": 4,
          "unitPrice": 260,
          "amount": 1040
        }
      ],
      "subtotal": 2960,
      "taxRate": 8.5,
      "tax": 251.6,
      "shipping": 120,
      "total": 3331.6,
      "paymentTerms": "50% deposit on order, balance before dispatch."
    },
    "format": "A4",
    "engine": "handlebars",
    "html": "<div style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0 auto;padding:48px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#111827;\">\n  <div style=\"display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:flex-start;margin-bottom:36px;\">\n    <div>\n      {{#if logo}}<img src=\"{{logo}}\" alt=\"\" style=\"display:block;max-width:200px;max-height:56px;margin:0 0 10px;\">{{/if}}\n      <h1 style=\"font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0;\">{{seller.name}}</h1>\n      <p style=\"color:#6b7280;margin:6px 0 0;font-size:13px;white-space:pre-line;\">{{seller.address}}</p>\n    </div>\n    <div style=\"text-align:right;\">\n      <h2 style=\"font-size:24px;letter-spacing:2px;color:#4338ca;margin:0;font-weight:800;\">PROFORMA INVOICE</h2>\n      <p style=\"margin:8px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">#{{proformaNumber}}</p>\n      <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{formatDate issuedDate}}</p>\n    </div>\n  </div>\n  <div style=\"display:flex;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:28px;\">\n    <div>\n      <p style=\"font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5px;color:#9ca3af;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 8px;\">Prepared for</p>\n      <p style=\"margin:0;font-weight:600;\">{{buyer.name}}</p>\n      <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;white-space:pre-line;\">{{buyer.address}}</p>\n    </div>\n    <div style=\"text-align:right;\">\n      <p style=\"font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5px;color:#9ca3af;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 8px;\">Valid until</p>\n      <p style=\"margin:0;font-weight:600;\">{{formatDate validUntil}}</p>\n    </div>\n  </div>\n  <table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;line-height:inherit;\">\n    <thead>\n      <tr style=\"background:#eef2ff;text-align:left;\">\n        <th style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #c7d2fe;\">Description</th>\n        <th style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #c7d2fe;text-align:center;\">Qty</th>\n        <th style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #c7d2fe;text-align:right;\">Unit</th>\n        <th style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #c7d2fe;text-align:right;\">Amount</th>\n      </tr>\n    </thead>\n    <tbody>\n      {{#each items}}\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #f3f4f6;\">{{description}}</td>\n        <td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #f3f4f6;text-align:center;\">{{quantity}}</td>\n        <td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #f3f4f6;text-align:right;\">{{formatCurrency unitPrice ../currency}}</td>\n        <td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #f3f4f6;text-align:right;\">{{formatCurrency amount ../currency}}</td>\n      </tr>\n      {{/each}}\n    </tbody>\n  </table>\n  <table style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:inherit;min-width:240px;margin:20px 0 0 auto;\">\n    <tr><td style=\"padding:4px 0;color:#6b7280;\">Subtotal</td><td style=\"padding:4px 0;text-align:right;\">{{formatCurrency subtotal currency}}</td></tr>\n    {{#if taxRate}}<tr><td style=\"padding:4px 0;color:#6b7280;\">Tax ({{taxRate}}%)</td><td style=\"padding:4px 0;text-align:right;\">{{formatCurrency tax currency}}</td></tr>{{/if}}\n    {{#if shipping}}<tr><td style=\"padding:4px 0;color:#6b7280;\">Shipping</td><td style=\"padding:4px 0;text-align:right;\">{{formatCurrency shipping currency}}</td></tr>{{/if}}\n    <tr><td style=\"padding:12px 0 0;font-weight:800;font-size:16px;\">Estimated total</td><td style=\"padding:12px 0 0;text-align:right;font-weight:800;font-size:16px;color:#4338ca;\">{{formatCurrency total currency}}</td></tr>\n  </table>\n  {{#if paymentTerms}}\n  <p style=\"font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5px;color:#9ca3af;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 8px;margin-top:32px;\">Payment terms</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;font-size:13px;color:#374151;white-space:pre-line;\">{{paymentTerms}}</p>\n  {{/if}}\n  <p style=\"margin-top:40px;font-size:12px;color:#9ca3af;border-top:1px solid #f3f4f6;padding-top:16px;\">This proforma invoice is an estimate. It is not a tax invoice or a demand for payment.</p>\n</div>"
  }' --output proforma-invoice.pdf

Working in another language? Follow a full guide for your stack:

Node.jsNext.jsReactPythonDjangoRuby on RailsLaravelPHPGo

What you can build

  • Sending a proforma as soon as a draft order is created
  • Requesting a deposit before production starts
  • Giving international buyers pricing for import paperwork
  • Turning an accepted quote into a proforma automatically

Frequently asked questions

Is a proforma invoice a real invoice?
No. It is an estimate sent before a sale is final, so it is not a tax invoice and does not create a payment obligation. Issue a normal invoice once the sale is complete.
How is a proforma invoice different from a quote?
A quote offers a price for a buyer to consider. A proforma usually comes later, once the buyer intends to go ahead, and it shows close to what the final invoice will say.
Can I generate proformas in bulk?
Yes. Save the template once, then call /api/v1/generate for each order. Each call returns a PDF, so no browser needs to be managed on your side.

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Ship your proforma invoice PDF endpoint today

Generate this template with AI, tweak it to match your brand, then render at scale with a single API call — no headless browsers to babysit.