Pdf MCP Server

A simple Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides PDF reading capabilities using pdfplumber.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Pdf MCP server?

Most developer tooling work still happens through a UI a human drives. Pdf MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. A simple Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides PDF reading capabilities using pdfplumber.

The short version

  • extract_text — Extract all text content from PDF files
  • get_pdf_info — Get basic PDF information (page count, metadata, dimensions)
  • extract_tables — Extract tables from PDF files

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 3 tools. What each one is for:

  • extract_text — The extract_text tool exposed by this server
  • get_pdf_info — The get_pdf_info tool exposed by this server
  • extract_tables — The extract_tables tool exposed by this server

What it needs from you

  • Python 3.10+ - pdfplumber - mcp

Getting it running

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

How it compares

Plenty of developer tooling servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. Pdf's toolset — extract_text, get_pdf_info, extract_tables — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by gstiebler; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
extract_textThe extract_text tool exposed by this server.
get_pdf_infoThe get_pdf_info tool exposed by this server.
extract_tablesThe extract_tables tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Pdf MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pdf-reader": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/gstiebler/pdf-mcp-server.git", "pdf-mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

  • Python 3.10+ - pdfplumber - mcp

Example prompts to try

  • Use Pdf to extract text.
  • Use Pdf to get pdf info.
  • Use Pdf to extract tables.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Pdf to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 3 tools (extract_text, get_pdf_info, extract_tables) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Pdf directly.