Pdfco MCP Server

PDF.co MCP Server provides [PDF.co API](https://pdf.co) functionality through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling AI assistants to easily

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Pdfco MCP MCP server?

Connect Pdfco MCP to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. PDF.co MCP Server provides PDF.co API functionality through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling AI assistants to easily perform various PDF processing tasks. The pdfco mcp mcp server is what makes that connection.

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • pdf_to_json — Convert PDF and scanned images into JSON representation with text, fonts, images, vectors, and formatting preserved
  • pdf_to_csv — Convert PDF and scanned images into CSV representation with layout, columns, rows, and tables
  • pdf_to_text — Convert PDF and scanned images to text with layout preserved
  • pdf_to_xls — Convert PDF and scanned images to XLS (Excel 97-2003) format
  • pdf_to_xlsx — Convert PDF and scanned images to XLSX (Excel 2007+) format
  • pdf_to_xml — Convert PDF and scanned images to XML format
  • pdf_to_html — Convert PDF and scanned images to HTML format
  • pdf_to_image — Convert PDF and scanned images to various image formats (JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF)
  • document_to_pdf — Convert various document types (DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, XLS, XLSX, CSV, HTML, JPG, PNG, TIFF, WEBP) into PDF
  • csv_to_pdf — Convert CSV or spreadsheet files (XLS, XLSX) to PDF
  • image_to_pdf — Convert various image formats (JPG, PNG, TIFF) to PDF
  • webpage_to_pdf — Convert external webpage URL to PDF

Credentials and setup notes

Configuration is passed through the environment: X_API_KEY. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Installation

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.

Where it fits

This sits in the team communication group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Pdfco MCP's toolset — pdf_to_json, pdf_to_csv, pdf_to_text and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by pdfdotco; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Pdfco MCP's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Worth knowing first

  • 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.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Pdfco MCP.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
pdf_to_jsonConvert PDF and scanned images into JSON representation with text, fonts, images, vectors, and formatting preserved
pdf_to_csvConvert PDF and scanned images into CSV representation with layout, columns, rows, and tables
pdf_to_textConvert PDF and scanned images to text with layout preserved
pdf_to_xlsConvert PDF and scanned images to XLS (Excel 97-2003) format
pdf_to_xlsxConvert PDF and scanned images to XLSX (Excel 2007+) format
pdf_to_xmlConvert PDF and scanned images to XML format
pdf_to_htmlConvert PDF and scanned images to HTML format
pdf_to_imageConvert PDF and scanned images to various image formats (JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF)
document_to_pdfConvert various document types (DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, XLS, XLSX, CSV, HTML, JPG, PNG, TIFF, WEBP) into PDF
csv_to_pdfConvert CSV or spreadsheet files (XLS, XLSX) to PDF
image_to_pdfConvert various image formats (JPG, PNG, TIFF) to PDF
webpage_to_pdfConvert external webpage URL to PDF
html_to_pdfConvert HTML to PDF
email_to_pdfConvert email to PDF

How to install the Pdfco MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pdfco": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["pdfco-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "X_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

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

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
X_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Pdfco MCP to pdf to json.
  • Use Pdfco MCP to pdf to csv.
  • Use Pdfco MCP to pdf to text.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Pdfco MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (pdf_to_json, pdf_to_csv, pdf_to_text, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Pdfco MCP directly.