How to create PDF app using Flutter with source code

Below is a beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide to creating a PDF app in Flutter, including complete source code.
This example shows how to generate a PDF and preview it inside the app.

What this app will do

✅ Create a PDF
✅ Add text to the PDF
✅ Save the PDF locally
✅ Open/preview the PDF

1. Create a new Flutter project

flutter create pdf_app
cd pdf_app

2. Add required dependencies

Open pubspec.yaml and add:

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  pdf: ^3.10.7
  path_provider: ^2.1.2
  open_file: ^3.3.2

Then run:

flutter pub get

3. Import required packages

Open lib/main.dart and add these imports:

import 'dart:io';
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:pdf/widgets.dart' as pw;
import 'package:path_provider/path_provider.dart';
import 'package:open_file/open_file.dart';

4. Full Source Code (main.dart)

void main() {
  runApp(const MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  const MyApp({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
      title: 'Flutter PDF App',
      home: const HomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class HomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  const HomePage({super.key});

  Future<void> createPDF() async {
    final pdf = pw.Document();

    pdf.addPage(
      pw.Page(
        build: (pw.Context context) {
          return pw.Center(
            child: pw.Text(
              'Hello! This PDF was created using Flutter 🎉',
              style: pw.TextStyle(fontSize: 24),
            ),
          );
        },
      ),
    );

    final dir = await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();
    final file = File('${dir.path}/example.pdf');

    await file.writeAsBytes(await pdf.save());

    // Open the PDF file
    await OpenFile.open(file.path);
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: const Text('Flutter PDF App'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          onPressed: createPDF,
          child: const Text('Create & Open PDF'),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

5. Run the app

flutter run

Tap “Create & Open PDF” → The PDF will be generated and opened automatically.

Result

📄 A PDF file containing:

Hello! This PDF was created using Flutter 🎉

What you can add next

• 🧾 Tables (invoices, reports)
• 🖼 Images in PDF
• ✍ User input (forms → PDF)
• 📤 Share PDF
• 📚 Multiple pages