How to add a page break in a Markdown PDF
Markdown has no native page-break syntax. The converter places breaks automatically - but you can guide them.
What the converter does automatically
- Heading + first body block stay together - no orphan headings at the bottom of a page.
- Tables under ~30 rows stay on one page.
- Code blocks under 14 lines stay on one page.
- Images stay with their captions.
- Lists keep at least the first item with the list intro.
Tricks to influence breaks
- Lead a major new topic with an H1. The converter pushes the H1 forward if the section won't fit on the current page.
- Break a long paragraph into two shorter paragraphs - gives the renderer more flexibility.
- Move a tall table to its own H1 section.
- Add a horizontal rule (`---`) before a section that should feel separated; the renderer treats it as a soft break.
Why no `\pagebreak` syntax
Markdown is intentionally simple. Adding LaTeX-style commands fights that. The converter's heuristics handle 95% of cases correctly; for the rest, structure the source rather than annotating it.
If you absolutely need an explicit break (some documents demand it), Pandoc + LaTeX is the right tool. See the Pandoc-alternative comparison.
FAQ
Does an HR (`---`) force a page break?
No. It renders as a horizontal rule with light margin. It influences pagination indirectly - the renderer is more willing to break before/after a rule than mid-paragraph - but it does not force a break.
Can I keep two sections on the same page?
Section-keeping is automatic for short sections (under ~600pt). For longer pairs, the rendered output may split. Re-order the source if you need them adjacent.
Is there a way to start every H1 on a new page?
Not via a setting in v1. Whether to break before H1 is one of those decisions that should be heuristic, not a switch - most documents don't want every chapter on its own page.
Related
https://md2document.com/how-to-add-page-break-in-markdown-pdf/