Free HTML to Markdown Converter – Convert HTML to MD Instantly
Transform HTML code into clean, readable Markdown with our free online converter. Supports headings, links, images, tables, code blocks, and more. Perfect for content migration, documentation, and blogging.
What Is HTML to Markdown Conversion?
HTML to Markdown conversion transforms web content written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) into Markdown—a lightweight markup language designed for readability and simplicity. This process is essential for moving content between platforms, websites, and documentation systems.
Why Convert HTML to Markdown?
The shift toward Markdown has accelerated across numerous platforms and industries:
Content Management: Many modern CMS platforms, static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo, Next.js), and documentation tools (GitBook, Docusaurus) use Markdown as their primary format.
Version Control: Markdown files work beautifully with Git, enabling proper version control, diffing, and collaboration on documentation.
Platform Portability: Markdown content moves seamlessly between WordPress, Ghost, Medium, DEV.to, and countless other platforms.
Readability: Unlike HTML, Markdown is human-readable even in its raw form, making editing and reviewing easier.
How to Use This Converter
Step 1: Paste Your HTML
Copy HTML code from any source and paste it into the input area. We accept:
- Full HTML documents
- HTML snippets
- Rich text copied from websites
- CMS WYSIWYG output
Step 2: View Conversion
Markdown generates automatically in the output panel. Review the conversion for:
- Proper heading hierarchy
- Intact link URLs
- Correct list formatting
- Table structure preservation
Step 3: Preview (Optional)
Enable preview mode to see rendered Markdown, confirming visual accuracy before use.
Step 4: Copy or Download
Click "Copy" to add the Markdown to your clipboard, or "Download" to save as a .md file.
Supported Elements
Our converter handles all common HTML elements:
Structure Elements
| HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|
<h1> to <h6> | # to ###### |
<p> | Paragraph with blank lines |
<br> | Line break |
<hr> | --- |
Text Formatting
| HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|
<strong>, <b> | **bold** |
<em>, <i> | *italic* |
<code> | `code` |
<pre><code> | Code blocks |
Links and Media
| HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|
<a href=""> | [text](url) |
<img src="" alt=""> |  |
Lists
| HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|
<ul><li> | - item |
<ol><li> | 1. item |
Block Elements
| HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|
<blockquote> | > quote |
<pre><code> | Fenced code blocks |
Tables
HTML tables convert to GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) table syntax:
| Header 1 | Header 2 |
| --- | --- |
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 |
Use Cases
Blog Migration
Moving a WordPress blog to a static site generator requires converting posts to Markdown:
- Export blog posts as HTML
- Convert each post using our tool
- Import into Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, or Astro
- Publish on your new platform
Documentation Updates
Technical writers frequently convert legacy documentation:
- Copy HTML from existing docs
- Convert to Markdown
- Store in Git repositories
- Enable collaborative editing
Content Repurposing
Content marketers adapt existing HTML content:
- Convert web page content
- Edit in Markdown editor
- Publish across platforms
- Maintain source in Markdown
Email Templates
Some developers maintain email content in Markdown:
- Convert HTML emails to Markdown
- Edit content easily
- Convert back to HTML for sending
- Keep readable source files
Markdown Syntax Guide
Headings
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
Text Formatting
**Bold text**
*Italic text*
***Bold and italic***
`Inline code`
Links and Images
[Link text](https://example.com)

[Link with title](https://example.com "Title")
Lists
Unordered:
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Nested item
Ordered:
1. First
2. Second
3. Third
Code Blocks
```javascript
const greeting = "Hello, World!";
console.log(greeting);
```
Blockquotes
> This is a blockquote.
> It can span multiple lines.
Best Practices
Cleaning Up Conversion
After conversion, review and clean:
- Remove excess whitespace from paragraph breaks
- Verify link URLs are complete and correct
- Check image paths for proper references
- Confirm code blocks have appropriate language tags
- Validate table alignment in rendered output
Handling Complex HTML
Some HTML elements have no direct Markdown equivalent:
| HTML | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
<div> | Remove or replace with paragraphs |
<span> | Remove styling spans |
<iframe> | Use raw HTML (supported in most parsers) |
| CSS styling | Remove (Markdown has no styling) |
| JavaScript | Remove entirely |
Markdown Flavors
Different platforms use slightly different Markdown:
| Flavor | Features |
|---|---|
| CommonMark | Standard specification |
| GFM | Tables, strikethrough, task lists |
| MDX | React components in Markdown |
| Pandoc | Extended academic features |
Our converter outputs GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), the most widely supported variant.
Technical Implementation
How Conversion Works
Our converter processes HTML through these steps:
- Parsing: HTML is analyzed for structure and elements
- Mapping: Each HTML tag maps to Markdown syntax
- Transformation: Content is converted while preserving hierarchy
- Cleaning: Excess whitespace and artifacts are removed
- Output: Clean Markdown is generated
Client-Side Processing
All conversion happens in your browser:
- No server communication required
- Your content stays private
- Works offline after page load
- Instant processing speed
Edge Case Handling
The converter manages:
- Nested elements (bold within italic)
- Deep list nesting
- Tables with complex content
- Mixed content types
- Malformed HTML (best effort)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it preserve all formatting?
Most common formatting converts accurately. Some HTML-specific styling (colors, fonts, complex layouts) has no Markdown equivalent and is stripped.
What about inline CSS?
CSS styles are removed since Markdown doesn't support styling. Structure (headers, lists) is preserved; appearance is not.
Can it handle malformed HTML?
The converter attempts best-effort conversion of imperfect HTML. Results vary based on the specific issues present.
Why do some elements disappear?
Elements like <div>, <span>, <script>, and <style> have no Markdown equivalent and are removed or converted to plain text.
Does it support tables?
Yes! Tables convert to GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) table syntax, the most widely supported table format.
Can I convert Markdown back to HTML?
This tool converts HTML to Markdown. For the reverse, see our Markdown to HTML Converter.
Is there a size limit?
The tool handles large documents efficiently. Very large files (millions of characters) may cause browser slowdowns.
Does it preserve images?
Image tags convert to Markdown syntax. The image files themselves are not processed—only the reference syntax changes.
HTML vs Markdown Comparison
| Aspect | HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|---|
| Learning curve | Steep | Gentle |
| Readability | Low (raw) | High |
| Flexibility | Total | Limited |
| Portability | Universal | Platform-dependent |
| Version control | Poor diffs | Clean diffs |
| Editing speed | Slower | Faster |
When to Use Each Format
Use HTML When
- Building web pages
- Creating email templates
- Needing precise styling control
- Working with complex layouts
Use Markdown When
- Writing documentation
- Creating blog posts
- Collaborating on content
- Storing in version control
- Prioritizing readability
Related Tools
Explore more conversion and content tools:
- Markdown to HTML Converter — Convert MD to HTML
- HTML Formatter — Beautify HTML code
- HTML Minifier — Compress HTML
- JSON Formatter — Format JSON data
- XML Formatter — Beautify XML
Tips for Clean Conversions
Before Converting
- Remove unnecessary
<div>and<span>wrappers - Ensure proper HTML structure
- Fix broken or malformed tags
After Converting
- Review heading hierarchy
- Check link integrity
- Verify list formatting
- Test in target platform
For Best Results
- Use semantic HTML (proper tags)
- Avoid inline styles
- Keep structure simple
- Minimize nesting depth
Paste your HTML above to convert to clean Markdown. Experience instant, accurate conversion with complete privacy.