How to Convert Markdown to HTML Online
Convert Markdown syntax to clean HTML instantly with our free browser-based converter. Supports headings, lists, tables, code blocks, and more.
Steps
Paste your Markdown
Copy your Markdown text and paste it into the left editor panel. The tool supports all standard CommonMark syntax including headings (# H1, ## H2), bold (**bold**), italic (*italic*), links, images, ordered and unordered lists, blockquotes, and fenced code blocks.
Preview the rendered output
The right panel shows a live preview of how your Markdown renders. This is the best way to spot formatting issues before copying the HTML — check that all headings, links, and code blocks appear as expected.
Switch to HTML source view
Toggle the output panel to 'HTML Source' mode to see the raw HTML that was generated. This is what you will copy into your CMS, static site generator, or email template.
Adjust options if needed
Enable GitHub Flavoured Markdown (GFM) for table support and task list checkboxes. Enable 'sanitize output' to strip any inline scripts and keep the HTML safe for embedding in user-facing content.
Copy the HTML
Click Copy HTML to send the generated markup to your clipboard. Paste it wherever you need clean, semantic HTML — no further editing typically required.
Why Convert Markdown to HTML?
Markdown was designed as a lightweight writing syntax that is easy for humans to read and write, while being convertible to HTML. Many writers and developers author content in Markdown — in README files, documentation sites, static site generators like Jekyll and Hugo, and note-taking apps like Obsidian — because it keeps their focus on the words rather than HTML tags. But when you need to publish that content in a CMS, send it in an email, or embed it in a web application, you need clean HTML. A Markdown-to-HTML converter bridges that gap instantly without requiring a build pipeline or command-line tools. You can also use it to preview how your Markdown will look before committing to a repository.
Common Markdown Syntax Reference
If you are new to Markdown, here are the most commonly used elements: Headings use hash symbols (# for H1, ## for H2, up to ###### for H6). Bold text is wrapped in double asterisks (**bold**) and italic in single asterisks (*italic*). Links use the format [link text](URL). Images use the same format with a leading exclamation mark: . Unordered lists start each item with a hyphen or asterisk. Ordered lists start with numbers followed by a period. Code is wrapped in backticks (`inline code`) or triple backticks for blocks. Blockquotes use a leading > character. Horizontal rules are three or more hyphens on their own line. Learning these 12–15 patterns covers 95% of everyday writing needs.
Markdown in Different Ecosystems
Markdown is not a single standard — different platforms implement it differently, which can cause surprises when content moves between systems. GitHub and GitLab use GitHub Flavoured Markdown, which adds tables, task lists, and autolinked URLs. Slack and Discord support a subset of Markdown for chat messages. Jekyll, Hugo, and Next.js support full CommonMark plus front matter YAML. Email clients do not support Markdown at all and require fully inlined CSS HTML. WordPress can accept Markdown with a plugin but natively expects HTML. When converting Markdown for a specific platform, enable the options that match that platform's flavour. When in doubt, generate the HTML, inspect it, and test it in the target environment before publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The converter supports CommonMark as the baseline, which covers all the standard syntax. GitHub Flavoured Markdown (GFM) support adds tables, task lists (- [x] checked items), and strikethrough (~~text~~). Toggle GFM mode if your content uses any of these extensions.
Yes. Fenced code blocks with a language identifier (e.g., ```javascript) are converted to <pre><code class="language-javascript"> tags. Add a syntax highlighting library like Prism.js or Highlight.js to your webpage and the code will automatically render with colour highlighting.
The reverse direction (HTML to Markdown) is a different operation. Several tools support this — look for an HTML-to-Markdown converter. The forward direction (Markdown to HTML) is lossless and fast; the reverse can be lossy because HTML can express formatting that has no Markdown equivalent.
Tables are a GFM extension, not part of base CommonMark. Make sure GFM mode is enabled. Also verify that your table has the required alignment row (the row of dashes and colons that separates the header from the body) and that each row has the same number of columns.