diff --git a/buildutils/src/utils.ts b/buildutils/src/utils.ts
index a7805fd945e5..a29f7661f628 100644
--- a/buildutils/src/utils.ts
+++ b/buildutils/src/utils.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ export function writePackageData(pkgJsonPath: string, data: any): boolean {
  * Read a json file.
  */
 export function readJSONFile(filePath: string): any {
-  return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8'));
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8'));
+  } catch (e) {
+    throw `Cannot read JSON for path ${filePath}: ${e}`;
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/apputils-extension/schema/print.json b/packages/apputils-extension/schema/print.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8e6976f372d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apputils-extension/schema/print.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "title": "Print",
+  "description": "Print settings.",
+  "jupyter.lab.shortcuts": [
+    {
+      "command": "apputils:print",
+      "keys": ["Accel P"],
+      "selector": "body"
+    }
+  ],
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "properties": {},
+  "type": "object"
+}
diff --git a/packages/apputils-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/apputils-extension/src/index.ts
index d9943021f3ba..86fae3d1680d 100644
--- a/packages/apputils-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/apputils-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ import {
   IThemeManager,
   IWindowResolver,
   ThemeManager,
-  WindowResolver
+  WindowResolver,
+  Printing
 } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
 
 import {
@@ -69,6 +70,8 @@ namespace CommandIDs {
   export const resetOnLoad = 'apputils:reset-on-load';
 
   export const saveState = 'apputils:save-statedb';
+
+  export const print = 'apputils:print';
 }
 
 /**
@@ -298,6 +301,27 @@ const splash: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<ISplashScreen> = {
   }
 };
 
+const print: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
+  id: '@jupyterlab/apputils-extension:print',
+  autoStart: true,
+  activate: (app: JupyterFrontEnd) => {
+    app.commands.addCommand(CommandIDs.print, {
+      label: 'Print...',
+      isEnabled: () => {
+        const widget = app.shell.currentWidget;
+        return Printing.getPrintFunction(widget) !== null;
+      },
+      execute: async () => {
+        const widget = app.shell.currentWidget;
+        const printFunction = Printing.getPrintFunction(widget);
+        if (printFunction) {
+          await printFunction();
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * The default state database for storing application state.
  */
@@ -567,7 +591,8 @@ const plugins: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<any>[] = [
   state,
   splash,
   themes,
-  themesPaletteMenu
+  themesPaletteMenu,
+  print
 ];
 export default plugins;
 
diff --git a/packages/apputils/src/index.ts b/packages/apputils/src/index.ts
index 85b4eec37259..b8c5d22a02be 100644
--- a/packages/apputils/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/apputils/src/index.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export * from './iframe';
 export * from './inputdialog';
 export * from './instancetracker';
 export * from './mainareawidget';
+export * from './printing';
 export * from './sanitizer';
 export * from './spinner';
 export * from './splash';
diff --git a/packages/apputils/src/mainareawidget.ts b/packages/apputils/src/mainareawidget.ts
index 6523821de8e3..e0a875db7598 100644
--- a/packages/apputils/src/mainareawidget.ts
+++ b/packages/apputils/src/mainareawidget.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import { Toolbar } from './toolbar';
 
 import { DOMUtils } from './domutils';
 
+import { Printing } from './printing';
+
 /**
  * A widget meant to be contained in the JupyterLab main area.
  *
@@ -20,7 +22,8 @@ import { DOMUtils } from './domutils';
  * This widget is automatically disposed when closed.
  * This widget ensures its own focus when activated.
  */
-export class MainAreaWidget<T extends Widget = Widget> extends Widget {
+export class MainAreaWidget<T extends Widget = Widget> extends Widget
+  implements Printing.IPrintable {
   /**
    * Construct a new main area widget.
    *
@@ -96,6 +99,13 @@ export class MainAreaWidget<T extends Widget = Widget> extends Widget {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Print method. Defered to content.
+   */
+  [Printing.symbol](): Printing.OptionalAsyncThunk {
+    return Printing.getPrintFunction(this._content);
+  }
+
   /**
    * The content hosted by the widget.
    */
diff --git a/packages/apputils/src/printing.ts b/packages/apputils/src/printing.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c3aede1c5582
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apputils/src/printing.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+/**
+ * Any object is "printable" if it implements the `IPrintable` interface.
+ *
+ * To do this it, it must have a method called `Printing.symbol` which returns either a function
+ * to print the object or null if it cannot be printed.
+ *
+ * One way of printing is to use the `printWidget` function, which creates a hidden iframe
+ * and copies the DOM nodes from your widget to that iframe and printing just that iframe.
+ *
+ * Another way to print is to use the `printURL` function, which takes a URL and prints that page.
+ */
+
+import { Widget } from '@phosphor/widgets';
+import { ServerConnection } from '@jupyterlab/services';
+
+export namespace Printing {
+  /**
+   * Function that takes no arguments and when invoked prints out some object or null if printing is not defined.
+   */
+  export type OptionalAsyncThunk = () => Promise<void> | null;
+
+  /**
+   * Symbol to use for a method that returns a function to print an object.
+   */
+  export const symbol = Symbol('printable');
+
+  /**
+   * Objects who provide a custom way of printing themselves
+   * should implement this interface.
+   */
+  export interface IPrintable {
+    /**
+     * Returns a function to print this object or null if it cannot be printed.
+     */
+    [symbol]: () => OptionalAsyncThunk;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns whether an object implements a print method.
+   */
+  export function isPrintable(a: unknown): a is IPrintable {
+    if (typeof a !== 'object' || !a) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return symbol in a;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the print function for an object, or null if it does not provide a handler.
+   */
+  export function getPrintFunction(val: unknown): OptionalAsyncThunk {
+    if (isPrintable(val)) {
+      return val[symbol]();
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Prints a widget by copying it's DOM node
+   * to a hidden iframe and printing that iframe.
+   */
+  export function printWidget(widget: Widget): Promise<void> {
+    return printContent(widget.node);
+  }
+
+  const settings = ServerConnection.makeSettings();
+  /**
+   * Prints a URL by loading it into an iframe.
+   *
+   * @param url URL to load into an iframe.
+   */
+  export async function printURL(url: string): Promise<void> {
+    const text = await (await ServerConnection.makeRequest(
+      url,
+      {},
+      settings
+    )).text();
+    return printContent(text);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Prints a URL or an element in an iframe and then removes the iframe after printing.
+   */
+  async function printContent(textOrEl: string | HTMLElement): Promise<void> {
+    const isText = typeof textOrEl === 'string';
+    const iframe = createIFrame();
+
+    const parent = window.document.body;
+    parent.appendChild(iframe);
+    if (isText) {
+      iframe.srcdoc = textOrEl as string;
+      await resolveWhenLoaded(iframe);
+    } else {
+      iframe.src = 'about:blank';
+      setIFrameNode(iframe, textOrEl as HTMLElement);
+    }
+    const printed = resolveAfterEvent();
+    launchPrint(iframe.contentWindow);
+    // Once the print dialog has been dismissed, we regain event handling,
+    // and it should be safe to discard the hidden iframe.
+    await printed;
+    parent.removeChild(iframe);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a new hidden iframe and appends it to the document
+   *
+   * Modified from
+   * https://github.com/joseluisq/printd/blob/eb7948d602583c055ab6dee3ee294b6a421da4b6/src/index.ts#L24
+   */
+  function createIFrame(): HTMLIFrameElement {
+    const el = window.document.createElement('iframe');
+
+    // We need both allow-modals and allow-same-origin to be able to
+    // call print in the iframe.
+    // We intentionally do not allow scripts:
+    // https://github.com/jupyterlab/jupyterlab/pull/5850#pullrequestreview-230899790
+    el.setAttribute('sandbox', 'allow-modals allow-same-origin');
+    const css =
+      'visibility:hidden;width:0;height:0;position:absolute;z-index:-9999;bottom:0;';
+    el.setAttribute('style', css);
+    el.setAttribute('width', '0');
+    el.setAttribute('height', '0');
+
+    return el;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Copies a node from the base document to the iframe.
+   */
+  function setIFrameNode(iframe: HTMLIFrameElement, node: HTMLElement) {
+    iframe.contentDocument.body.appendChild(node.cloneNode(true));
+    iframe.contentDocument.close();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Promise that resolves when all resources are loaded in the window.
+   */
+  function resolveWhenLoaded(iframe: HTMLIFrameElement): Promise<void> {
+    return new Promise(resolve => {
+      iframe.onload = () => resolve();
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A promise that resolves after the next mousedown, mousemove, or
+   * keydown event. We use this as a proxy for determining when the
+   * main window has regained control after the print dialog is removed.
+   *
+   * We can't use the usual window.onafterprint handler because we
+   * disallow Javascript execution in the print iframe.
+   */
+  function resolveAfterEvent(): Promise<void> {
+    return new Promise(resolve => {
+      const onEvent = () => {
+        document.removeEventListener('mousemove', onEvent, true);
+        document.removeEventListener('mousedown', onEvent, true);
+        document.removeEventListener('keydown', onEvent, true);
+        resolve();
+      };
+      document.addEventListener('mousemove', onEvent, true);
+      document.addEventListener('mousedown', onEvent, true);
+      document.addEventListener('keydown', onEvent, true);
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Prints a content window.
+   */
+  function launchPrint(contentWindow: Window) {
+    const result = contentWindow.document.execCommand('print', false, null);
+    // execCommand won't work in firefox so we call the `print` method instead if it fails
+    // https://github.com/joseluisq/printd/blob/eb7948d602583c055ab6dee3ee294b6a421da4b6/src/index.ts#L148
+    if (!result) {
+      contentWindow.print();
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/coreutils/src/pageconfig.ts b/packages/coreutils/src/pageconfig.ts
index dd1b44cc36c9..8036facc4375 100644
--- a/packages/coreutils/src/pageconfig.ts
+++ b/packages/coreutils/src/pageconfig.ts
@@ -154,6 +154,27 @@ export namespace PageConfig {
     return URLExt.normalize(wsUrl);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the URL converting this notebook to a certain
+   * format with nbconvert.
+   */
+  export function getNBConvertURL({
+    path,
+    format,
+    download
+  }: {
+    path: string;
+    format: string;
+    download: boolean;
+  }): string {
+    const notebookPath = URLExt.encodeParts(path);
+    const url = URLExt.join(getBaseUrl(), 'nbconvert', format, notebookPath);
+    if (download) {
+      return url + '?download=true';
+    }
+    return url;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get the authorization token for a Jupyter application.
    */
diff --git a/packages/docregistry/src/mimedocument.ts b/packages/docregistry/src/mimedocument.ts
index cdf75c6d4b24..65555f4a8ecb 100644
--- a/packages/docregistry/src/mimedocument.ts
+++ b/packages/docregistry/src/mimedocument.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 // Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-import { showErrorMessage } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
+import { showErrorMessage, Printing } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
 
 import { ActivityMonitor } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
 
@@ -78,6 +78,13 @@ export class MimeContent extends Widget {
    */
   readonly mimeType: string;
 
+  /**
+   * Print method. Defered to the renderer.
+   */
+  [Printing.symbol]() {
+    return Printing.getPrintFunction(this.renderer);
+  }
+
   /**
    * A promise that resolves when the widget is ready.
    */
diff --git a/packages/imageviewer/src/widget.ts b/packages/imageviewer/src/widget.ts
index 0f9f03c7282c..d54080dbf257 100644
--- a/packages/imageviewer/src/widget.ts
+++ b/packages/imageviewer/src/widget.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 import { PathExt } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
 
+import { Printing } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
+
 import {
   ABCWidgetFactory,
   DocumentRegistry,
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ const IMAGE_CLASS = 'jp-ImageViewer';
 /**
  * A widget for images.
  */
-export class ImageViewer extends Widget {
+export class ImageViewer extends Widget implements Printing.IPrintable {
   /**
    * Construct a new image widget.
    */
@@ -54,6 +56,13 @@ export class ImageViewer extends Widget {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Print in iframe.
+   */
+  [Printing.symbol]() {
+    return () => Printing.printWidget(this);
+  }
+
   /**
    * The image widget's context.
    */
diff --git a/packages/inspector/src/inspector.ts b/packages/inspector/src/inspector.ts
index 64ca4fffee6c..70a7ebffd6ac 100644
--- a/packages/inspector/src/inspector.ts
+++ b/packages/inspector/src/inspector.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 // Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 // Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
+import { Printing } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
+
 import { Token } from '@phosphor/coreutils';
 
 import { ISignal } from '@phosphor/signaling';
@@ -88,7 +90,8 @@ export namespace IInspector {
 /**
  * A panel which contains a set of inspectors.
  */
-export class InspectorPanel extends Panel implements IInspector {
+export class InspectorPanel extends Panel
+  implements IInspector, Printing.IPrintable {
   /**
    * Construct an inspector.
    */
@@ -97,6 +100,13 @@ export class InspectorPanel extends Panel implements IInspector {
     this.addClass(PANEL_CLASS);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Print in iframe
+   */
+  [Printing.symbol]() {
+    return () => Printing.printWidget(this);
+  }
+
   /**
    * The source of events the inspector panel listens for.
    */
diff --git a/packages/json-extension/package.json b/packages/json-extension/package.json
index 884ff3c209b0..74a2f5968b64 100644
--- a/packages/json-extension/package.json
+++ b/packages/json-extension/package.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     "watch": "tsc -b --watch"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "@jupyterlab/apputils": "^1.0.0-alpha.6",
     "@jupyterlab/rendermime-interfaces": "^1.3.0-alpha.6",
     "@jupyterlab/ui-components": "^1.0.0-alpha.6",
     "@phosphor/coreutils": "^1.3.0",
diff --git a/packages/json-extension/src/index.tsx b/packages/json-extension/src/index.tsx
index d9e6412394bc..fd5b7f2514a7 100644
--- a/packages/json-extension/src/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/json-extension/src/index.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 import { IRenderMime } from '@jupyterlab/rendermime-interfaces';
 
+import { Printing } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
+
 import { Message } from '@phosphor/messaging';
 
 import { Widget } from '@phosphor/widgets';
@@ -28,7 +30,8 @@ export const MIME_TYPE = 'application/json';
 /**
  * A renderer for JSON data.
  */
-export class RenderedJSON extends Widget implements IRenderMime.IRenderer {
+export class RenderedJSON extends Widget
+  implements IRenderMime.IRenderer, Printing.IPrintable {
   /**
    * Create a new widget for rendering JSON.
    */
@@ -40,6 +43,10 @@ export class RenderedJSON extends Widget implements IRenderMime.IRenderer {
     this._mimeType = options.mimeType;
   }
 
+  [Printing.symbol]() {
+    return () => Printing.printWidget(this);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Render JSON into this widget's node.
    */
diff --git a/packages/json-extension/tsconfig.json b/packages/json-extension/tsconfig.json
index 6c6160cda714..ac4b7ac16078 100644
--- a/packages/json-extension/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/json-extension/tsconfig.json
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
   },
   "include": ["src/*"],
   "references": [
+    {
+      "path": "../apputils"
+    },
     {
       "path": "../rendermime-interfaces"
     },
diff --git a/packages/mainmenu-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/mainmenu-extension/src/index.ts
index f8dc44a9924a..5ec7a2842199 100644
--- a/packages/mainmenu-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/mainmenu-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -448,12 +448,14 @@ export function createFileMenu(
     { command: 'filemenu:logout' },
     { command: 'filemenu:shutdown' }
   ];
+  const printGroup = [{ command: 'apputils:print' }];
 
   menu.addGroup(newGroup, 0);
   menu.addGroup(newViewGroup, 1);
   menu.addGroup(closeGroup, 2);
   menu.addGroup(saveGroup, 3);
   menu.addGroup(reGroup, 4);
+  menu.addGroup(printGroup, 98);
   if (menu.quitEntry) {
     menu.addGroup(quitGroup, 99);
   }
diff --git a/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts
index a73c5f86ed43..700a839ddb0e 100644
--- a/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ import {
   ISettingRegistry,
   IStateDB,
   nbformat,
-  PageConfig,
-  URLExt
+  PageConfig
 } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
 
 import { IDocumentManager } from '@jupyterlab/docmanager';
@@ -1139,14 +1138,11 @@ function addCommands(
         return;
       }
 
-      const notebookPath = URLExt.encodeParts(current.context.path);
-      const url =
-        URLExt.join(
-          services.serverSettings.baseUrl,
-          'nbconvert',
-          args['format'] as string,
-          notebookPath
-        ) + '?download=true';
+      const url = PageConfig.getNBConvertURL({
+        format: args['format'] as string,
+        download: true,
+        path: current.context.path
+      });
       const child = window.open('', '_blank');
       const { context } = current;
 
diff --git a/packages/notebook/src/panel.ts b/packages/notebook/src/panel.ts
index 105735a76c36..32182ae5cc18 100644
--- a/packages/notebook/src/panel.ts
+++ b/packages/notebook/src/panel.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { Message } from '@phosphor/messaging';
 
 import { ISignal, Signal } from '@phosphor/signaling';
 
-import { IClientSession } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
+import { IClientSession, Printing } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
 
 import { DocumentWidget } from '@jupyterlab/docregistry';
 
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { RenderMimeRegistry } from '@jupyterlab/rendermime';
 import { INotebookModel } from './model';
 
 import { Notebook, StaticNotebook } from './widget';
+import { PageConfig } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
 
 /**
  * The class name added to notebook panels.
@@ -151,6 +152,26 @@ export class NotebookPanel extends DocumentWidget<Notebook, INotebookModel> {
     this._activated.emit(void 0);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Prints the notebook by converting to HTML with nbconvert.
+   */
+  [Printing.symbol]() {
+    return async () => {
+      // Save before generating HTML
+      if (this.context.model.dirty && !this.context.model.readOnly) {
+        await this.context.save();
+      }
+
+      await Printing.printURL(
+        PageConfig.getNBConvertURL({
+          format: 'html',
+          download: false,
+          path: this.context.path
+        })
+      );
+    };
+  }
+
   /**
    * Handle a change in the kernel by updating the document metadata.
    */
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 28356d3bac00..d8fd1b9d3768 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -4829,8 +4829,8 @@ file-type@^10.10.0:
 file-uri-to-path@1:
   version "1.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/file-uri-to-path/-/file-uri-to-path-1.0.0.tgz#553a7b8446ff6f684359c445f1e37a05dacc33dd"
-
 fileset@^2.0.2, fileset@^2.0.3:
+
   version "2.0.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/fileset/-/fileset-2.0.3.tgz#8e7548a96d3cc2327ee5e674168723a333bba2a0"
   dependencies:
@@ -6530,8 +6530,8 @@ jest-jasmine2@^24.7.1:
     jest-util "^24.7.1"
     pretty-format "^24.7.0"
     throat "^4.0.0"
-
 jest-junit@^6.3.0:
+
   version "6.3.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/jest-junit/-/jest-junit-6.3.0.tgz#99e64ebc54eddcb21238f0cc49f5820c89a8c785"
   integrity sha512-3PH9UkpaomX6CUzqjlnk0m4yBCW/eroxV6v61OM6LkCQFO848P3YUhfIzu8ypZSBKB3vvCbB4WaLTKT0BrIf8A==
@@ -8833,8 +8833,8 @@ popper.js@^1.14.1:
 posix-character-classes@^0.1.0:
   version "0.1.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/posix-character-classes/-/posix-character-classes-0.1.1.tgz#01eac0fe3b5af71a2a6c02feabb8c1fef7e00eab"
-
 postcss-modules-extract-imports@^2.0.0:
+
   version "2.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/postcss-modules-extract-imports/-/postcss-modules-extract-imports-2.0.0.tgz#818719a1ae1da325f9832446b01136eeb493cd7e"
   integrity sha512-LaYLDNS4SG8Q5WAWqIJgdHPJrDDr/Lv775rMBFUbgjTz6j34lUznACHcdRWroPvXANP2Vj7yNK57vp9eFqzLWQ==
@@ -10712,8 +10712,8 @@ to-arraybuffer@^1.0.0:
 to-fast-properties@^1.0.3:
   version "1.0.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/to-fast-properties/-/to-fast-properties-1.0.3.tgz#b83571fa4d8c25b82e231b06e3a3055de4ca1a47"
-
 to-fast-properties@^2.0.0:
+
   version "2.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/to-fast-properties/-/to-fast-properties-2.0.0.tgz#dc5e698cbd079265bc73e0377681a4e4e83f616e"
   integrity sha1-3F5pjL0HkmW8c+A3doGk5Og/YW4=
@@ -10962,8 +10962,8 @@ typestyle@^2.0.1:
   dependencies:
     csstype "^2.4.0"
     free-style "2.5.1"
-
 ua-parser-js@^0.7.18, ua-parser-js@^0.7.9:
+
   version "0.7.19"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ua-parser-js/-/ua-parser-js-0.7.19.tgz#94151be4c0a7fb1d001af7022fdaca4642659e4b"