diff --git a/src/__tests__/body-limits.test.ts b/src/__tests__/body-limits.test.ts
index cbbbdcd..be524e5 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/body-limits.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/body-limits.test.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ describe("Body size limits", () => {
     vi.resetModules();
 
     const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
-    vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"));
+    vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 10 });
 
     const { demoRouter } = await import("../routes/demo.js");
     const { convertRouter } = await import("../routes/convert.js");
diff --git a/src/__tests__/browser-pool.test.ts b/src/__tests__/browser-pool.test.ts
index 1252f4c..d0a68e5 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/browser-pool.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/browser-pool.test.ts
@@ -150,8 +150,11 @@ describe("browser pool", () => {
     it("generates a PDF buffer from HTML", async () => {
       await browserModule.initBrowser();
       const result = await browserModule.renderPdf("<h1>Hello</h1>");
-      expect(Buffer.isBuffer(result)).toBe(true);
-      expect(result.toString()).toContain("%PDF");
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty("pdf");
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty("durationMs");
+      expect(Buffer.isBuffer(result.pdf)).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.pdf.toString()).toContain("%PDF");
+      expect(typeof result.durationMs).toBe("number");
     });
 
     it("sets content and disables JS on the page", async () => {
@@ -237,7 +240,9 @@ describe("browser pool", () => {
     it("navigates to URL and generates PDF", async () => {
       await browserModule.initBrowser();
       const result = await browserModule.renderUrlPdf("https://example.com");
-      expect(Buffer.isBuffer(result)).toBe(true);
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty("pdf");
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty("durationMs");
+      expect(Buffer.isBuffer(result.pdf)).toBe(true);
       const usedPage = mockBrowsers
         .flatMap((b: any) => b._pages.slice(0, 2))
         .find((p: any) => p.goto.mock.calls.length > 0);
diff --git a/src/__tests__/convert-sanitized.test.ts b/src/__tests__/convert-sanitized.test.ts
index 58002fd..a7aaa92 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/convert-sanitized.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/convert-sanitized.test.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
   vi.resetModules();
 
   const { renderPdf, renderUrlPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
-  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"));
-  vi.mocked(renderUrlPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock url"));
+  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 10 });
+  vi.mocked(renderUrlPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock url"), durationMs: 10 });
 
   const dns = await import("node:dns/promises");
   vi.mocked(dns.default.lookup).mockResolvedValue({ address: "93.184.216.34", family: 4 } as any);
diff --git a/src/__tests__/convert.test.ts b/src/__tests__/convert.test.ts
index 507107b..f97aaa1 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/convert.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/convert.test.ts
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
   vi.resetModules();
 
   const { renderPdf, renderUrlPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
-  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"));
-  vi.mocked(renderUrlPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock url"));
+  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 10 });
+  vi.mocked(renderUrlPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock url"), durationMs: 10 });
 
   const dns = await import("node:dns/promises");
   vi.mocked(dns.default.lookup).mockResolvedValue({ address: "93.184.216.34", family: 4 } as any);
diff --git a/src/__tests__/demo.test.ts b/src/__tests__/demo.test.ts
index 295f90c..f6a3ec4 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/demo.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/demo.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
   vi.resetModules();
 
   const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
-  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"));
+  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 10 });
 
   const { demoRouter } = await import("../routes/demo.js");
   app = express();
diff --git a/src/__tests__/render-timing.test.ts b/src/__tests__/render-timing.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79b1355
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/render-timing.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from "vitest";
+import express from "express";
+import request from "supertest";
+
+// Mock browser service to return { pdf, durationMs }
+vi.mock("../services/browser.js", () => ({
+  renderPdf: vi.fn(),
+  renderUrlPdf: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+describe("PDF render timing", () => {
+  describe("browser service return type", () => {
+    it("renderPdf returns { pdf, durationMs }", async () => {
+      // Reset modules to get unmocked version for this test
+      vi.restoreAllMocks();
+      vi.resetModules();
+      // We can't easily test the real renderPdf without a browser,
+      // so we test the shape via the mock contract and integration tests below
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("convert routes set X-Render-Time header", () => {
+    let app: express.Express;
+
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+      vi.clearAllMocks();
+      vi.resetModules();
+
+      const { renderPdf, renderUrlPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
+      vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 42 } as any);
+      vi.mocked(renderUrlPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 55 } as any);
+
+      const { convertRouter } = await import("../routes/convert.js");
+      app = express();
+      app.use(express.json({ limit: "500kb" }));
+      app.use((req, _res, next) => {
+        (req as any).apiKey = { id: "test-key", name: "test", tier: "free", active: true };
+        (req as any).keyRow = { id: "test-key", name: "test", tier: "free", active: true, owner_email: "test@test.com" };
+        next();
+      });
+      app.use("/v1/convert", convertRouter);
+    });
+
+    it("POST /v1/convert/html sets X-Render-Time header", async () => {
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post("/v1/convert/html")
+        .set("content-type", "application/json")
+        .send({ html: "<h1>Hello</h1>" });
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(res.headers["x-render-time"]).toBe("42");
+    });
+
+    it("POST /v1/convert/markdown sets X-Render-Time header", async () => {
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post("/v1/convert/markdown")
+        .set("content-type", "application/json")
+        .send({ markdown: "# Hello" });
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(res.headers["x-render-time"]).toBe("42");
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("demo routes set X-Render-Time header", () => {
+    let app: express.Express;
+
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+      vi.clearAllMocks();
+      vi.resetModules();
+
+      const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
+      vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 99 } as any);
+
+      const { demoRouter } = await import("../routes/demo.js");
+      app = express();
+      app.use(express.json({ limit: "500kb" }));
+      app.use("/v1/demo", demoRouter);
+    });
+
+    it("POST /v1/demo/html sets X-Render-Time header", async () => {
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post("/v1/demo/html")
+        .set("content-type", "application/json")
+        .send({ html: "<h1>Hello</h1>" });
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(res.headers["x-render-time"]).toBe("99");
+    });
+
+    it("POST /v1/demo/markdown sets X-Render-Time header", async () => {
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post("/v1/demo/markdown")
+        .set("content-type", "application/json")
+        .send({ markdown: "# Hello" });
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(res.headers["x-render-time"]).toBe("99");
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("templates route destructures correctly", () => {
+    // Templates route doesn't need X-Render-Time header per task,
+    // but must correctly destructure { pdf, durationMs }
+    let app: express.Express;
+
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+      vi.clearAllMocks();
+      vi.resetModules();
+
+      const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
+      vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 30 } as any);
+
+      const dbMod = await import("../services/db.js");
+      if (vi.isMockFunction(dbMod.default?.prepare)) {
+        // db is already mocked elsewhere
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("templates route still returns valid PDF after refactor", async () => {
+      // This is covered by existing templates-route tests;
+      // we just verify the mock shape works
+      const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
+      const result = await vi.mocked(renderPdf)("<h1>test</h1>");
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty("pdf");
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty("durationMs");
+      expect((result as any).durationMs).toBe(30);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/__tests__/setup.ts b/src/__tests__/setup.ts
index 1c319c6..90a9690 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/setup.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/setup.ts
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ vi.mock("../services/keys.js", () => {
 vi.mock("../services/browser.js", () => ({
   initBrowser: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   closeBrowser: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
-  renderPdf: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock pdf content here")),
-  renderUrlPdf: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock url pdf content")),
+  renderPdf: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock pdf content here"), durationMs: 10 }),
+  renderUrlPdf: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock url pdf content"), durationMs: 10 }),
   getPoolStats: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
     poolSize: 16,
     totalPages: 16,
diff --git a/src/__tests__/templates-render-validation.test.ts b/src/__tests__/templates-render-validation.test.ts
index 9730b0d..f1b847f 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/templates-render-validation.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/templates-render-validation.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
   vi.clearAllMocks();
 
   const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
-  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"));
+  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 10 });
 
   const { authMiddleware } = await import("../middleware/auth.js");
   const { usageMiddleware } = await import("../middleware/usage.js");
diff --git a/src/__tests__/templates-route.test.ts b/src/__tests__/templates-route.test.ts
index e21399e..e6c848f 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/templates-route.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/templates-route.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
   vi.clearAllMocks();
 
   const { renderPdf } = await import("../services/browser.js");
-  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue(Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"));
+  vi.mocked(renderPdf).mockResolvedValue({ pdf: Buffer.from("%PDF-1.4 mock"), durationMs: 10 });
 
   const { authMiddleware } = await import("../middleware/auth.js");
   const { usageMiddleware } = await import("../middleware/usage.js");
diff --git a/src/routes/convert.ts b/src/routes/convert.ts
index 684c873..69a2dc3 100644
--- a/src/routes/convert.ts
+++ b/src/routes/convert.ts
@@ -113,13 +113,14 @@ convertRouter.post("/html", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promi
       ? body.html
       : wrapHtml(body.html, body.css);
 
-    const pdf = await renderPdf(fullHtml, {
+    const { pdf, durationMs } = await renderPdf(fullHtml, {
       ...validation.sanitized,
     });
 
     const filename = sanitizeFilename(body.filename || "document.pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Disposition", `inline; filename="${filename}"`);
+    res.setHeader("X-Render-Time", String(durationMs));
     res.send(pdf);
   } catch (err: any) {
     logger.error({ err }, "Convert HTML error");
@@ -214,13 +215,14 @@ convertRouter.post("/markdown", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => P
     }
 
     const html = markdownToHtml(body.markdown, body.css);
-    const pdf = await renderPdf(html, {
+    const { pdf, durationMs } = await renderPdf(html, {
       ...validation.sanitized,
     });
 
     const filename = sanitizeFilename(body.filename || "document.pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Disposition", `inline; filename="${filename}"`);
+    res.setHeader("X-Render-Time", String(durationMs));
     res.send(pdf);
   } catch (err: any) {
     logger.error({ err }, "Convert MD error");
@@ -345,7 +347,7 @@ convertRouter.post("/url", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promis
       slotAcquired = true;
     }
 
-    const pdf = await renderUrlPdf(body.url, {
+    const { pdf, durationMs } = await renderUrlPdf(body.url, {
       ...validation.sanitized,
       hostResolverRules: `MAP ${parsed.hostname} ${resolvedAddress}`,
     });
@@ -353,6 +355,7 @@ convertRouter.post("/url", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promis
     const filename = sanitizeFilename(body.filename || "page.pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Disposition", `inline; filename="${filename}"`);
+    res.setHeader("X-Render-Time", String(durationMs));
     res.send(pdf);
   } catch (err: any) {
     logger.error({ err }, "Convert URL error");
diff --git a/src/routes/demo.ts b/src/routes/demo.ts
index ab1862f..a60c4d1 100644
--- a/src/routes/demo.ts
+++ b/src/routes/demo.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ router.post("/html", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promise<void
       printBackground: true,
       margin: { top: "0", right: "0", bottom: "0", left: "0" },
     };
-    const pdf = await renderPdf(fullHtml, {
+    const { pdf, durationMs } = await renderPdf(fullHtml, {
       ...defaultOpts,
       ...validation.sanitized,
     });
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ router.post("/html", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promise<void
     res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Disposition", `attachment; filename="${filename}"`);
     res.setHeader("Content-Length", pdf.length);
+    res.setHeader("X-Render-Time", String(durationMs));
     res.send(pdf);
   } catch (err: any) {
     if (err.message === "QUEUE_FULL") {
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ router.post("/markdown", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promise<
       printBackground: true,
       margin: { top: "0", right: "0", bottom: "0", left: "0" },
     };
-    const pdf = await renderPdf(fullHtml, {
+    const { pdf, durationMs } = await renderPdf(fullHtml, {
       ...defaultOpts,
       ...validation.sanitized,
     });
@@ -246,6 +247,7 @@ router.post("/markdown", async (req: Request & { acquirePdfSlot?: () => Promise<
     res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
     res.setHeader("Content-Disposition", `attachment; filename="${filename}"`);
     res.setHeader("Content-Length", pdf.length);
+    res.setHeader("X-Render-Time", String(durationMs));
     res.send(pdf);
   } catch (err: any) {
     if (err.message === "QUEUE_FULL") {
diff --git a/src/routes/templates.ts b/src/routes/templates.ts
index b02c60e..7653ba0 100644
--- a/src/routes/templates.ts
+++ b/src/routes/templates.ts
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ templatesRouter.post("/:id/render", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     const sanitizedPdf = { format: "A4" as string, ...validation.sanitized };
 
     const html = renderTemplate(id, data);
-    const pdf = await renderPdf(html, sanitizedPdf);
+    const { pdf, durationMs } = await renderPdf(html, sanitizedPdf);
 
     const filename = sanitizeFilename(data._filename || `${id}.pdf`);
     res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
diff --git a/src/services/browser.ts b/src/services/browser.ts
index becf34c..9bd894d 100644
--- a/src/services/browser.ts
+++ b/src/services/browser.ts
@@ -239,10 +239,11 @@ export interface PdfRenderOptions {
 export async function renderPdf(
   html: string,
   options: PdfRenderOptions = {}
-): Promise<Buffer> {
+): Promise<{ pdf: Buffer; durationMs: number }> {
   const { page, instance } = await acquirePage();
   try {
     await page.setJavaScriptEnabled(false);
+    const startTime = Date.now();
     const result = await Promise.race([
       (async () => {
         await page.setContent(html, { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded", timeout: 15_000 });
@@ -267,7 +268,9 @@ export async function renderPdf(
         setTimeout(() => reject(new Error("PDF_TIMEOUT")), 30_000)
       ),
     ]);
-    return result;
+    const durationMs = Date.now() - startTime;
+    logger.info(`PDF rendered in ${durationMs}ms (html, ${result.length} bytes)`);
+    return { pdf: result, durationMs };
   } finally {
     releasePage(page, instance);
   }
@@ -279,7 +282,7 @@ export async function renderUrlPdf(
     waitUntil?: string;
     hostResolverRules?: string;
   } = {}
-): Promise<Buffer> {
+): Promise<{ pdf: Buffer; durationMs: number }> {
   const { page, instance } = await acquirePage();
   try {
     await page.setJavaScriptEnabled(false);
@@ -316,6 +319,7 @@ export async function renderUrlPdf(
         });
       }
     }
+    const startTime = Date.now();
     const result = await Promise.race([
       (async () => {
         await page.goto(url, {
@@ -342,7 +346,9 @@ export async function renderUrlPdf(
         setTimeout(() => reject(new Error("PDF_TIMEOUT")), 30_000)
       ),
     ]);
-    return result;
+    const durationMs = Date.now() - startTime;
+    logger.info(`PDF rendered in ${durationMs}ms (url, ${result.length} bytes)`);
+    return { pdf: result, durationMs };
   } finally {
     releasePage(page, instance);
   }