How to use the Sign PDF
- Drop the PDF you need to sign onto the box, or click to choose it.
- Create your signature: Draw it with a mouse, finger or stylus, Type your name and pick a handwriting style, or Upload a photo of your signature. Click Use this signature.
- Scroll to the right page and click or tap where the signature belongs. Drag it to adjust, pull the corner handle to resize, and add more copies or initials if needed.
- Click Download signed PDF.
Features
- Draw with smooth, pressure-like strokes, type in four script styles, or upload an image
- Automatic transparent background for photographed signatures
- Place, drag and resize on any page with mouse, touch or keyboard
- Multiple signatures and initials on as many pages as you need
- Correct placement on rotated and landscape pages
- The document never leaves your browser
Sign without printing and scanning
Printing a document, signing it with a pen and scanning it back is slow and produces a crooked, oversized file. Signing electronically gives a clean result in a minute: the original pages stay crisp and searchable, and only your signature is added on top. It works for rental applications, school permission forms, offer letters, invoices, delivery notes and the many everyday agreements that simply need your mark.
Three ways to create your signature
Draw
Sign in the box with a mouse, trackpad, finger or stylus. Strokes are smoothed into curves and become slightly thinner when you move quickly, which imitates the way ink flows from a pen. A touchscreen or stylus gives the most natural result; on a laptop, signing slowly with the trackpad helps. Use Undo to remove the last stroke.
Type
Type your name and choose one of four handwriting-style fonts. The fonts load from Google Fonts the first time you open this tab; your name and document are not sent anywhere.
Upload
Sign a white sheet of paper, take a sharp photo or scan, and upload it. With “Make the white paper background transparent” switched on, the paper disappears and only the ink remains, so the signature sits naturally on lines and form fields. The image is trimmed to the ink automatically.
Placing and adjusting
Click or tap anywhere on a page to drop the signature there. Drag it to fine-tune its position and pull the round handle in its corner to resize; the proportions stay correct. Selected signatures can also be moved with the arrow keys (hold Shift for bigger steps), resized with the plus and minus keys and removed with Delete. You can place the same signature many times, and create a second one, such as your initials, for the bottom of every page.
Electronic signature or digital signature?
This tool creates a visual electronic signature: an image of your signature drawn onto the page, much like signing a paper copy. It is not a certificate-based digital signature, which uses a cryptographic certificate to prove who signed and to detect any later change to the file. Some situations require the certificate kind, such as certain government filings or company workflows.
| Visual e-signature (this tool) | Certificate-based digital signature | |
|---|---|---|
| Shows your handwritten signature | Yes | Optional |
| Needs an account or certificate | No | Yes |
| Detects later changes to the file | No | Yes |
| Typical use | Everyday forms and agreements | Regulated or high-value documents |
Laws such as the US ESIGN Act and the EU eIDAS Regulation recognize electronic signatures in many situations, but rules vary by country and document type, and some documents, such as wills or notarized papers, have special requirements. When in doubt, ask the person or organization requesting your signature which kind they accept. This is general information, not legal advice.
Tips
- If the PDF already contains a certificate-based digital signature, saving any change, including adding your signature, will invalidate it.
- To add the date next to your signature, use the Type option with the date as text, or fill it in before signing.
- Need to sign several files? Combine them first with Merge PDF. Want a stand-alone signature image for other apps? Try the Signature Generator.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to sign a PDF here?
Yes. The document is opened, signed and saved inside your browser, and neither it nor your signature is uploaded to a server.
Is this a legally valid signature?
It is a visual electronic signature, which many laws, such as the US ESIGN Act and EU eIDAS, recognize for many documents. Some documents need a certificate-based digital signature or a wet signature, so check with the recipient if unsure.
Can I sign on my phone?
Yes. Draw your signature with your finger, then tap the page to place it and drag the corner handle to resize it.
Can I add my signature to more than one page?
Yes. Click or tap every place where a signature is needed, on any page. You can also create a second signature, such as your initials.
How do I remove the white background from my signature photo?
Choose Upload and keep “Make the white paper background transparent” ticked. Near-white pixels become transparent and only the ink is kept.