How to sign a PDF
Last updated: September 6, 2026
The print-sign-scan-email loop wastes a day on a document that could be finished in a minute. Here's how to sign a PDF electronically (draw your signature, place it where the signing line is, download) without uploading the contract anywhere.
Use our free Sign PDF tool. It runs in your browser.
Signing a document in five steps
- Open the Sign PDF tool.
- Select or drag in the document that needs signing.
- Draw your signature in the box with a mouse, finger or stylus, or upload an image of a signature you already have.
- Pick the page, the position (bottom right is the usual spot), and the size, so it lands neatly on the signing line.
- Press Sign PDF and download the signed document. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Signing several copies of the same agreement? Set the pages to a list like 1-3 or 5, 8 and the same signature is placed at the same position on each of them, so a multi-page contract takes one pass rather than several.
Electronic signatures and the law
Electronic signatures are widely recognised. In the United States the ESIGN Act and UETA, and in the European Union the eIDAS regulation, treat an electronic signature as legally valid when the parties agree to sign electronically, and everyday paperwork such as approvals, consents, internal agreements and order forms sits squarely inside that scope. This is general information rather than legal advice, and some documents genuinely need more: notarised deeds, certain court filings, or a qualified signature under eIDAS. For anything high-stakes, the safest move is simply to ask the other side what form of signature they will accept before you send it.
Drawn signature versus digital certificate
The two terms sound interchangeable but describe different things, and it is worth being clear about which one this tool produces.
| Aspect | Electronic (drawn) signature | Digital signature (certificate) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A visible mark: your handwriting placed on the page | A cryptographic seal bound to the file's contents |
| Proves identity how | By appearance and surrounding consent/audit context | By a certificate issued to a verified signer |
| Detects later edits | No | Yes. Any change breaks the seal |
| Made by this tool | Yes | No |
This tool creates the electronic kind: it places your signature image on the page. If a counterparty requires a cryptographic digital signature, a dedicated signing service can wrap one around the same visual mark afterwards.
Where a quick signature earns its keep
A freelancer can counter-sign a statement of work the moment it arrives and return it before the client's coffee is cold. A tenant can sign a lease addendum from a phone without finding a printer. A manager can approve an internal expense or leave form in seconds instead of printing, signing and re-scanning a single page. In each case the finished PDF looks and prints exactly like a hand-signed original.
How the signature reaches the page
Whether you draw it or upload it, your signature becomes an image with a transparent background. The tool embeds that image at the page, position and size you chose, then flattens it into the page content so it can't be dragged off or deleted in a reader. That flattening is what makes the mark behave like ink, but, unlike a digital certificate, it does not cryptographically lock the rest of the file.
Getting a clean-looking mark
- Draw larger than you think you need. The stroke is trimmed and scaled down to the size you pick, so a big confident signature reproduces better than a small cramped one.
- Prefer a transparent PNG when uploading: a photo of ink on paper drags the paper's background onto the page with it.
- Match the line. Sizing the signature to roughly 20–25% of the page width fits most signing lines on letters and contracts.
- Add the date separately with Add Text if the form calls for one beside the signature.
Frequently asked questions
Is a drawn signature legally binding? For many everyday agreements it is accepted, under laws like ESIGN, UETA and eIDAS, provided both parties consent to sign electronically. This isn't legal advice, and certain documents need a notarised or qualified signature, so check the requirements for your specific case.
Can I reposition the signature after downloading? No. Once placed and flattened it becomes part of the page. Re-run the tool on the original if you need it elsewhere.
Does signing change the rest of the document? No. Only the region where your signature sits is drawn over; every other page and all existing text stay exactly as they were.
Can two people sign the same PDF? Yes. One person signs and downloads, then the second person runs that downloaded file through the tool and places their own signature.
Keeping the contract private
A document you are about to sign is usually one you would least like to post to a stranger's server: it names people, sums and terms. Here the signature is drawn, embedded and saved inside your own browser, so neither the contract nor your signature is ever transmitted. For how to judge any online PDF service on this point, read are online PDF tools safe? You may also want Fill PDF Forms for the fields above the signature line, or PDF Metadata to strip hidden details before sending.