Editing & Signing
How to Sign a PDF Electronically
Sign a PDF without printing it — draw it, type it, or upload a signature image. What counts as a signature, and how to place it properly.
Printing a document, signing it, scanning it back and emailing the result is a ritual that survives out of habit. Signing the PDF directly takes about thirty seconds and produces a cleaner document.
Sign a PDF
- 1Open the Sign PDF tool and add your document.
- 2Choose the page to sign — the tool shows you where there is room.
- 3Draw your signature, type your name, or upload an image of your signature.
- 4If you type it, choose whether it should be rendered as handwriting.
- 5Preview the signed page, then download.
The three ways to produce a signature
| Method | Looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Drawn | Your actual signature, roughly | Anything that should look hand-signed |
| Typed | Your name in handwriting or a clean serif | Routine forms and approvals |
| Uploaded image | Your real signature exactly | Documents where consistency matters |
Drawing with a mouse produces something wobblier than your real signature; a trackpad is better and a touchscreen with a stylus is best. If you sign a lot of documents, photographing your signature once on white paper and reusing the image gives the most consistent result.
Signing it locally
A signature is a piece of personal data and the documents you sign are usually contracts. A signing tool that uploads sends both to a third party. One that works in the browser keeps the document and the signature on your own machine — worth caring about for exactly the documents that most often get signed.
Adding a date
Many agreements need a date beside the signature. Type it as text next to the signature rather than assuming a timestamp elsewhere in the file will do — metadata dates are not what a counterparty reads, and they are trivially changed.
Signature or digital signature?
Placing an image of a signature is an electronic signature: it shows intent to agree, and it is what almost every commercial agreement uses. A digital signature is different — a cryptographic seal that proves the document has not changed since signing. Both are valid; they do different jobs, and the second is only required where a specific regulation says so.
Do it now
Sign PDF
Add digital signatures to PDFs. It runs in this browser tab — your file is not uploaded anywhere.
Open Sign PDFFrequently asked questions
Is an electronic signature legally valid?+
In most jurisdictions, yes, for most kinds of agreement. Some documents — certain wills, property deeds and court filings — have specific requirements. Check for those categories.
Do I need to print and scan?+
No, and the printed-and-scanned version is usually worse: larger, blurrier and harder to read.
Can I reuse the same signature image?+
Yes, and it is the most consistent approach. Keep the file somewhere private, since it is a copy of your signature.
Will the recipient be able to remove my signature?+
A placed signature is an object on the page and can be removed by someone determined. A digital signature makes any alteration detectable.
Does signing upload my contract?+
Not with a tool that works in the browser. Check the network activity if you want to be sure.