Add Text to PDF
Upload a PDF and overlay custom text at any position on one or all pages. Control font size, color, opacity, and exact X/Y coordinates - all processed locally in your browser.
Upload a PDF above to get started.
Why Use Our Add Text to PDF Tool?
Precise Text Placement
Set exact X and Y coordinates in points to place your text exactly where you need it on every PDF page.
Font Size & Color Control
Choose from 12 font sizes and 6 text colors so your overlay always matches the document style.
Flexible Page Scope
Apply text to all pages at once, only the first or last page, or a specific custom page - your choice.
Private Browser Processing
Everything runs locally in your browser. Your PDF never leaves your device - no uploads, no accounts needed.
Common Use Cases for Add Text to PDF
Document Stamping
Overlay "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", or "APPROVED" labels on reports and contracts directly in your browser.
Reference Annotations
Add case numbers, client IDs, or file references to legal documents and invoices without editing the source.
Footer & Header Text
Insert custom footers - such as a disclaimer, department name, or URL - across all pages of a multi-page PDF.
Date Stamping
Stamp a review date, submission date, or expiry date on PDFs that require visible date tracking.
Certificate Personalization
Add recipient names and unique identifiers to certificate templates so each copy is personalized for the individual.
Review & Proofing Notes
Place visible review notes or version markers on PDF drafts so collaborators instantly see the document status.
Understanding How to Add Text to PDF
What is Add Text to PDF?
Add text to PDF is the process of overlaying a custom text string on one or more pages of an existing PDF document at a specified position. Unlike editing the original document content, text overlay places a new text layer directly on the page canvas - making it ideal for stamps, annotations, and reference labels that must appear on the final printed or shared file. Our add text to PDF tool handles this entirely in your browser using the pdf-lib library, so no server-side processing is involved.
How Our Add Text to PDF Tool Works
- Upload your PDF - drag and drop or click to browse. The file is parsed locally and the page count is detected automatically.
- Configure your text - enter the text to overlay, pick font size, color, opacity, and X/Y position in points (pt). Note that the Y axis starts at the bottom-left of the page, so Y=40 places text 40 pt above the bottom edge.
- Choose page scope - apply to all pages at once, first page only, last page only, or one specific page number.
- Download instantly - click Add Text to PDF. The modified PDF downloads to your device immediately with no waiting and no external upload.
Text Positioning Reference
PDF coordinates use a bottom-left origin in points (1 pt = 1/72 inch). For a standard A4 page (595 × 842 pt), setting X=40, Y=40 places text near the bottom-left corner. X=250, Y=820 places text near the top-center. For Letter-size pages (612 × 792 pt) the numbers shift slightly. Adjust X and Y values until the text appears where you need it, keeping in mind that wide text at high font sizes may overflow beyond the right or top edge.
- Bottom footer - Y ≈ 20-40 pt
- Top header - Y ≈ page height − 40 pt (e.g., 800 for A4)
- Page center - X ≈ 240-280, Y ≈ 400 for A4
- Opacity 0.3-0.5 - good for subtle background watermark-style text
Privacy, Security & Availability
Our add text to PDF tool processes your files entirely inside your browser - your PDF is never uploaded to any server. No account, no sign-up, and no file size restrictions apply. The tool is 100% free and works on all modern browsers across desktop and mobile devices.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Add Text to PDF
Yes. Choose "All Pages" from the Page Scope dropdown and your text will be placed on every page of the PDF at the same position. You can also target just the first page, last page, or any single custom page number.
PDF coordinates start at the bottom-left corner of the page. The X value moves text from left to right, and the Y value moves text from bottom to top, both measured in points (pt). For a standard A4 page, the bottom footer area is around Y=20-40, and the top header area is around Y=800. Adjust values and re-download to fine-tune placement.
You can choose from 12 preset sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 48 pt. The default is 14 pt, which is readable on most printed documents without being too large.
Yes. Six text colors are available: Black, White, Red, Blue, Green, and Gray. You can also set opacity between 0 and 1 - for example, 0.3 creates a subtle watermark-style overlay while 1 renders fully opaque text.
You can include line breaks in the textarea to place text on multiple lines. However, each line starts at the same X coordinate and pdf-lib advances lines by the font size automatically. For complex multi-line layouts it is best to use a dedicated PDF editor.
No. All processing happens locally in your browser using the pdf-lib library. Your file never leaves your device and no data is transmitted to our servers, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive documents.
Yes, the tool is completely free with no registration, email sign-up, or usage limits. You can add text to as many PDFs as you like at no cost.
No. The tool only adds a new text layer on top of the existing page content. All original text, images, links, and formatting in your PDF remain completely unchanged.