Add Text to a PDF Online — Fill In Any PDF | KhanTools
Need to type into a PDF form that has no fillable fields, or add a date, a reference number or a short note to a document? This tool places your own text on any page of a PDF and gives you a new copy to download.
How to add text to a PDF
- Click Choose PDF and pick the file from your device.
- Type your text into the Enter text box. Each entry is one line.
- Set the Page number, the Font Size in points, and the Color.
- Set the position. X is the distance from the left edge of the page and Y is the distance from the top, both in PDF points.
- Click + Add Text Layer. The entry appears in a list showing its page, position and size. Repeat for every piece of text you need. Use the ✕ next to an entry to remove it.
- Click Apply Text, then Download PDF. The new file keeps your original name with
-with-text added to the end.
Getting the position right
Positions are measured in points, the unit PDFs use. One point is 1/72 of an inch, so 72 points equals one inch, or about 2.5 cm. A standard A4 page is about 595 points wide and 842 tall. US Letter is 612 by 792.
The Y value marks where the bottom of your letters sits, not the top. If you want text to sit on a printed line in a form, measure down to the line itself.
There’s no live preview, so the fastest way to work is to add one entry, apply it, download, and check. If it’s a little off, click Reset, load the original again, and adjust the numbers. Once one field lines up, the others on the same page are usually a matter of changing Y by the same step.
What people use it for
- Filling in a scanned or printed form that you can't type into, such as a lease application or a school permission slip.
- Adding today's date next to a signature line.
- Stamping a reference, invoice or case number in the top corner of each page.
- Writing "Paid", "Copy" or "Draft" in red across a document before you send it on.
- Adding a short note or your contact details to a flyer or handout.
Your file stays on your device
The PDF is read and rewritten inside your browser using the open-source pdf-lib library. It isn’t uploaded to our server, so you can use the tool on documents with personal details such as tax forms or contracts. When you close or reset the page, the file is gone from the tool.
Limits to know about
- It adds new text on top of the page. It can't edit, move or delete text that’s already in the PDF.
- All text uses Helvetica. There’s no choice of font, and no bold or italic.
- Helvetica here covers standard Latin characters. Scripts such as Arabic, Urdu, Chinese or Cyrillic, and emoji, won’t work.
- Each entry is a single line with no wrapping. For a longer note, add several entries and step the Y value down each time.
- If the page number is higher than the number of pages, the text goes on the last page.
- Password-protected PDFs may fail to open.
Related tools
To add a handwritten-style signature, use PDF Sign. To join several filled-in pages into one file, use PDF Merge. If you need to write a longer document first, try the Text Editor.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the text that’s already in my PDF?
No. This tool only adds new text on top of the page. To hide old text you would need a different editor.
How do I add text to more than one page?
Add a separate text layer for each page and set the Page number on each one. All of them are applied in one go when you click Apply Text.
Why is my text in the wrong place?
X and Y are in points, measured from the left edge and the top edge. Y points to the bottom of the letters. Try small changes of 5 to 10 points and download again to check.
What font sizes can I use?
The size box is set up for 6 to 72 points. For forms, 10 to 12 points usually matches printed text. For a heading or a stamp, try 24 or more.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens in your browser, and the finished file is created on your device.
Can I type in Urdu, Arabic or other non-Latin scripts?
Not at the moment. The built-in font only supports standard Latin characters.
Will my original file change?
No. You download a new copy with -with-text in the name. The original on your device isn’t touched.
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