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Add Text to PDF

Type your text, choose the position, size, color and opacity, then download your updated PDF. Live preview shows exactly how it will look — nothing uploaded, nothing stored.

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Add Text to Your PDF

Load a PDF, type your text, set position and style, then download. The live preview updates as you adjust settings.

Drop your PDF here
or click to browse — one PDF at a time
PDF
Loaded File
PDF
—
—
Text to Add
Text Style
Font Size
16px
Opacity
100%
Text Color
Apply to Pages
Position & Preview
Position
X Offset
0
Y Offset
0
100%
Preview will appear here

How to Add Text to a PDF

PDFToolShack’s Add Text tool uses pdf-lib.js to embed your text directly into the PDF’s content stream and PDF.js to render a live preview of the first page so you can see exactly how it will look before downloading. Your file never leaves your device.

This tool is ideal for adding stamps, labels, dates, reference numbers, or short annotations to PDF pages. Use the 9-point position grid to snap your text to a standard location, then fine-tune with the X/Y offset sliders. Apply your text to all pages, just the first or last page, or specific page numbers.

For adding a repeating diagonal watermark across all pages, try our dedicated Watermark PDF tool which has more watermark-specific options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser using pdf-lib.js and PDF.js. Your file is never sent to any server — text is added locally and the result downloads directly to your device.
Can I add text to specific pages only?
Yes — use the page scope selector to apply text to all pages, just the first page, just the last page, or a custom set of pages. For custom pages, enter page numbers and ranges like "1,3,5-8".
What fonts are supported?
The tool uses pdf-lib’s built-in Helvetica font, which is a standard PDF font supported by all PDF viewers. Custom font embedding is not currently supported in the browser-based version.
Can I add multiple text blocks?
Currently one text block per operation. To add multiple text elements, download the result of the first operation, then re-upload it and add your next text block. Each operation adds a new layer without affecting previous additions.
Will the text be selectable in the final PDF?
Yes — text added with pdf-lib is embedded as real vector text in the PDF content stream, not as an image. It will be fully selectable, searchable, and copyable in any PDF viewer.
What’s the difference between this and the Watermark tool?
The Watermark tool is designed for large diagonal text or image overlays across all pages, with tiling and rotation options. Add Text is better for precise placement of labels, stamps, dates, or reference numbers at specific positions on specific pages.