How to Add Text to a PDF

Add a text box in four steps

1. Open your file in the SmartPDF editor.
2. Choose the Text tool (keyboard shortcut T). Before you click, you can set the font, size, color and alignment in the settings panel.
3. Click or tap the page where the text should start, and type. Press Enter for a new line. Click outside the box (or press Escape) when you’re done.
4. To adjust it, switch to Select: drag the box into place, or drag a corner handle to make the text bigger or smaller. Double-click a text box to change the wording.

Keyboard users can add a text box with the Add text box button in the settings panel, then move a selected box with the arrow keys (hold Shift for bigger steps) or type exact X/Y positions.

Lining text up with a form

• Zoom in before you place text on a form line. Small movements are much easier at 150–200%.
• Match the size of the form’s own text. Most forms use 9–12 pt; start at 11 pt and adjust.
• Nudge with arrow keys for precise alignment — each press moves the selected text by one point.
• Use one text box per field rather than one long box with spaces. It is much easier to align and change later.

Fonts and special characters

SmartPDF includes 31 fonts: versions of the most common document fonts (Arial/Helvetica, Times New Roman, Calibri, Cambria, Georgia and Courier New), popular web fonts such as Roboto, Open Sans, Lato, Montserrat, Poppins, Garamond and Playfair Display, and handwriting styles such as Dancing Script and Great Vibes. Most come in regular, bold, italic and bold italic. The font is embedded in the downloaded PDF, so the text looks exactly as it did in the editor in every PDF reader and stays selectable and searchable.

These fonts cover Western European characters (English, French, German, Spanish and similar). If you type text in other scripts — for example Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Chinese or emoji — SmartPDF still exports it correctly by adding that text box as a sharp, high-resolution image. It will look right when printed or viewed, but it won’t be selectable or searchable. Right-to-left text displays in the correct direction.

Changing text that’s already in the PDF

To correct the document’s own words, use Edit text instead: click a line and retype it. SmartPDF covers the original line and places your wording in the same spot. It works line by line, and paragraphs don’t reflow.

A text box sits on top of the page. If you place it over words that are already in the PDF, those words are still there underneath — they can be revealed by copying text or by other software. To change wording in the body of a document, edit the original file and export a new PDF. To hide sensitive information, use proper redaction software.

Common questions

Can I change the color of text I already added?

Yes. Select the text box and choose a new color, size, font or alignment in the settings panel.

Will my text look the same in other PDF readers?

Yes. The exact font you see in the editor is embedded in the downloaded file, so every reader shows the same letters, size and position.

Can I add text on my phone?

Yes. Tap Text in the bottom tool bar, tap the page and type with your phone’s keyboard. See also how to edit a PDF for mobile tips.