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How to draw on a PDF and add shapes

Circle a detail, underline a sentence, point an arrow at a mistake or sketch on a floor plan. The pen and shape tools draw crisp vector lines that stay sharp at any zoom.

Do it now in the free PDF editorOpens in your browser. No sign-up, no watermark — your PDF is never uploaded.
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Draw on a PDF in four steps

  1. Open the PDF editor and choose your PDF.
  2. Pick Draw for freehand, or open Shapes and choose a rectangle, ellipse, line or arrow.
  3. Drag on the page. Set the color, line width and opacity in the bar above the page — for rectangles and ellipses also a fill color.
  4. Click Download to save the annotated PDF.

See how it works

An ellipse around the total, an arrow and a freehand scribble drawn on a PDF
  1. Pick a shape — rectangle, ellipse, line or arrow
  2. Drag on the page
  3. Or draw freehand

The drawing tools

ToolGood forStyle options
Draw (pen)Handwritten notes, underlines, check marks, sketchesColor, width, opacity
RectangleFraming a paragraph, marking an area, covering with colorBorder, fill, width, opacity
EllipseCircling a number, a signature line or a detail on a drawingBorder, fill, width, opacity
LineUnderlining, strikethrough, connecting itemsColor, width, opacity
ArrowPointing at the thing a comment refers toColor, width, opacity

Editing what you drew

After you draw a shape the editor switches to Select, so you can adjust it straight away: drag it to move it, drag a corner to resize it, and change its style in the bar above the page. The pen stays active after each stroke so you can keep writing; press Esc to switch back to Select.

  • Click a short distance without dragging to place a shape in its default size.
  • Press Delete to remove the selected item, Ctrl+D to duplicate it.
  • Drag a selection rectangle over several strokes to move them as a group.
  • Use the layer buttons to put a filled shape behind text you added.

Ideas

  • Proofreading: strike through words with a red line and write the correction with Text.
  • Floor plans and maps: mark rooms with semi-transparent rectangles in different colors.
  • Teaching and feedback: circle mistakes and add arrows to your comments.
  • Forms: tick boxes with the pen when a form has no checkboxes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I draw with my finger or a stylus?

Yes. On phones and tablets, the Draw tool follows your finger or pen. Scroll the page with two fingers while a drawing tool is active.

How do I draw a perfect square or circle?

Draw the rectangle or ellipse, then hold Shift while you drag a corner handle to keep the proportions.

Can I fill a shape with color?

Yes. Rectangles and ellipses have a border color and a fill color; either can be set to none. Lower the opacity to let the page show through.

Are drawings saved as images?

No. Pen strokes and shapes are saved as vector graphics, so they print sharply and keep the file small.

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