How to Initial Every Page of a PDF (and Sign the Last Page)
A 12-page rent agreement arrives with a note: "initial every page and sign the last one." On paper that's 11 initials, one signature, then scanning it all back. In a PDF it's two placements and one download. This guide shows how to put small initials on every page and your full signature only where it belongs — free, in your browser, without uploading the agreement anywhere.
Why initials on every page?
Initials on each page show that you've seen and accepted every page — not just the one you signed. They also make it harder for anyone to swap a page after the document is signed. That's why you'll be asked for them on:
- Rent and leave-and-licence agreements
- Employment contracts and offer letters
- Loan, vendor and service agreements
- NDAs and partnership deeds
How to initial every page in 6 steps
- Upload the agreement to Sign PDF. It opens in your browser.
- Create your initials. In the Type tab, enter just your initials — for example R.K. — or draw them. Leave Add date/time below signature unticked for initials; a date line gets squeezed in such a small mark.
- Set Adding to Initials (small) and click Add to Page. A small mark appears in the bottom-right corner, where contracts usually want it. Drag it if it sits on a page number.
- Check Initials apply to. It's already set to All pages, so the same mark is stamped in the same spot on every page when you download.
- Add your full signature to the last page. Switch Adding back to Signature, go to the last page, create your signature (draw, type or upload), click Add to Page and drag it onto the signature line. Signature applies to stays on This page only. Tick the date option here if the agreement asks for a signing date.
- Click Apply & Download. Open the file and flip through it to check every page.
Initials on every page, signature on the last — in two placements.
Initial & Sign a PDF — FreeThe two settings that matter
| Setting | Default | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Initials apply to | All pages | Small initials on every page |
| Signature applies to | This page only | Your full signature on the last page |
They're independent, so you can have initials everywhere and one signature, or — for a form that wants a full signature on every page — set Signature applies to to All pages as well.
When two people need to initial
Most agreements need both parties. Sign and initial your copy, send the PDF to the other person, and they add their own initials and signature the same way — dragging their initials to the bottom-left so the two marks don't overlap. How to eSign a rental agreement online walks through getting both signatures on one document.
Optional: a verification certificate page
Before downloading, you can tick Add a verification certificate page. It adds one last page listing the signer name, how it was signed, the time on your device, and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the original document — useful for showing later that the document you signed wasn't changed. It's generated in your browser; it is not a certified timestamp and isn't legal proof of when something was signed on its own.
Private — nothing uploaded
Sign PDF runs entirely in your browser. Your agreement, your initials and your signature never reach a server.
Common questions
Can I change where the initials go?
Yes — drag the mark before downloading. Its position is used on every page.
Can I use a photo of my handwritten initials?
Yes. Use the Upload tab with a clear photo on white paper, then set Adding to Initials (small).
Can I do this on my phone?
Yes — the Sign tool works in a mobile browser, and you can draw your initials with a finger. See how to sign a document on your phone.