How to Create a Signature and Sign a PDF Electronically

Need to quickly create an electronic signature and add it to a PDF opens in a new tab? Whether it’s a contract, offer letter, or non-disclosure agreement, electronic signatures are commonly used across everyday document formats like Word documents, Google Docs, and PDFs.

With Docusign eSignature, you can electronically sign each of these types of documents in just a few clicks without printing or scanning. Here’s how.

How to esign a PDF electronically with Docusign 

Signing a PDF electronically with Docusign only takes a few steps:

• Log in to your free Docusign eSignature account. If you don’t have one yet, you can create one with a Docusign free trial; this is where you’ll add your signature.

• Upload the PDF you’d like to sign

• Click “Sign”

• Drag and drop your signature from the left-hand navigation panel

• Click “Finish”

After you’ve signed the document, you’re also able to share the signed PDF using Docusign. In this simple process, you can customize the email and track when the recipient has opened your signed document. The recipient doesn't need a Docusign account to view the signed document.

Watch this short video or view the steps below to learn everything you need to know about how to electronically sign a PDF in just a few clicks.

How to create a signature to electronically sign PDFs

When it comes to creating a custom signature, you have a few options. There’s no difference in the validity of your e-signature opens in a new tab, so you can choose the signing method that works best for you. With Docusign eSignature, it only takes a few moments to create and save a signature for future use across PDFs, contracts, agreements, and other digital documents.

To create an electronic signature in Docusign, you can:

• Type your name and select a font

• Draw your signature using your mouse or trackpad, or

• Upload an image with your signature. 

Once your signature is created, you can quickly apply it to PDFs and other documents from virtually any device. Docusign also helps streamline the signing process by allowing you to securely send, sign, and manage documents online without printing or scanning.

How to send a PDF for electronic signature with Docusign

Need someone else to esign a PDF? Docusign makes it easy to securely send documents for electronic signature.

Requesting a signature on a PDF is easy and fast for you and for the signers. Just follow these steps:

• Upload the PDF documents that you’d like to have signed.

• Drag and drop the fields for your signer to complete. These fields frequently include: name, address, date, initials, and signature, but can be customized to suit your needs.

• Add an email address for your signer.

• Click “Send” and the form will be delivered to your signer, ready for their electronic signature to be added to your PDF.

You can even send PDFs for signature from the Docusign mobile app. 

What are the benefits of signing PDFs electronically?

Signing PDFs electronically removes the need for printing, scanning, or emailing documents back and forth. And electronic signatures are widely accepted and offer a more secure and efficient alternative to traditional paper-based signing processes.

With Docusign, these everyday tasks become faster and more streamlined, especially when managing multiple agreements.

Sign PDFs remotely from any device

With Docusign eSignature, you can esign PDFs from virtually anywhere—whether you’re working from your desktop, tablet, or mobile device. This makes it easy to complete agreements on the go, in hybrid work environments, or between meetings without slowing down your workflow.

Improve security and signer confidence

Electronic signatures in Docusign provide a more secure alternative to traditional paper-based signing. Each signature is backed by a detailed audit trail, helping ensure document integrity and giving all parties greater confidence in the signing process.

Digitally signed PDFs are more consistent and easier to manage across systems, especially in workflows that involve multiple reviewers or signers. Structured, well-formed PDFs opens in a new tab are also more reliable for downstream use in enterprise environments and accessibility systems, which often depend on properly tagged document structure to interpret content accurately.

Move agreements faster

Instead of printing, scanning, or emailing documents back and forth, Docusign allows you to complete signatures in a few clicks. This reduces delays, eliminates manual steps, and helps keep agreements moving forward quickly.

Scale with your business

As document volume increases, manual signing processes become harder to manage. Docusign helps streamline signing workflows so you can handle anything from a single document to high-volume agreement cycles without added friction.

Integrate with the tools you already use

Docusign works with commonly used business applications like Google Workspace, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Workday. This allows you to manage, sign, and send PDFs without switching between tools or disrupting existing workflows.

Send PDFs for signature in minutes

Beyond signing your own documents, Docusign also lets you request signatures from others quickly. You can add recipients, place signature fields, and send documents for completion in just a few steps—with full tracking along the way.

Why use Docusign to sign PDFs electronically

Docusign provides a secure, streamlined way to e-sign PDFs without relying on manual steps like printing, scanning, or emailing documents back and forth. Everything is handled in a single digital workflow, with a clear record of each action taken. For both simple and more complex agreements, this makes the signing process more efficient and easier to manage from start to finish.

Frequently asked questions

• What’s the difference between signing a PDF and sending it for signature?

Signing a PDF means you are the one applying your electronic signature to complete the document. Sending a PDF for signature means you are requesting one or more other parties to sign it. With Docusign, you can do both in the same workflow depending on your role in the agreement.

• Is it safe to e-sign a PDF electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are widely used because they include built-in security measures such as audit trails, identity verification options, and tamper-evident records. These features help ensure that signed documents remain authentic and any changes after signing can be detected.