PDF Overlay

Place one PDF on top of or underneath another, for example to put a letter onto your letterhead or add a template to every page.

Reviewed by Dany, RightSums team · Updated

Runs in your browser. Your files are not uploaded.

pdf-edit · PDF tool · UK & US

Load your document as PDF A and the letterhead, stationery or template as PDF B. Choose how pages are matched: page 1 of B on every page of A, page by page (B1 on A1, B2 on A2), or B's first page on the first page only. Put the overlay underneath as a background or on top as a foreground, and set its size to fit the page, stretch to fill it, or stay at its original size aligned to the top-left corner. Opacity runs from 5% to 100%. The overlay is embedded as vector content, so text in both files stays sharp and selectable. If a background overlay is hidden, that page has a solid white background, so switch to foreground. Nothing is uploaded.

Accepted inputs

  • PDF (your document)
  • PDF (overlay or letterhead)

Outputs

  • PDF

How to use the PDF Overlay

  1. Drop your document into the first box and the letterhead or overlay PDF into the second.
  2. Choose whether B's first page goes on every page, only the first page, or pages are matched one to one.
  3. Pick underneath or on top, the size mode and the overlay opacity.
  4. Click Overlay PDFs and download the combined document.

Frequently asked questions

How do I put a letter onto my letterhead PDF?

Load the letter as PDF A and the letterhead as PDF B, choose B page 1 on every page and Underneath, then click Overlay PDFs. The letterhead appears behind the text on every page of the letter.

What happens if the two PDFs have different page counts?

With page-by-page matching, pages of A beyond the last page of B are left unchanged and the tool tells you. To use the same letterhead on every page, choose B page 1 on every page instead.

Why can't I see the background overlay on some pages?

Those pages have their own solid white background, often because they are scans, and it covers anything underneath. Switch the layer to On top and lower the opacity so the content stays readable.

Is an overlay the same as a watermark?

No. A watermark is text or an image you create in Add Watermark to PDF. An overlay uses a whole page from an existing PDF, such as a designed letterhead, as the layer.

Does overlaying reduce quality?

No. Both documents stay as vector content, so text remains sharp and selectable and images keep their resolution. Choose Stretch only when the overlay's proportions match the page, or it may look distorted.

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