PDF Alignment: Set Text, Images, and Pages & Be Print-Ready

Why Align Text and Images in PDF Documents

A well-aligned document isn’t just easier on the eyes—it also screams professionalism. Whether it’s a business report, a form someone needs to fill out, or a brochure meant for double-sided printing, alignment makes all the difference. Misaligned text or images can make even the best content look sloppy. By getting the alignment right, you ensure your document makes the impression it’s supposed to.

You can also align images in Edit PDF. It is a Pro tool, but you can sign up for a free 7-day trial to test it out. Alternatively, you can use our PDF to Word converter.

1. Upload your PDF to the Smallpdf PDF to Word converter.
2. Convert and download.
3. Open the document in Microsoft word.
4. Tweak the alignment to your heart’s content.
5. Once you’re done, convert it back to PDF. And you’re all set!

The way Word anchors images can make it difficult to perfectly align them. Right-click your images and play around with the “Wrap Text” and “Size and Position” options for more control.

Preparing PDFs for Double-Sided Printing

Double-sided printing is where alignment really matters. Margins, headers, and footers need to match perfectly on both sides to avoid that slightly “off” look. To align double-sided print in PDFs, check that the margins for all pages are identical. You can do this in Word before you save the document as a PDF. You can also try using our PDF Annotator tool to draw gridlines. Switch back to Edit PDF and move your text blocks and images to line up with these guides. Once you’re happy with everything, delete the gridlines and select “Finish” to save your work.

Troubleshooting Misaligned PDFs

Misalignment happens to the best of us. It could be a glitch in the original file, something that went wonky during conversion, or even paper not feeding into the printer properly. Identify the problem first. Then, use a tool like Smallpdf to reposition elements or adjust alignment. A little patience here goes a long way.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aligning Text in PDFs

How do I adjust the alignment in PDF?

Open the PDF in a tool like Smallpdf’s Edit PDF, click on the element you want to fix, and fix the alignment. For text, use the “Horizontal alignment” to switch between left, center, and right aligned text. For images and text blocks, drag to reposition them, or use the arrow keys on your keyboard for more precise positioning. If you’ve got multiple elements to align, drawing gridlines using the “Shape” option in our PDF Annotator can make it easy to keep everything looking neat and tidy.

How do I fix misaligned PDFs?

Misalignment can be super annoying, but it’s easy to fix. Zoom in on the problem areas so you can see exactly what’s off and then use our PDF editor to move things back into place.

How do I align page size in PDF?

Aligning page size in PDFs can be a little trickier. Convert your PDF to Word and open it in Microsoft Word. Find the pages that aren’t the same size, then adjust them using the “Size” option under the “Design” tab. You might need to resize the text and images on these pages to fit the new page size.

How do I align text fields in PDF?

Aligning text fields doesn’t just make your forms look better—it makes them easier to fill out, too. Depending on the software you are using to add text fields, you can either use snap-to-grid features to keep everything evenly spaced, or use the “Arrange” option under the “Shape Format” tab. If your form has lots of fields, it’s worth taking a little extra time to make sure they’re all lined up properly.

How to align PDF pages?

If your pages are out of order or off-center, you can rearrange and align them using our Edit PDF tool. Align the content as discussed above, then enable the “Organize” toggle. This will change your view to show all the pages in your document. You can now drag to rearrange the order, rotate, delete, or even duplicate pages as needed.

How do I check the alignment of a PDF?

The easiest way to check alignment is to preview your PDF and scan for anything that looks off. Drawing grid lines using our PDF Annotator can help you spot issues quickly, especially with text or images. If you’re planning to print, do a test run to make sure everything lines up on paper the way it does on-screen.

What is a justified alignment in PDF?

Justified alignment is when text stretches evenly across the left and right margins, giving it a neat, block-like look. It’s great for things like reports or brochures because it looks super clean and professional. Just keep an eye out for awkward gaps between words—they can sneak in sometimes with justified text.

Proper alignment is the finishing touch that makes your PDF stand out. And with Smallpdf, it is effortless to line things up and make your documents print-ready!