How to add a check mark in a PDF

To add a check mark in a PDF, place a Check on the box you want to tick. AnyPDFfiller also has an X Mark for boxes that need an X. Both are symbols you drop onto the page. You do not type them.

This works even when the PDF has no clickable checkboxes. A scanned form, or a PDF that was made to be printed, is fine. You just place the mark on top of the printed box.

Check mark or X mark?

• Use a check mark (✓) to choose an option or to say “yes.”
• Use an X mark (✗) when the form says “mark with an X,” or when you need to cross out a box.

Read the form’s instructions first. Many forms accept either one. Some official forms ask for one kind only, so follow what the form says.

How to add a check mark, step by step

1. Upload your PDF to the editor.
2. Click Check in the left toolbar. For an X, click X Mark instead.
3. Click the box on the page. The mark appears there.

You can also right-click the page and choose Check or X Mark from the menu. To cancel while placing a mark, press Esc.

Fit the mark inside the box

A mark that spills over the edge of a box looks messy. It can also be hard to read on a printed copy.

• Center it: drag the mark so it sits in the middle of the box.
• Resize it: pull its edges until it fits inside the box with a little space around it.
• One mark per box: if a question has several boxes, mark only the one you mean.

In the file you download, check marks and X marks are drawn as clean lines. They stay sharp when the form is printed or zoomed in.

Remove or change a mark

Select the mark and press Delete or Backspace. You can also click the trash icon in the sidebar, or right-click the mark and choose Delete field.

To swap a check for an X, delete the check and place an X Mark in the same spot.

Why not just type an “x”?

You can type the letter x with a text field. But a typed letter sits on a text line, so it is hard to center in a small square. The Check and X Mark tools are made for boxes. They are quicker to place, easier to size, and look neater on the finished form.

Forms that often need check marks

Tick boxes show up on many everyday forms:

• Tax forms. The W-9 asks you to tick one box for your federal tax classification.
• Work forms. The I-9 has boxes for citizenship or immigration status. Job applications often have yes-or-no questions.
• Consent forms. Consent forms and liability waivers often ask you to tick that you agree.
• Surveys and questionnaires. Multiple-choice questions where you pick one or more answers.

Finish the rest of the form

Most forms mix tick boxes with written answers. After you mark the boxes:

1. Add text fields for names, dates, and other details.
2. Add your signature if the form asks for one.
3. Download the filled PDF. Free downloads include a watermark. Premium removes it.