Add Background Color to PDF

How to Add a Background Color to a PDF

1. Drop your PDF onto the tool, or click Select PDF.
2. Pick a color. Choose one of the twelve Preset Colors, or use Custom Color: pick from the color box or type a #RRGGBB code and click Apply. Blue is preselected, so change it unless you want blue.
3. Choose the pages in the Apply To menu: All pages, Current page only, Odd pages, Even pages, or Custom range (for example 1,3,5-8).
4. Check the Live Preview. Use the arrows to move between pages and the zoom menu to look closer.
5. Click Download PDF (Background Added). The copy is saved with Background_Added_ at the start of the file name.

Why Use This PDF Background Tool

• Your file stays on your device. The PDF is changed by code running in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
• Your content is not converted. The color is added behind the existing page content, so text and images stay selectable and keep their original quality.
• Any color, any pages. Twelve presets plus a full color picker, applied to all pages, odd or even pages, the current page, or a range you type.
• Preview before you save. Flip through the pages and see the background in place first.

Good to know: the color goes behind your content. Pages that already have their own solid background, such as brochures, designed layouts and many scans, may show little or no change. The tool does not change text color, so a dark background can make black text hard to read. For that, try PDF Dark Mode or Change PDF Text Color. Only a single solid color is supported, not gradients or images.

FAQ

How do I change the background color of a PDF?

Drop your PDF onto the tool, choose a preset or custom color, pick which pages get it, then click Download PDF (Background Added).

Why does my background color not show up?

The new color is placed behind your content. If a page already has an opaque white or colored background, as many designed PDFs and scans do, that existing background covers it. Plain text documents, reports and forms work best.

Will my text still be selectable?

Yes. The tool adds the color behind the page content without converting anything to images, so text stays selectable and searchable.

Can I add the background to only some pages?

Yes. In the Apply To menu pick Current page only, Odd pages, Even pages or Custom range, and type pages such as 1,3,5-8.

Can I undo the background?

Click Remove Background before downloading and the file you download is your original, unchanged. Once a file is saved, keep your original if you may want the plain version again.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere, and is there a size limit?

No. The PDF is processed in your browser, so your file stays on your device. Your file size limit is shown on this page, and a free account raises it.