How to use the certificate maker
- Type the title, the organization and the line above the name, such as 'This certificate is proudly presented to'.
- Enter the names, one per line. Each name gets its own landscape page. Leave the list empty to print one certificate with a blank line to write on by hand.
- Add a reason, a date and up to two signers with their titles.
- Pick a color and a border, check the preview, then download the PDF or print on US Letter paper in landscape.
How the certificate is laid out
Every page is 11 by 8.5 inches. The border sits 0.4 inch in from the edge, the title and the name are sized to fit their space, and the date and signature lines run along the bottom. A long title or name shrinks until it fits, and the page tells you if anything had to be shortened with an ellipsis.
Home and office printers cannot print right up to the paper edge, and the unprintable margin differs from printer to printer. Print one copy on plain paper first and hold it up to the light against the card stock you plan to use. Heavier paper, such as card stock, makes a certificate feel finished.
Making a set of certificates
For a class, a team or an event, paste the list of names with one name per line, up to 100 at a time. The same title, wording, date and signers are used on every page. Names are printed exactly as you type them, so check spelling and capital letters in the preview before you print the whole batch.
If you need nametags for the same event, the name tag maker uses the same kind of list, and the sign-up sheet generator helps you collect the names in the first place. For official letters see the letterhead and memo generator.
Characters the PDF cannot draw
The PDF uses a built-in font that draws English and most western European letters, including accents. Characters outside that set, such as Chinese, Cyrillic or emoji, cannot be drawn. When a name or line contains one, the page shows a visible warning that names the problem, and the PDF shows a question mark in its place. Nothing is changed without telling you.
Your entries stay in your browser. They are used to draw the pages and are never uploaded. You can ask the tool to remember them on this device, and you can turn that off at any time.
Assumptions and limits
- Pages are US Letter in landscape, 11 by 8.5 inches.
- The border is 0.4 inch from the edge. Your printer's own unprintable margin may be larger.
- Up to 100 names can be printed in one file.
- Text is drawn in a built-in font, so some alphabets cannot be shown and are flagged.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a certificate with several names at once?
Type one name per line in the names box. The tool makes one landscape page for each name, using the same title, wording, date and signers.
Can I leave the name blank and write it by hand?
Yes. With the names box empty the tool prints one certificate with a ruled line where the name goes.
What paper should I use?
Any US Letter paper works. Card stock gives a more finished look, and a test print on plain paper shows whether the border clears your printer's edge.
Why does my name show a question mark?
The built-in PDF font cannot draw every alphabet. The page warns you when this happens so you can change the text or write that name by hand.
Is my list uploaded anywhere?
No. The certificates are drawn in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server.