Flip a PDF

How it works

When would I need to flip a page?

Mirrored scans (e.g. from some duplex scanners or glass-bed scanners fed upside down), or pages that need a left-right mirror for a specific layout.

Does flipping also rotate the page?

No — flipping mirrors content along an axis; it doesn't rotate it. Use Rotate PDF if you need to turn sideways or upside-down pages the right way up.

Can I flip only some pages, not the whole document?

No — the flip applies to every page in the file. For a mixed document, split out the pages that need flipping first, flip that file, then merge them back.

Does flipping mirror the text, making it unreadable?

Yes — flipping mirrors everything on the page, including text. It's meant for correcting mirrored scans, not for creating a mirrored effect on readable content.

What's the difference between flip and rotate?

Rotate turns the page around a point, like a clock hand; flip mirrors it across an axis, like a reflection. A rotated page still reads normally; a flipped one reads backwards.

What's the difference between horizontal and vertical flip?

Horizontal flips left to right, like a mirror facing the page — the left edge ends up on the right. Vertical flips top to bottom — the top edge ends up on the bottom. Either way the content itself is mirrored, so text reads backwards.

Can I use this for iron-on transfers?

Yes — that's one of the main reasons people use it. Flip horizontally before printing, and the mirrored image prints the right way round once it's pressed onto fabric.