Microsoft Word is pretty powerful when it comes to signatures. In this article we’ll clarify as much as possible:
- How to draw a signature to Word
- How to add a signature to Word
- How to add a signature line — the place where you invite people to add a signature
Plus many other topics!
We aim to make this as concise as possible in order to save you time. So let’s get right into it.
1. How to draw a signature in Microsoft Word
1. Open up Microsoft Word
2. Click “Insert” in the top bar
3. Click “Drawing”

4. Make sure you click “Draw” as the 2nd option → then select a pen
5. Start drawing your signature

6. Click “Save and Close”
7. Once you signature is added, make sure you resize it, as MS Word makes it full-width by default. Voila! That’s your signature.
Naturally, this works better on a laptop with a touchpad, rather than with a mouse.
But if that’s not your situation, then the next section might be better for you...
2. How to add a signature in Word
We’ll assume you already have a picture of your signature. Don’t have one?
Then check out our guide on how to scan your signature first — we briefly explain the easiest ways for you to digitize a signature.

- (Optionally: take a picture of your signature, written down on a piece of paper)
- Open up Microsoft Word
- Go to “Insert”
- Click “Pictures”
- Click “This Device”
- Upload your signature’s photo
That’s it! But you might want to:

- Make sure you’re in the Picture Format section of the top bar
- Click “Crop”, in the “Picture” tab, to remove any unwanted edges.
- Click “Corrections” → Click “Picture Corrections Options” → Set sharpness to 100% and Brightness to 60-90%
- Click “Colour” → Select this colour filter to make it full black (or another colour filter for other colours!


3. How to add a signature line
There are 3 main ways to do this.
3.1: Create a horizontal, fillable line
- Make sure you’re on the “Home” section, on the top bar
- In the middle area, click the downward arrow next to the “Borders” button → Select Horizontal line

After that, make sure you double-click on the freshly-placed horizontal line.

A sidebar will open up where you can alter the settings of this line to your liking
3.2: Create a shape

- Make sure you’re on the “Insert” section, on the top bar
- Click Shapes → Select the 1st line
- Your cursor will now appear as a cross. Click and hold, then draw the line from point A to point B. HINT: Hold down the “shift” key to draw a straight line.
- Now your line is an image, so right-click it → select “move with page”
3.3: Add a Microsoft Office Signature Line
NOTE: This does not work on a Mac! So before you spending the time, just know that it simply doesn’t exist (for now, at least).

- Click “Insert” on the top bar
- Click on “Add a Signature Line”, found in the upper right area.
- Fill in the details to your liking
- Click “OK”.
And that’s it - your signature line is now placed in the document. This helps massively and makes your document ready to be signed.
FAQs
Can you scan a signature?
Absolutely! To do so:
- Write down your signature on a piece of paper
- Open up SignHouse
- Start creating an "envelope": a document that will be sent for signatures
- Add yourself as a signee
- Upload the picture to use it as a signature!
Are your electronic signatures legal?
Our signatures are 100% legally binding, as SignHouse is built around US and International Laws concerning digital signatures. SignHouse eSignatures are on par with paper signatures, from a legal point of view!
Signing papers digitally started being equal to physical, handwritten signatures in the U.S. eSignature Act of 2000 (U.S. Federal Act) + the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA). As a consequence, laws in other countries have followed suit. SignHouse is built around these laws.
Can you add a handwritten signature in Word?
Yes you can! You can either draw a signature by hand, or add one if you already have it

To draw a handwritten signature in Word:
- Click “Insert” in the top bar
- Select “Drawing”
- Make sure you click “Draw” as the 2nd option → then select a pen
- Start drawing your signature
- Click “Save and Close”
- Once you signature is added, make sure you resize it, as MS Word makes it full-width by default. Voila! That’s your signature.

This will definitely work better on a laptop with a touchpad, rather than with a mouse on a desktop device. Or, probably the best way, with a pencil on a tablet.
To add a handwritten signature in Word:

- Open up Word
- Go to “Insert”
- Click “Pictures”
- Click “This Device”
- Upload your signature’s photo
Can you draw a signature in Word?
Absolutely, that's possible.
In Microsoft Word you're able to hand-draw your signature and then even place it on a document.
Check out Section 1 of our guide here (with pictures and step-by-step instructions!).