How to Insert a Signature in Google Docs (2026 Guide)

Contracts, consent forms, agreements with a supplier: sooner or later a document in Google Docs needs your signature. Printing it, signing it and scanning it back in is a faff, and most small business owners I speak to want a quicker route.

Here's the honest answer. According to Google's help pages, the built-in tool for signatures is eSignature, which is a signing process rather than a button that stamps a picture of your name. I'll explain how it works, who can use it and what to do if it isn't switched on for you.

Starting a signature request from inside Google Docs

Google's help says that in Google Docs you open the document and click Tools, then eSignature. A side panel opens on the right where you set up the request.

1. Open the document you want signed.
2. Click Tools, then eSignature.
3. Drag in the fields you need from the panel.
4. Click Request signature on the right.
5. Give the generated PDF a title, add each signer's email address and an optional message.
6. Accept the terms if Google asks, then send the request.

Choosing signature fields for your Google Docs document

The help page lists the field types as Signature, Initials, Name, Text field and Date signed. A text field can hold a short description such as a job title. Each signer's fields appear in their own colour, so it's easy to see who needs to complete what.

There are limits to keep in mind. Google says you can add up to 10 signers to a request and a maximum of 200 fields of any type per document. For a normal client agreement you'll be nowhere near either.

What the other person sees when you send a signature request

Signers get an email with a link, or they can open the PDF in Drive and click Sign. They click the coloured fields that are theirs, then type or draw a signature and click Adopt and sign. Once the required fields are complete they click Mark Complete and agree to the terms. If they'd rather not sign, there's a Reject option and you're notified by email.

Google also says the PDF locks so nobody can change it before the signers finish, while your original Google Doc stays unlocked. When everyone is done a final PDF is produced, and its last page is an audit trail with event logs and timestamps.

Who can use eSignature in Google Docs

This is the catch. Google's help says Workspace Individual accounts are eligible, and certain Workspace editions are eligible if the administrator turns the feature on. Files in Word format opened in Google Docs are also covered. If you're on a standard personal account, you may not see the option at all.

Question	What Google's help says
Where is it?	Tools, then eSignature in a Google Doc
Which fields are there?	Signature, Initials, Name, Text field, Date signed
How many signers?	Up to 10 per request
What gets sent?	A locked PDF copy of your document
How do signers sign?	Type or draw, then Adopt and sign
Where do I check progress?	Open the PDF and click View details

Placing a written signature look in a Google Docs document

If you only want a signature-style line on a letter or a quote, the drawing canvas is the nearest official tool. Google says you can go to Insert, Drawing, New and add shapes, lines or text with the editing tools. You could draw a signature line or type your name in a text box. I couldn't confirm a freehand drawing option from Google's help, so menus vary and you may find options in your version that I can't promise.

A signature image is not the same as a legally recorded signing. If the document matters, use the eSignature route and check with a solicitor or accountant about what your situation needs. I'm a marketing consultant, not a lawyer.

If you send agreements to people you've found through job applications or freelance work, my guide on writing the email that carries your documents to an employer covers the covering note, and a signed file attached neatly makes a better impression. For letters that need your name at the bottom, how to write a cover letter that gets shortlisted is worth a look.

If the Google Docs signature option is missing

1. Look at the Tools menu in a document on a computer. eSignature lives there, not under Insert.
2. Check which type of account you're signed in with. Google lists the editions that are eligible.
3. If you're on a work or school account, ask your administrator. Google says admins can turn the feature on or off.
4. If the draw option won't work for a signer, updating the web browser is Google's suggested fix.
5. Contact Google through its help centre if everything looks right and the option still isn't there.

Frequently asked questions

How do I insert a signature in Google Docs?

Open the document, click Tools, then eSignature, drag in the Signature field and click Request signature. The signer types or draws their signature and clicks Adopt and sign.

Can I sign my own Google Doc?

Google's help describes eSignature as a request sent to signers by email. Use it for formal agreements. For a simple signature line, the drawing canvas offers shapes, lines and text.

Why can't I see eSignature in my Tools menu?

Google says it's available to Workspace Individual accounts and certain Workspace editions when an administrator turns it on. Check your account type or ask your admin.

How many people can sign one document?

Google's help says you can add up to 10 signers to an eSignature request.

Can the document be changed after I send it?

Google says the PDF locks before signers complete it. To change something, cancel the request, edit your original and send a new request.