Need to Fix Sideways PDF Pages? Here's the Easy Way

We've all been there – you open a PDF and some pages are sideways or completely upside down. Maybe someone scanned a document incorrectly, or a phone camera captured a page in the wrong orientation. Whatever the reason, you need those pages rotated so you can actually read them without tilting your head or flipping your laptop.

The good news? You don't need expensive software to fix this. With BoostPDF's free online tool, you can rotate any PDF page permanently in just a few clicks. The changes are saved to your document, so it will display correctly everywhere – on any device, in any PDF reader.

How to Rotate PDF Pages: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps to rotate your PDF pages and save the changes permanently:

  1. Load Your PDF Drag and drop your PDF file into the drop area above, or click "Choose PDF File" to browse your computer. Your document will open directly in our browser-based editor.
  2. View Page Thumbnails Once your PDF loads, look at the sidebar on the left. You'll see thumbnail previews of every page in your document. This makes it easy to spot which pages need rotation.
  3. Click the Rotate Button Hover over any page thumbnail to see the rotate button. Click it to rotate that page 90 degrees clockwise. Need to rotate more? Just keep clicking – each click adds another 90 degrees.
  4. Preview Your Changes The main viewing area shows your changes in real-time. Check that each rotated page now displays correctly before exporting.
  5. Export Your Rotated PDF Happy with the rotation? Click the Export button to download your PDF. The rotation is now permanent – your pages will display correctly in any PDF viewer.

Pro Tip: For pages that are upside down (180°), you'll need to click the rotate button twice. For pages that need to rotate counter-clockwise, click three times (270° clockwise = 90° counter-clockwise).

See It in Action

Using BoostPDF to rotate PDF page.

Common Reasons to Rotate PDF Pages

There are many situations where you might need to permanently rotate PDF pages:

  • Scanned Documents: Pages often get scanned sideways or upside down, especially when using automatic document feeders. Need to make scanned text searchable? Try our OCR tool.
  • Phone Camera Captures: Photos of documents taken with smartphones frequently have incorrect orientation that needs fixing.
  • Mixed Orientation Documents: Some PDFs contain both portrait and landscape pages that need to be aligned for consistent viewing. You can also reorder pages.
  • Presentation Slides: PowerPoint or presentation exports sometimes have pages in the wrong orientation.
  • Legal Documents: Contracts and legal papers need proper orientation for signing and printing. Sign your documents online.
  • Archive Preparation: Before archiving documents, ensure all pages are correctly oriented for future reference. Consider compressing your PDF.

Works on Any Device

Our PDF rotation tool works entirely in your browser, so you can use it on any device with a modern web browser:

  • Windows PC: Works great on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other modern browsers.
  • Mac: Fully compatible with Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on macOS.
  • iPhone & Android: Rotate PDF pages right from your phone or tablet browser.
  • Chromebook: Perfect for ChromeOS – no software installation needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the rotation saved permanently?

Yes! When you export your PDF, the rotation changes are embedded in the file. The pages will display correctly in any PDF viewer on any device.

How many degrees does the rotate button turn the page?

Each click rotates the page 90 degrees clockwise. Click once for 90°, twice for 180° (upside down to right-side up), three times for 270° (same as 90° counter-clockwise), or four times to return to the original orientation.

Can I rotate just one page instead of the whole document?

Absolutely! Each page has its own rotate button, so you have complete control. Rotate only the pages that need it while leaving others unchanged.

Does rotation affect the PDF quality?

No, rotation doesn't compress or alter your content. Text, images, and formatting remain exactly as they were – just displayed in the correct orientation. Need to make other edits? Try our PDF editor.

Do I need to create an account?

No account needed! Just load your PDF, rotate the pages, and download. It's completely free and requires no registration.

Can I rotate pages counter-clockwise?

The button rotates clockwise, but clicking three times gives you the same result as rotating 90° counter-clockwise (270° clockwise = 90° counter-clockwise).

Start Rotating Your PDF Now

Ready to fix those sideways pages? Load your PDF using the tool at the top of this page. Click the rotate button on any page thumbnail until it's oriented correctly, then export your document. The whole process takes less than a minute.