Rotate PDF can turn every page, only the odd pages, only the even pages or a list you type. The selective options solve real scanning problems, such as a double-sided stack where every second page comes out upside down.
Below are the typical situations and the exact settings for each.
On this page
Key takeaways
- Odd means pages 1, 3, 5 and so on. Even means 2, 4, 6 and so on.
- Custom pages accept commas and ranges such as 1-3, 5, 8-.
- Open-ended ranges like 8- run to the last page, and end or last also mean the last page.
- Rotation adds to whatever rotation a page already has.
Double-sided scans with upside-down backs
When you flip a sheet in a document feeder, the back side often arrives upside down. The result is a PDF where the fronts are fine and every back is inverted. Because fronts are odd pages and backs are even pages, you can fix the whole file in one step.
- 1
Add the PDF to Rotate PDF.
- 2
Choose 180° as the angle.
- 3
Set Pages to rotate to Even pages (or Odd, if the fronts are the inverted ones).
- 4
Rotate and download.
Page ranges
| You type | Pages rotated |
|---|---|
| 3 | Page 3 only |
| 1-3, 5 | Pages 1, 2, 3 and 5 |
| 8- | Page 8 to the end |
| -4 | Pages 1 to 4 |
| 2, last | Page 2 and the final page |
| 10-12, 20-end | Pages 10 to 12 and 20 to the end |
Numbers must be inside the document. If you type a page that does not exist, the tool tells you the valid range. A longer explanation of the syntax is in PDF page range syntax explained.
Mixed portrait and landscape pages
A report with a few wide charts often has landscape pages stored sideways. Find the page numbers in your viewer, for example 6, 7 and 12, then rotate only those: type 6-7, 12 and choose the angle that makes them upright.
Tips for getting it right
- Rotate in two passes if the pages need different angles: run the tool once for each angle and each set of pages.
- Check the result at once. Open the first and last rotated page.
- Use the output of the first pass as the input of the second so both changes are kept.
- Keep the original until you are happy with the result.
A worked example
A 20-page report has landscape tables on pages 5, 6, 11 and 12, stored sideways. Add the file, choose 90 degrees clockwise (or counter-clockwise, depending on which way the tops of the pages point), set Pages to rotate to Custom pages and type 5-6, 11-12. Only those four pages change, and the other sixteen stay as they were.
Rotating selected pages: FAQ
How do I rotate only the even pages of a PDF?
Choose the angle, then set Pages to rotate to Even pages.
How do I rotate a range of pages?
Choose Custom pages and type a range such as 4-9.
What does 8- mean?
Page 8 through to the last page.
Can I use the word end?
Yes. Both end and last mean the final page.
What happens if I type a page that does not exist?
The tool reports that the page is outside the document.
Can two different angles be applied in one run?
No. Run the tool again for the second angle.
Does rotating twice add up?
Yes. Each run adds to the page's existing rotation.
Is text affected?
No. It remains selectable.
Rotate only what needs it
Use odd, even or a typed list so correct pages are left alone. Two quick passes handle even the messiest scans.
