Free PDF bleed checker
Check PDF bleed before it reaches the cutter
Missing or unverifiable bleed is one of the most common reasons print shops send files back. Drop a PDF here and we measure bleed against a production profile — alongside colour, fonts and the rest of the free check.
- Bleed and trim when TrimBox / BleedBox are present
- Honest “unverified” when page boxes were synthesised (common from Canva and office exports)
- Profile minimum (public check: 3 mm) with clear next steps
- Same free report covers colour, fonts, resolution and PDF/X markers
Checking a file for someone else?
No account. One file at a time.
Runs the full free public preflight — not a single-rule toy.
Your file is deleted when the report is ready.
Free artwork check
IDLERelated tools and reading
Prefer the full overview? Use the free PDF preflight checker. Or read What is bleed in printing? first, then come back and check a file.
- Print file checker
Check a JPG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC, PSD, AI, EPS, SVG or PDF for print — free.
- PDF CMYK checker
Check RGB vs CMYK in a PDF against a real print profile — free.
- PDF resolution checker
Check placed image DPI in a PDF against a print profile — free.
- PDF/X checker
Check PDF/X-4 markers in a PDF — free marker check for print workflows.
- PDF font checker
Check whether fonts are embedded for print — free Prepta Score.
- PDF transparency checker
Check live transparency in a PDF for print — free.
Common questions
How do I check if a PDF has bleed?
Upload the PDF to this free bleed check. We look for TrimBox and BleedBox and measure whether the bleed meets the production profile. If those boxes are missing or were synthesised by the viewer, we say so — we do not invent a false pass.
How much bleed should a PDF have?
It depends on the product. Many commercial jobs ask for 3 mm; large format often wants more. The free public profile uses a 3 mm minimum. Full Prepta lets each shop set bleed per production profile.
Why does my Canva PDF fail the bleed check?
Many consumer exports omit real TrimBox/BleedBox, so tools cannot prove bleed from the file alone. We flag that as unverified rather than pretending the bleed is fine. Fix in the design tool with proper print export settings, or repair in Prepta.
Is this only a bleed tool?
The landing is about bleed search intent, but the engine runs the full free public preflight — colour, fonts, resolution, transparency and PDF/X markers — so you see the whole print-readiness picture.