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Linking to PDFs

This page describes the requirements and best practices for linking to PDFs.

Requirements

All Web sites must follow these requirements.

Link Styles

Link to PDFs using one of the following styles:

  • Title of Document (PDF 54 KB)
  • Title of Document (PDF 54 KB)

If a PDF is more than one megabyte in size, link as follows:

  • Title of Document (PDF 1.3 MB)
  • Title of Document (PDF 1.3 MB)
  • Do not use decimals with KB, e.g. 13.3 KB should be rounded up to 14 KB
  • Do not link the parentheses if you are only linking the PDF information and not the title

Linking to Adobe Reader

Per Section 508, all pages with a link to a PDF must also have a link to Download Adobe Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader/). Follow the guidelines below on where to add the link.

Pages with only one or two PDFs

Add "Download Adobe Reader." immediately after PDF link. For example:

See the fact sheet for consumers (PDF 50 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

Pages with several PDFs

Add one of the following sentences before the PDFs are listed as appropriate:

Pages with PDFs in the right column

If the PDF links on a page are only in the right column, the link to "Download Adobe Reader" should be in the right column below any news, events, or other content but above the feature.

If there are PDFs in the center column as well as the right column, the "Download Adobe Reader" should be in the center column only.

Best Practices

Following these best practices will result in a higher quality Web site.

Link Styles

If you link to a PDF in body copy, try to put it at the end of a sentence. For example:

See the fact sheet for consumers (PDF 50 KB).

When linking to a PDF, you may add a page count to provide more information, e.g. (PDF 54 KB, 64 pp). This is optional. Programs can choose whether or not to use this linking style.