diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 9deddd6..cc82062 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -886,7 +886,8 @@
           </div>
         </div>
         <div id="layout-save-status" style="font-size:11px;color:var(--text-muted);min-width:56px"></div>
-        <div style="margin-left:auto">
+        <div style="margin-left:auto;display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center">
+          <button id="btn-layout-preview" class="btn-secondary btn-sm">⎙ Preview PDF</button>
           <button id="btn-layout-reset" class="btn-secondary btn-sm" data-admin-only>↺ Reset to Default</button>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/public/js/app.js b/public/js/app.js
index 64da08b..5155505 100644
--- a/public/js/app.js
+++ b/public/js/app.js
@@ -2007,6 +2007,7 @@ async function init() {
   document.getElementById('nudge-left').addEventListener('click',  () => nudgeLayoutField(-1,  0));
   document.getElementById('nudge-right').addEventListener('click', () => nudgeLayoutField( 1,  0));
   document.getElementById('btn-layout-reset').addEventListener('click', resetLayoutToDefault);
+  document.getElementById('btn-layout-preview').addEventListener('click', previewLayoutPdf);
 
   // Initial auth check → loads app if already signed in
   const authed = await checkAuth();
@@ -2456,6 +2457,31 @@ async function saveLayoutField(f) {
   }
 }
 
+async function previewLayoutPdf() {
+  const btn = document.getElementById('btn-layout-preview');
+  const orig = btn.textContent;
+  btn.disabled = true;
+  btn.textContent = '…';
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch('/api/pdf/preview', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ account_id: state.activeAccountId }),
+    });
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      const err = await res.json().catch(() => ({ error: res.statusText }));
+      throw new Error(err.error || res.statusText);
+    }
+    const blob = await res.blob();
+    openPdfBlob(blob, 'layout-preview.pdf');
+  } catch (err) {
+    alert('Preview error: ' + err.message);
+  } finally {
+    btn.disabled = false;
+    btn.textContent = orig;
+  }
+}
+
 async function resetLayoutToDefault() {
   if (!confirm('Reset all layout fields to default positions? This cannot be undone.')) return;
   try {
diff --git a/src/routes/pdf.js b/src/routes/pdf.js
index 36940b8..55fa46b 100644
--- a/src/routes/pdf.js
+++ b/src/routes/pdf.js
@@ -70,4 +70,55 @@ router.post('/', async (req, res) => {
   }
 });
 
+/**
+ * POST /api/pdf/preview
+ * Body: { account_id: X }
+ *
+ * Generates a layout preview PDF using dummy check data — no real checks touched.
+ * Shows all three slots filled with sample data so every visible field is visible.
+ */
+router.post('/preview', async (req, res) => {
+  const resolvedAccountId = parseInt(req.body.account_id, 10);
+  if (!resolvedAccountId) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'account_id required' });
+
+  const account = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM account WHERE id = ?').get(resolvedAccountId);
+  if (!account) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Account not found.' });
+
+  const fields = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM layout_fields WHERE account_id = ?').all(resolvedAccountId);
+
+  const DUMMY_CHECK = {
+    id: 0,
+    check_no: 1001,
+    payee: 'Sample Payee Name',
+    amount: 1234.56,
+    check_date: new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10),
+    memo: 'Sample Memo',
+    payee_address1: '123 Sample Street',
+    payee_address2: 'City, ST 12345',
+    payee_address3: null,
+    payee_address4: null,
+    printed: 0,
+    account_id: resolvedAccountId,
+  };
+
+  const checks = [
+    { ...DUMMY_CHECK, check_no: 1001 },
+    { ...DUMMY_CHECK, check_no: 1002 },
+    { ...DUMMY_CHECK, check_no: 1003 },
+  ];
+
+  try {
+    const pdfBuffer = await generateCheckPdf(account, checks, fields);
+    res.set({
+      'Content-Type': 'application/pdf',
+      'Content-Disposition': 'inline; filename="layout-preview.pdf"',
+      'Content-Length': pdfBuffer.length,
+    });
+    res.send(pdfBuffer);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Preview PDF error:', err);
+    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Preview generation failed.' });
+  }
+});
+
 module.exports = router;