How to add a watermark to a PDF
- Drop a PDF into the box or click to choose one; a preview of page 1 appears.
- Type your watermark text, such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT.
- Choose a layout (Center, Diagonal or Tile) and adjust font size, opacity, rotation and color.
- Click Add watermark and download the watermarked PDF.
What you can do with Watermark PDF
- Three layouts
- Place one stamp in the center, run it corner to corner on the diagonal, or tile it across the whole page.
- Live preview
- The first page redraws instantly as you change text, size, color, opacity or angle, so you see the result before saving.
- Opacity control
- Set transparency from 5 to 100 percent so the watermark is visible without hiding the content underneath.
- Any angle and color
- Rotate the text from -90 to 90 degrees and choose any color with the color picker.
- Every page stamped
- The watermark is applied to all pages, positioned correctly even on rotated or landscape pages.
- Non-Latin text supported
- Text that the standard PDF font cannot encode, such as Cyrillic, Chinese or emoji, is drawn as an image instead.
Choosing a PDF watermark layout and opacity
A watermark tells readers how a document should be treated: DRAFT for versions that are not final, CONFIDENTIAL or INTERNAL for restricted material, SAMPLE or a company name for previews you send out. Here the text is drawn into the page content of each page in bold Helvetica, so it prints and cannot simply be toggled off like an annotation. Opacity between 15 and 30 percent is a good range for a diagonal stamp that stays readable without blocking the text beneath it.
The Diagonal layout automatically matches the angle of the page's diagonal, so the stamp runs neatly from corner to corner on any page size. Tile repeats the text in a staggered grid, which makes it harder to crop out of a screenshot and is a common choice for proofs and ID copies. Keep in mind that a watermark discourages misuse but is not protection: anyone with a PDF editor can still edit the page content. For a personal mark of approval, use Sign PDF instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to watermark private documents here?
Yes. The watermark is added by your browser on your own device, and the resulting PDF is saved locally. Your document is not uploaded anywhere, which is useful when stamping ID copies or contracts before sending them.
How do I add a CONFIDENTIAL watermark to a PDF?
Load the PDF; the text box already says CONFIDENTIAL. Choose Diagonal, set opacity around 20 to 30 percent and pick a color, then click Add watermark and download. Every page will carry the stamp.
Can I add an image or logo as a watermark?
No, this tool adds text watermarks only. You can type a company or brand name in any color. To place an image such as a drawn signature on a page, use the Sign PDF tool.
Can the watermark be removed later?
The text is written into each page's content, so it does not disappear when printed or viewed in another app. However, it is not tamper-proof; someone with a PDF editor could remove it. Keep your original unwatermarked file safe.
Can I watermark only some pages?
The tool stamps every page. To watermark only part of a document, split the pages out with Split PDF, watermark that file, and merge the parts back together with Merge PDF.