How to Add a Watermark to a PDF

To add a watermark to a PDF, open the Watermark PDF tool, choose the file, type your text, adjust the size, opacity and angle, and tap Add watermark. The text is stamped on every page of a new copy.

Common watermarks are DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, COPY or a name. The tool works in your browser, so your PDF is not uploaded.

What you need

• The PDF you want to mark
• The word or short line to use as the watermark
• About a minute

Steps to add a text watermark

1. Open the Watermark PDF tool, tap the box and choose your PDF. It stays on your device.
2. Type your text in Watermark text. Keep it short. One or two words work best, such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL.
3. Set the Size. A larger number makes bigger letters. The default is a good start for a single diagonal word.
4. Set the Opacity. A lower number makes the text more see-through, so the page underneath stays easy to read. 30 percent is the default.
5. Set the Angle. 45 degrees gives the classic diagonal stamp. Use 0 for straight text across the page.
6. Choose a Colour. Grey or light red are common, because they stand out without covering the page.
7. Tick Repeat the text across the whole page if you want the text tiled many times, instead of one stamp in the middle.
8. Tap Add watermark, wait for the progress bar, and download the new PDF. Open it and scroll through a few pages to check that the page is still easy to read.

Choosing a watermark that works

• Keep it readable underneath. The point of a watermark is to mark a page, not to hide it. A low opacity and a light colour keep the page legible.
• Use the right word. DRAFT tells people a document is not final. CONFIDENTIAL tells them to handle it with care. COPY marks a copy of an original.
• Use a diagonal for one big stamp. It covers the middle of the page, where it is hard to crop out.
• Use the repeat option for a stronger mark. Repeated text across the page is harder to remove than one stamp, and it is useful when you share a page with someone you do not fully know.

Other languages

The tool works with English and Western European letters. It also supports Hindi, Malayalam and Arabic. Those alphabets are drawn by your browser with an open font that downloads only when you type them, and they are added as a picture. They look right, but they cannot be selected as text afterwards.

What a watermark does not do

A watermark is a visual marker. It is drawn on top of the page. Someone with a PDF editor may be able to cover it or take it out. Do not treat it as security.

If you need to stop people from opening the file, lock it with Protect PDF. If a page holds private details, hide them with Redact PDF, and read our guide on hiding personal information in a PDF.

A watermark also does not prove who made a document or when. It is a clear label for the people who read it.

Tips for printing and sending

• Test on one page. Add the watermark to a short copy first if you are not sure about the size and opacity.
• Keep your original. The tool makes a new file, but give the watermarked copy a clear name, such as report-DRAFT.pdf, so you do not send the wrong one.
• Check the file size. A watermarked PDF is a little larger. If it needs to be smaller, see our guide on reducing PDF size without losing quality.
• Add page numbers last. If you want both, use Add Page Numbers as well, and check that the number and the watermark do not clash.

Common problems

The watermark is too strong. Lower the opacity, or make the colour lighter.

The watermark is cut off. A long text at a large size may not fit across the page at an angle. Make the size smaller or shorten the text.

I cannot select the watermark. That is normal. It is drawn as part of the page.

I want to remove a watermark I added. Go back to your original file. The watermarked copy cannot be turned back.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make the watermark see-through?

Yes. Lower the opacity so the page underneath stays readable.

Can I change the angle?

Yes. Set any angle between -90 and 90 degrees. 45 degrees is the common diagonal stamp.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. The watermark is added inside your browser, on your device.

Does the watermark make the PDF secure?

No. It is a visual marker. For real protection, use a password.

Can I add an image or logo as a watermark?

This tool adds text only. Use a short word or line.