Watermark PDF
Stamp a diagonal text watermark across every page of your PDF.
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Encrypted upload, deleted right after processingFree · No sign-up · No watermarks
Add a watermark to a PDF, as text or a logo
A watermark communicates status at a glance. DRAFT across a proposal stops someone quoting it as final. CONFIDENTIAL on a board document reminds every reader what they are holding. A company logo on a sample marks whose work it is. In each case the point is that the reader cannot miss it and cannot claim they did.
Text and image marks suit different jobs. Text is right for words like Draft, Confidential, Copy or a reference number, and it stays sharp at any zoom because it is drawn as real text. An image is right for a logo or a seal, where the shape matters. Both can be angled, scaled and faded.
Opacity is where most watermarks go wrong. Too faint and it does not register. Too solid and the document becomes hard to read, which people resent. Something around a quarter opacity, set diagonally across the page, is legible without fighting the content. Also set the page range deliberately: marking a cover sheet only is sometimes enough, and marking every page of a 300 page report is sometimes the requirement.
Simple, practical guidance
How to use Watermark PDF
Your text or logo is drawn across the pages you choose, at the size, angle and transparency you set. The existing page content stays where it is, underneath the mark.
- 1
Upload the PDF.
- 2
Enter watermark text or choose an image.
- 3
Adjust placement, size, opacity, and page range.
- 4
Apply the watermark and download the marked PDF.
Get a better result
Opacity, size and position are the three settings that decide whether the mark reads clearly without burying the text beneath it. Around 20 to 30 percent opacity is usually the balance people want.
Know how your file is handled
Watermarking is carried out on our server, because placing artwork consistently across a document needs rendering support a browser does not provide. Files are deleted once the download has been generated.
Check before you share
A watermark is a visible notice, not a control. It does not prevent copying, printing or editing, and anyone determined enough can crop or cover it.
Questions people ask
Watermark PDF FAQ
Text and image marks, opacity, page ranges, and what a watermark actually protects.
How do I add a watermark to a PDF?
Upload the document, type your watermark text or pick an image, adjust the position, size, opacity and page range, then apply it and download the marked file.
Can I use my logo as the watermark?
Yes. Choose an image instead of text and it is placed across the pages at the size and transparency you set. A PNG with a transparent background usually sits better over text than a solid rectangle.
What opacity should I use?
Roughly 20 to 30 percent works for most documents. That is enough for the mark to be unmistakable while leaving the text underneath comfortable to read. Go higher only when the warning matters more than readability.
Can I watermark only some pages?
Yes. Set a page range, which is useful when only the cover or a particular annexure needs marking rather than the whole document.
Does a watermark prevent copying or printing?
No. It is a visual notice, not a restriction. Anyone can still copy text, print the file or share it. For access control, add a password, and to take sensitive content out of the document entirely, redact it. Protect PDF
Can the watermark be removed later?
By you, yes, since it is added as a watermark layer and our Remove Watermark tool can take that layer out. Keep the original unmarked file as well, which is simpler than removing anything. Remove Watermark
Will the watermark appear when the PDF is printed?
Yes. It is part of the page content, so it prints exactly as it appears on screen rather than being a view only overlay.
Is the watermark applied on your server?
Yes, for this tool. Placing a mark consistently across every page needs rendering on the server. The file is sent over a secure connection and removed once the download is ready.
Can I put the watermark behind the text instead of over it?
Placing it behind the content keeps the document most readable and is the conventional choice for Draft and Confidential marks. A mark placed on top is more assertive but harder to read through.
How is this different from adding a header or page numbers?
A watermark is a large mark across the page, usually angled and faded. Headers and page numbers are small text in a margin. Use Add Page Numbers for the latter. Add Page Numbers