Watermark PDF

Add Watermark to PDF Free Online

A watermark protects your documents from unauthorized use and marks ownership clearly. Adding a watermark to a PDF is the standard way to mark documents as drafts, confidential, or proprietary. This free tool lets you add a custom text watermark to every page of your PDF in seconds, directly in your browser.

Watermarks are visible but semi-transparent overlays placed on every page. You choose the text, color, opacity, and angle. Common watermark texts include DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, SAMPLE, DO NOT COPY, and company names.

The tool processes your PDF entirely in your browser using PDF-lib. No file is uploaded to any server. Your document content stays private at all times.

What Is a PDF Watermark?

A PDF watermark is text or an image printed over the content of every page in a document. It sits at a specified opacity level so the underlying content remains readable while the watermark is clearly visible.

There are two types of watermarks: visible and hidden. Visible watermarks, like the ones this tool adds, are seen when reading the document. Hidden watermarks are embedded in the file metadata and are only detectable by specialized software. This tool creates visible text watermarks.

Watermarks are used across industries. Legal firms stamp DRAFT on unsigned contracts. Media companies add SAMPLE to preview materials. Businesses add their name or logo to prevent documents from being redistributed without credit.

How to Add a Watermark to a PDF

Step 1 – Upload your PDF. Click or drag your PDF file onto the upload area.

Step 2 – Enter watermark text. Type the text you want to appear on each page, such as CONFIDENTIAL or your company name.

Step 3 – Customize the style. Choose the text color, opacity (transparency level), and rotation angle. A diagonal watermark at 45 degrees is the most common style.

Step 4 – Apply watermark. Click the Apply button. The tool adds the watermark to every page of the PDF.

Step 5 – Download. Download the watermarked PDF. The original file is unchanged.

Common Uses for PDF Watermarks

Draft documents. Mark proposals, reports, and contracts as DRAFT before they are approved and finalized.

Confidential documents. Legal, medical, and financial documents shared internally are marked CONFIDENTIAL to signal that the recipient must not share them further.

Sample prevention. Educational materials, design portfolios, and templates shared as previews carry a SAMPLE watermark to prevent use without purchase.

Brand ownership. Companies add their name, logo text, or website URL to documents before sharing them publicly, reinforcing brand recognition.

Version control. Adding a version number or date as a watermark helps teams track which version of a document is in circulation.

Benefits of Adding a PDF Watermark

Deters unauthorized sharing. A visible watermark makes it clear that the document is protected and should not be copied or redistributed.

Establishes ownership. Your name or brand on the document identifies the source, especially when documents circulate across multiple organizations.

No software needed. This browser-based tool saves you from needing Adobe Acrobat Pro or any other paid software.

Instant results. Watermarking takes seconds. You can protect a document and share it immediately.

Limitations

Text only. This tool supports text watermarks. Image watermarks require a desktop PDF application.

Not tamper-proof. A determined person with PDF editing software can attempt to remove a visible watermark. For stronger protection, combine watermarking with PDF encryption.

All-page application. The watermark is applied to every page. Selective page watermarking is not supported in this tool.

Related Tools

• Encrypt PDF – Password-protect your watermarked document.
• Merge PDF – Combine multiple PDFs before watermarking.
• Compress PDF – Reduce file size after watermarking.

Frequently Asked Questions