How to add a watermark to a PDF
- Drop your PDF, or several PDFs that should get the same watermark, into the box above. The page count appears in the list and the first page is previewed on the right.
- Choose "Text" or "Logo / image". For text, click a preset such as CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT or COPY, or type your own wording. For a logo, choose a PNG with a transparent background.
- Pick the layout: one large mark in the center, a repeated tile across the whole page, or a small stamp in a corner. Fine-tune the angle, opacity, size and color while watching the preview.
- To mark only some pages, type a range such as
1-3, 7into "Page range". Leave it empty to mark every page. - Press "Add watermark" and download the result. Files are saved as
yourfile-watermarked.pdfand your original is never changed.
What watermarks are used for
Drafts and version control
Contracts, reports and proposals often circulate in several versions before anyone signs off. A large diagonal "DRAFT" across every page stops an unapproved version from being mistaken for the final one. When approval arrives you export a clean copy, and the difference is obvious to everyone. Architects and engineers use wording such as "NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION" or "FOR REVIEW ONLY" in exactly the same way.
Ownership and attribution
Photographers, course creators, authors and consultants put their name or logo on sample chapters, lecture notes, price lists and portfolios. If the file turns up somewhere else, the source is clear on every page. Tiling the mark makes it harder to crop out, because any part of the page you cut still carries a piece of it.
Confidentiality and traceable copies
Board packs, investor decks and pre-release material are usually shared with a short list of people. A "CONFIDENTIAL" watermark reminds everybody that the document is not for forwarding. A more advanced habit is to stamp each recipient's name or email address onto their own copy, so a leak can be traced back. With this tool you can run the same file several times with different text and send each person their own version.
Text or logo, and which settings work
Text watermarks are fast, readable on every page and barely increase the file size, because only the letters you use are embedded. The default of 60 pt bold gray at 30% opacity suits a single word on Letter or A4 paper. For longer phrases such as "FOR REVIEW ONLY", drop to 36 to 44 pt so the text fits across the page. A 45-degree angle runs corner to corner and does not clash with the lines of text beneath, while 0 degrees gives a straight banner. Red works for warnings like "CONFIDENTIAL", but keep the opacity low enough that the page can still be read.
Logo watermarks give a more corporate look for proposals, catalogs and training decks. Use a PNG with a transparent background; with a JPG the white box around the logo is printed onto the page as well. A logo at 30 to 40 percent of the page width and 15 to 25 percent opacity makes a subtle center stamp. In a corner, 12 to 15 percent width with higher opacity, around 60 to 80 percent, gives a letterhead effect. Because the image is embedded in the file, keep it modest: a logo under 1,000 pixels wide is plenty.
Rotated pages are handled automatically. Landscape pages and scans stored with a rotation get a watermark that reads the right way up for the viewer, and with mixed page sizes the logo width is calculated from each page separately.
A watermark is a deterrent, not protection
It is worth being clear about what a watermark can and cannot do. It tells readers where a document comes from and how it may be used, and it makes casual copying less attractive. It does not stop a determined person: a PDF editor can delete it and a screenshot ignores it. If a document truly must stay private, a password is the right tool, and Protect PDF adds one in your browser.
This tool only adds watermarks. It has no feature for removing them, and removing a watermark from a document that is not yours would usually defeat its purpose and may infringe the owner's rights. If you added a watermark to your own file and need a clean version, go back to your original.
Privacy: your files and logo stay on your device
The watermark is drawn into the PDF by the open-source pdf-lib library, running inside your browser, and the preview comes from pdf.js. Neither your document nor your logo is uploaded anywhere, no account is needed, and the page keeps working with your internet connection switched off. That is handy for exactly the kinds of file that people watermark: contracts, drafts and unpublished work.
Why use this watermark tool?
- Real text, tidy files. Text watermarks are drawn with an embedded font rather than pasted as pictures.
- Batch ready. Apply the same watermark to several PDFs and download them one by one or all together.
- Full control. Center, tile or corner layouts, any angle, adjustable opacity and an optional page range.
- No limits and no signup. It is free, with no daily cap and no mark of our own on your pages.
Frequently asked questions
Are my PDF and logo uploaded to a server?
No. The watermark is added inside your browser and the finished file is created on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tool will still work.
Can this tool remove a watermark?
No. It only adds watermarks and has no removal feature. If you added a watermark to your own document and want a clean copy, use your original file.
What is the difference between a text and a logo watermark?
A text watermark is typed wording such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL, drawn as real text with an embedded font. A logo watermark places a PNG or JPG image on the page, which suits branding and letterhead-style stamps.
Can I put a watermark on only some pages?
Yes. Enter a range such as 1-3, 7 in "Page range". Pages outside the range are left untouched. If you leave the field empty, every page gets the watermark.
Will the watermark make the text underneath unreadable?
Not at the default settings. The watermark is semi-transparent, so the page beneath remains readable. If a page is dense, lower the opacity or choose a corner layout instead of a large center mark.
Which image formats can I use for a logo?
PNG and JPG. A PNG with a transparent background looks best. Convert SVG or WebP logos to PNG first.
Can I watermark several PDFs at once?
Yes. Select several files and the same watermark is applied to each of them. You can download the results one by one or use "Download all".
Does adding a watermark reduce quality?
No. Your original pages are kept as they are and the watermark is added on top. Text stays selectable and images are not recompressed.
Can I watermark a password-protected PDF?
Not directly, because the tool has to read the pages. If you know the password, remove it with Unlock PDF, add the watermark and protect the result again with Protect PDF.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no premium tier, no trial and no registration. The site is supported by unobtrusive ads that never sit next to the buttons.
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Need custom software or document workflows for your business? Get in touch with Bilişim Ajans.