How to add a watermark to a PDF online
- 1
Select your PDF
Click “Select PDF file” or drag and drop your document into the box above.
- 2
Choose text or image
Type your own text, such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT, or upload a logo. Pick the font, size and colour.
- 3
Set position, opacity and rotation
Choose one of nine positions or tile it across the page. Adjust opacity, rotate it, and decide whether it sits over or below your content. The live preview updates as you go.
- 4
Add the watermark and download
Click “Add watermark” and your watermarked PDF downloads straight away. Nothing is stored anywhere.
Why use Watermark PDF
Live preview
See exactly how the watermark will look on every page before you download, instead of finding out afterwards.
Text or image
Use any text in any language, or add your company logo or stamp as a transparent image.
Private by design
The watermark is added inside your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded, stored or shared.
Popular PDF watermarks and when to use them
A watermark tells readers where a document comes from and how to treat it. These are the ones people add most often:
CONFIDENTIAL
Mark contracts, reports and financials that should stay inside your team.
DRAFT
Make it obvious that a document is still being reviewed and is not final.
DO NOT COPY
Discourage copying of proposals, exam papers and paid material.
SAMPLE
Share previews of a book, report or design without handing over the full version.
Your company logo
Brand brochures, invoices, price lists and portfolios with a transparent logo.
Your name or website
Credit your photography, artwork or research when you send it out.
Every watermark option explained
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Place text / Place image | Stamp your own words or a logo. Text supports several fonts, bold, italic, any colour and multiple lines. |
| Position | Pick one of nine spots on a 3 by 3 grid: corners, edges or the centre of the page. |
| Mosaic | Repeat the watermark in a staggered pattern across the whole page, which is much harder to crop out. |
| Opacity | Choose solid, 75%, 50% or 25%, or fine-tune with the slider, so your content stays readable. |
| Rotation | Keep it straight, use a classic 45° diagonal, or turn it to any angle. |
| Layer | Place it over your content so it is always visible, or below your content so text stays crisp on top. |
| Pages | Watermark every page, or only the pages you list, such as 1-3, 5. |
Tips for a watermark that looks professional
- Use 30% to 50% opacity for a centred diagonal watermark. It is visible but does not hide your text.
- For logos, upload a PNG with a transparent background so no white box appears around it.
- Choose Over content for scanned documents and pages with full-page images or solid backgrounds, because a watermark placed below would be hidden.
- Use Mosaic when you want to protect every part of the page, for example on a sample or preview copy.
- Keep a copy of your original PDF. A watermark is added to the page itself, so it is meant to be permanent in the new file.
- Need to approve the document as well? Add your signature with Sign PDF, or shrink the finished file with Compress PDF.
Watermark PDF: frequently asked questions
Is it free to add a watermark to a PDF here?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no limit on how many files you watermark, and we never add a watermark of our own. It is free to use.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The watermark is added inside your own browser, so your document never leaves your device. That makes it safe for contracts, invoices, exam papers and other private files.
Can I add an image or logo as a watermark?
Yes. Open the “Place image” tab and upload a PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG. A PNG with a transparent background looks best. You can resize it, rotate it, change its opacity and tile it across the page.
Can I make the watermark transparent?
Yes. Choose Solid, 75%, 50% or 25% opacity, or drag the slider for any value in between. The live preview shows the result immediately.
Does it work with Hindi, Arabic, Chinese and other languages?
Yes. Your text is drawn by your browser, so any language and emoji your device can display will appear correctly in the watermark.
Can I watermark only some pages?
Yes. Under “Pages”, choose “Selected pages” and enter a list such as 1-3, 5. The preview tells you when the page you are viewing will not be watermarked.
What is the difference between over and below content?
Over content places the watermark on top of the page, so it is always visible. Below content places it behind your text and images. Below can be hidden by scanned pages or solid backgrounds, so use Over content for those.
Can I remove the watermark later?
The watermark is added to the page content of the new PDF and is designed to stay. Always keep your original file if you may need an unwatermarked copy.
Can I watermark a PDF on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in modern mobile browsers on Android and iPhone. For very large files, use a laptop or desktop because processing happens on your device.
What is the maximum file size?
You can watermark PDFs up to 50 MB and 200 pages. Larger files can run out of memory in a browser, so split them first with our Split PDF tool.
Can I watermark a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. Remove the password in your PDF viewer first, then add the watermark to the unlocked copy.
More free PDF tools
Edit, merge, split, organize, rotate, compress, watermark, number pages, protect, unlock, convert images and sign PDFs, all in your browser.
View all PDF tools