Watermark PDF Online

Drag & drop a PDF here, or click to browse

Up to 100 MB · Processed entirely in your browser, nothing is uploaded

Watermark options

Opacity
25%
Download Watermarked PDF

How to watermark a PDF

  1. Drag your PDF into the box above, or click to choose it from your device.
  2. Type your watermark text, for example CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT or your company name.
  3. Choose the layout, angle, size, colour and opacity, and optionally a page range.
  4. Click Add Watermark and download your watermarked PDF.

A watermark tells every reader how a document should be treated. Marking a file as DRAFT prevents an unfinished version being mistaken for the final one, CONFIDENTIAL reminds people not to forward it, and a company name shows where a document came from. This tool stamps your text on each page in seconds, directly in your browser, so your files stay private.

Centred or tiled?

  • One, centred – a single large mark across the middle of each page, the classic look for drafts and samples.
  • Tiled across the page – the text repeats over the whole page, which is harder to crop out of screenshots and photos.

Tips for a good watermark

Keep the text short and in capitals for the strongest effect. An opacity of 15–30% keeps the document easy to read, while 40% or more makes the mark impossible to miss. Red and grey are the most common colours: red signals importance, grey stays subtle. Combine a watermark with our Protect PDF tool to also restrict editing and copying.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Watermark PDF tool free?

Yes. It is completely free to use, with no sign-up and no limit on the number of files.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No. The watermark is added inside your browser, so your document never leaves your device.

What text can I use as a watermark?

Any short text such as CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, COPY, SAMPLE or your company name. English letters, numbers and common symbols are supported; Arabic, Urdu and emoji are not supported by the built-in PDF font yet.

Can I make the watermark lighter or darker?

Yes. Use the opacity slider: around 15 to 30 percent keeps the document readable, while higher values make the watermark stand out.

What is the difference between centred and tiled?

Centred places one large watermark in the middle of each page. Tiled repeats the text across the whole page, which makes it harder to crop out.

Can someone remove the watermark?

The watermark is written into the page itself, but a determined person with PDF editing software could still edit it. For stronger protection, also restrict editing with our Protect PDF tool.

Can I watermark only some pages?

Yes. Use the From page and To page boxes to apply the watermark to a range of pages.

Will the watermark change the quality of my PDF?

No. Your original text and images stay sharp; the watermark is added as a transparent layer on top.

Quick answer: Upload a PDF (up to 100 MB), type your watermark text such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT, pick the layout, angle, size, colour, opacity and page range, then click Add Watermark. The PDF is processed in your browser and never uploaded.

About this tool

Watermark PDF is a free PDF One Click tool that adds a text watermark such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT to your document using pdf-lib, an open-source PDF library that runs directly in your browser. Your file is processed on your own device and is never uploaded, stored or shared.

Related free tools

All PDF tools → Browse all free tools → Read the blog →

Scroll to Top