How to use the Add Watermark to PDF
- Drop a PDF on the box or click to choose it.
- Type the watermark text and adjust size, colour, opacity, angle and placement — the preview updates live.
- Click Add watermark & download.
Why watermark a PDF?
A visible watermark marks a document’s status (DRAFT, FOR REVIEW), its sensitivity (CONFIDENTIAL) or its owner (a name or company), and discourages forwarding or reuse. Adding the recipient’s name to a contract or a statement before sharing makes leaks traceable.
Settings that work well
| Goal | Suggested settings |
|---|---|
| Subtle status mark | Diagonal, 60–80 pt, 10–20 % opacity, grey or red |
| Hard to crop out | Tiled, 30–40 pt, 10–15 % opacity |
| Footer or header note | Bottom or top, horizontal, 10–14 pt, 60–100 % opacity |
Good to know
- The watermark is drawn on top of each page as real vector text, so it stays sharp at any zoom.
- The text uses the standard Helvetica PDF font, which supports Latin letters, accents and common symbols. Emoji and non-Latin scripts are not supported.
- A watermark deters casual copying, but anyone with PDF editing software can remove it. For real protection, share access-controlled copies.
Want page numbers instead? Use Add page numbers to PDF.
Private by design
Most online PDF services upload your document to their servers. This tool processes the file entirely in your browser with open-source libraries (pdf-lib and PDF.js), so contracts, invoices, bank statements and IDs never leave your device. It works offline once the page has loaded, and there are no file-count limits, watermarks or sign-ups.
Tools that pair well with the Add Watermark to PDF
- Merge PDF — Combine several PDF files into one document.
- Organize PDF (Reorder & Delete Pages) — Rearrange a PDF visually: drag page thumbnails into a new order, delete pages, reverse the document, and save it as a new file.
- Split PDF — Pull specific pages out of a PDF, or break it into single pages or equal chunks.
- Rotate PDF — Fix sideways or upside-down scans: rotate individual pages or all of them, check the thumbnails and save the corrected PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Are my PDF files uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser; the files never leave your device.
Can I add an image or logo as a watermark?
This tool adds text watermarks. Use a short company name or “© Your Name” as text for a similar effect.
Can the watermark be removed?
It is part of the page content, so it survives normal viewing, printing and copying, but determined users with PDF editors can remove it.
Can I use a password-protected PDF?
No. Encrypted PDFs must be unlocked first — open the file in your PDF reader with the password and save or “print to PDF” an unprotected copy.