How to add a watermark to a PDF
A watermark sets expectations before anyone reads a word: this is a draft, this is not for circulation, this copy belongs to a named recipient.
Drag and drop here, or choose from your device.
Up to 50 MB per file. Files are processed in your browser.
Full options and FAQs on the Watermark PDF page.
What a watermark does and does not do
It is a visual deterrent and a labelling device. It is not access control: anyone can still read, copy and forward the document. If content must be restricted, control who receives the file rather than relying on a stamp.
Settings that stay readable
- Diagonal at roughly 45 degrees covers the page without hiding a single column.
- Opacity around 15-25% is visible on screen and in print but does not fight the text.
- Keep the wording short — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, or a company name.
- Personalising a copy with the recipient's name discourages forwarding more than a generic stamp does.
Choose the wording carefully
A watermark is read before the document is. DRAFT tells a reviewer not to act on the contents; CONFIDENTIAL sets an expectation about circulation; a recipient's name makes a leak traceable and makes people think twice about forwarding.
Avoid stamping a date unless you mean it — a document marked with last month's date reads as stale even when the content is current.
Print and accessibility considerations
- Test one page on a printer: a watermark that looks subtle on screen can print far heavier.
- Keep opacity low enough that photocopies of the document stay readable.
- Screen readers do not announce watermark text, so never rely on it to carry essential information.
- Very long watermark text shrinks to fit and becomes illegible — one or two words works best.
Step by step
- 1Open your PDF in the watermark tool.
- 2Type the text you want stamped on every page.
- 3Set the angle and opacity, and check the preview.
- 4Apply and download the watermarked copy.
- 5Keep the clean original for your own records.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a watermark be removed?
- It is drawn into the page content, so it cannot simply be toggled off — but no watermark is unremovable by a determined editor. Treat it as labelling, not protection.
- Can I watermark only some pages?
- Split out the pages you want stamped, watermark them, and merge the document back together.