A watermark stamps a message across every page of a PDF — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, a company name, or a copyright notice — so its status or ownership is obvious at a glance and travels with the file. You can add a watermark to a PDF for free in your browser, with no upload and no watermark from us on top.
Why watermark a PDF
- Mark status — DRAFT or SAMPLE stops a work-in-progress being mistaken for final.
- Flag sensitivity — CONFIDENTIAL or INTERNAL sets expectations for handling.
- Claim ownership — a company name or © notice brands every page.
- Privacy — the document is stamped on your device, never uploaded.
Step-by-step
- Open the Add Watermark tool.
- Drop in your PDF.
- Type the watermark text.
- Set the opacity, angle and size, then download.
Getting opacity, angle and placement right
A watermark should be visible without making the text underneath unreadable. A light grey mark at around 20–40% opacity, set diagonally across the page, is the classic look — legible but not obstructive. A bold, near-opaque stamp suits SAMPLE pages you specifically don't want reused as-is. Pair it with page numbers for a polished, clearly-marked document.
A watermark isn't real protection
A watermark deters casual reuse and signals intent, but it doesn't stop anyone opening, copying or printing the file. If you need to actually restrict access, add a password with the Protect PDF tool so only people with the password can open it — use both together for documents that are both sensitive and clearly marked.
FAQ
Does the watermark go on every page? Yes — it's applied across all pages of the PDF.
Will the text underneath stay readable? Yes, if you keep the opacity low — that's what the opacity control is for.
Is my PDF uploaded? No. Watermarking runs in your browser; the file never leaves your device.
Is it free? Yes — unlimited use, no signup, and no watermark added by the tool itself.