PDF Watermark Tool

Adds a diagonal text watermark to every page of your PDF (e.g. DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL).

When should you use this?

Use this to mark a document as a draft, or to stamp copyright or brand information onto every page.

When shouldn't you use this?

A watermark doesn't fully protect a document from unauthorized copying, a determined user can crop the image out; for real security, encryption or access control is the better fit.

Step-by-step

Choose the document in the PDF file field.
Type the words you want stamped on each page into Watermark text. Short phrases like DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or SAMPLE stay readable.
Click Add watermark and download. The text is placed diagonally across every page.
Open the result and make sure the content underneath is still readable and the watermark doesn't hide an important figure or signature. If your text uses accented or non-Latin letters, check that they display correctly.

Example

A landlord asks for a copy of your ID with your rental application. Before sending it, you add the watermark FOR RENTAL APPLICATION ONLY. Anyone trying to reuse the copy elsewhere, say to open an account in your name, is handing over a document that plainly states its purpose, which makes misuse harder. An agency can do something similar with design files awaiting sign-off: stamping them AWAITING APPROVAL keeps everyone clear on which version is final.

Adding a watermark to a PDF

A watermark adds semi-transparent text or a stamp over the pages to show the document's status (DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, COPY) or its owner. A good watermark is light enough not to spoil reading and visible enough to notice. A watermark does not stop a document being copied; it is only a notice about its use.

Watermark tips

Keep the text short and set the transparency so it does not cover the page.
A diagonal placement is harder to remove than one sitting in a corner.
Keep the original without watermark and share the watermarked copy.
For legal and official documents, make sure the watermark does not affect the document's validity.

Things to keep in mind

Keep the watermark to a few words. Long sentences shrink to fit the page and stop catching the eye.
On ID copies, stating who the copy is for and why works better as a deterrent than a generic CONFIDENTIAL.
Store the clean original somewhere safe after sending the stamped version. Removing a watermark cleanly later is not easy.
If you want both a watermark and a password, add the watermark first and encrypt afterward. Watermarking a protected file may not work.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. This tool runs entirely in your browser; your PDF file is never sent to a server.

Is there a file size limit?

There's no fixed limit, but very large files may process more slowly depending on your browser's available memory.

Does this work on password-protected PDFs?

No — password-protected PDFs can't be opened, so you'll need to remove the password first.