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Add a watermark to a PDF

Stamp text or an image on PDF pages: opacity, rotation, seven positions or tiled, page ranges.

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Drop a PDF here or click to choose onePDF files up to 100.0 MB each.

Processed on this device with your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

How it works

Mark drafts as DRAFT, proposals as CONFIDENTIAL, or brand every page with your logo. Choose text (font, size, colour) or an image, set the opacity and angle, and place it in the centre, a corner, along an edge, or tiled across the whole page. The preview shows the first page (or any page) exactly as it will be stamped.

Apply the watermark to all pages or a range such as 2-10. It is drawn into each page with pdf-lib; the page content underneath is untouched, so text stays selectable.

A watermark discourages copying and makes the status of a document obvious, but it is not protection: a determined editor can crop or cover it. To stop people opening the file, use Protect PDF.

Settings that work for common watermarks

PurposeContentPlacementOpacity and angle
Draft or confidential noticeDRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL, large, grey or redCentreAbout 20 to 30%, 45°
Copy of an ID for one purposeFor visa application only, and the dateTiledAbout 25%, 30° to 45°, so it cannot be cropped out
Branding a proposalYour logo as a PNG with transparencyA corner, small60 to 100%, 0°
Sample pages sent to a clientSAMPLE or your company nameTiledAbout 15 to 20%, 45°

Watermarking a copy of your passport or ID with its purpose and date is a common precaution: it makes the copy harder to reuse elsewhere. Check first that the recipient accepts marked copies, since some official portals require clean scans.

How to use it

  1. Choose a PDF.
  2. Pick text or an image and style it.
  3. Set the opacity, rotation and position (or tiled), and the pages.
  4. Check the preview, click Add watermark and download the file.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded?

No. The file is read and processed by your browser on your device; nothing is sent to a server. The PDF engine is downloaded from this site the first time you use a tool and then runs on your device.

Can the watermark be removed?

It is part of the page content, not a separate layer, so it is not removed by simply deleting an annotation. It can still be covered or edited with a full PDF editor.

Can I use my logo?

Yes. Choose Image and pick a PNG (transparency is kept) or JPG. Set its width as a percentage of the page.

Which characters can the text use?

Latin text uses the standard PDF fonts; Arabic is drawn with IBM Plex Sans Arabic, joined and right to left, so a watermark such as "سري للغاية" works, mixed with English too. Greek and Cyrillic use Carlito. Scripts none of these fonts covers, such as Chinese, print as "?"; use an image of the text for those.

Does it work on landscape or rotated pages?

Yes. Positions are calculated for each page as it is displayed, whatever its size or rotation.

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