Watermark PDF
Stamp a text watermark across every page. Everything runs in your browser — your file never leaves your device.
How to add a watermark to a PDF
- Choose a PDF file.
- Type your watermark text and pick a layout and opacity.
- Press Add watermark — the stamped PDF downloads automatically.
Mark drafts, confidential files and proposals
A watermark answers a question the document itself cannot: what is the status of this file, and what may be done with it. Stamping DRAFT across a contract under review prevents an outdated version from being signed by mistake. CONFIDENTIAL or INTERNAL USE ONLY sets expectations before anyone forwards a board deck. Law firms and agencies mark exhibits and deliverables so that stray copies can be traced back to a specific version.
It is also a quiet deterrent for commercial work. When you send a proposal, a quote or design concepts to a prospect, a watermark carrying your company name, or even the recipient's name, makes it awkward to pass your work to a competitor or reuse it without engaging you. It will not stop a determined copier, but it removes the easy path.
Placement, opacity and text that works
The classic diagonal stamp across the center of the page is the strongest choice for status labels like DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL: it is impossible to miss, it survives printing and photocopying, and it overlaps enough of the content that cropping it out is impractical. Keep the opacity low, somewhere around 15 to 30 percent, so the document stays comfortable to read underneath.
A small corner mark suits branding better. A company name in the footer area labels every page without shouting, which is appropriate for reports and portfolios that still need to look polished. Whichever you choose, apply it to a single test page first, check readability on screen and on paper, and only then stamp the whole document. Short words in capital letters read best at a glance.
Is it private?
Yes. Everything runs inside your web browser, using your own device. Nothing is uploaded to any server, so your documents stay completely private.
Frequently asked questions
Can a watermark be removed after I add it?
Not easily, but it is not impossible. The watermark becomes part of each page's content, so casual readers cannot switch it off, but someone with editing software and patience could reconstruct the page. Treat it as a strong deterrent and a clear status marker rather than tamper-proof protection.
Can I watermark every page in one go?
Yes, the watermark is applied across the whole document, so a 300 page file takes no more effort than a one page letter. Processing happens locally in your browser and stays quick even for long documents.
Does the tool work with password-protected PDFs?
Encrypted files cannot be modified until they are decrypted. Unlock the file first with the Unlock PDF tool on this site, using its password, then add your watermark to the unlocked copy.