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Add Watermark to PDF

This tool lets you add a watermark to a PDF in your browser, either as text such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT, or as your logo. Place it in one of nine positions or tile it across the page as a mosaic, set the opacity and rotation with presets or sliders, and choose whether it sits over or below the page content. Text comes in sans, serif or mono fonts, bold or italic, in any colour, and text in other scripts is drawn as an image so it still works. Logos can be PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF or SVG. Stamp all pages or only the ones you list, on one PDF or several at once, while every page previews the result. Nothing is uploaded.

Always freeNo sign upRuns in your browser

How to use

01

Upload one or more PDFs

Drop PDFs of up to 200 MB each. The settings appear on the left and a preview of the first file's pages on the right.

02

Choose text or a logo

For text, type it or pick a preset, then choose font, style, colour and size. For a logo, upload an image and set its width as a share of the page.

03

Position, set pages and apply

Pick a position or the mosaic, adjust opacity, rotation and layer, and type pages if not all should be stamped. Press Apply & download for a -watermarked copy, or a ZIP for several files.

Why Add Watermark to PDF

Watermark presets and suggested settings

The preset buttons fill in the most common watermark words. The settings below are starting points, not rules, so adjust them while you watch the preview.

A watermark is visual branding, not security. It tells readers how to treat a document, but it does not stop anyone copying or editing it. For access control, add a password with Password Protect PDF.

TextTypical useSuggested opacitySuggested position
CONFIDENTIALInternal reports, board packs, HR files20 to 30%Center, 45 degrees
DRAFTContracts and documents under review25 to 35%Center, 45 degrees, below content
COPYDuplicates of originals, such as certificates20 to 30%Center or mosaic
SAMPLEProofs and previews sent to clients30 to 40%Mosaic
PAIDInvoices that have been settled40 to 60%, in redTop right, no rotation

Over or below the content

Over the PDF content draws the watermark last, so it sits on top of everything and cannot be hidden by the page. That suits SAMPLE and COPY marks that must stay visible.

Below the PDF content draws it first, like a letterhead printed on paper before typing. Text stays fully readable, which suits DRAFT on contracts. It only works on pages with a see-through background, so check the preview for scanned pages.

Common questions

How do I add a watermark to a PDF for free?
Upload the PDF, type your text or add a logo, choose a position and press Apply & download. There is no sign-up and no branding of ours on the output.
Can I add a logo as a watermark to a PDF?
Yes. Switch to Image or logo and upload a PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF or SVG. A PNG or SVG with a transparent background looks cleanest, because a JPG always has a solid rectangle behind the logo. Use Logo width to set its size.
How do I make a PDF watermark transparent?
Use the transparency presets, 75, 50 or 25 percent, or drag the Opacity slider. Between 15 and 40 percent keeps the page readable while the watermark stays visible, and it works the same way for text and logos.
Can I watermark only some pages of a PDF?
Yes. Type the pages in the Pages box, for example 1, 3-5, 8- or odd. Leave it empty to stamp every page. The preview shows the watermark only on the pages that will get it.
Can I put the watermark behind the text of a PDF?
Yes. Set Layer to Below the PDF content and the watermark is drawn first, under text and images, so it never covers words. On scans or pages with a solid white background it may be hidden, because the page image sits on top.
Can a PDF watermark be removed?
A watermark added here becomes part of the page content, but anyone with a PDF editor can still select and delete it or cover it. It is a label, not protection. To control who can open a file, use Password Protect PDF.
How does the tiled watermark pattern work on a PDF?
Mosaic repeats your text or logo in staggered rows over the whole page, at the angle you set, and Tile spacing makes the gaps wider or tighter. It makes the mark hard to crop out of a screenshot. Use a lower opacity with tiling, since the marks cover more of the page.
Can I watermark a PDF in Hindi, Arabic or other scripts?
Yes. The built-in PDF fonts only cover Latin letters, so when your text uses other characters, the tool draws it with your device's fonts and places it as an image. It looks the same in the preview and in the file, though the watermark text is not selectable.
Can I add the same watermark to several PDFs at once?
Yes. Drop all the PDFs, or add more below the settings. The same watermark, position and page range go on every file, and they download together in a ZIP.
How private is the PDF watermarking process?
Fully private. The document loads into your browser's memory, pdf-lib draws the watermark, and the download is created on your device, so drafts and unreleased documents never touch a server.

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