Add Watermark
To Your PDF Files
Stamp a text watermark on every page of your PDF. Customize text, size, color, opacity and angle. Free, fast, and completely private.
Drop your PDF here
or click to browse files
What Is Add Watermark?
A PDF watermark is text or an image overlaid on each page of a PDF document, typically to indicate ownership, confidentiality, draft status, or branding. This tool adds text watermarks—for example CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, or custom text—so you can protect and label your documents. Watermarks are semi-transparent so they don't obscure the main content but are visible enough to convey the intended message.
Adding a watermark to a PDF helps protect intellectual property, deter unauthorized sharing, and keep internal documents clearly labeled. Online PDF watermark tools like this one process your files entirely on your device. Your file is never uploaded to a server, so you can add watermarks to sensitive documents without privacy concerns. You can customize the watermark text, font size, opacity, rotation angle, and color to match your needs.
Discover Features
Add professional text watermarks with full control over appearance—all private and secure
Text Watermarks on Every Page
The same custom text is applied consistently across all pages of your PDF, so the document is uniformly marked. Use CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, your company name, or any text you need. One setting applies to the entire file.
Adjustable Font Size and Opacity
Control how large and how visible the watermark is. Smaller size and lower opacity make it subtle; larger and higher opacity make it more prominent. Sliders let you fine-tune until it looks right for your document.
Rotation Angle
Rotate the watermark (e.g. -45°) for a traditional diagonal stamp look that is easy to read and doesn't align with the page text. Choose the angle that best fits your layout and branding.
Custom Color
Choose any color for your watermark so it matches your branding or document style. Gray is often used for a subtle look; you can also use your brand color or a darker shade for stronger visibility.
Private Processing
All processing happens on your device. No upload to external servers means better privacy and no file size limits. Your sensitive documents never leave your device.
No Account Required
Use the tool as often as you need without signing up or installing software. Open the page, upload your PDF, set your watermark text and style, and download—no registration or subscription.
Steps to Add a Watermark to Your PDF
Four simple steps to add a custom text watermark to every page
Open the Tool and Select Your PDF
Drag and drop your PDF file onto the upload area or click to browse and select the document you want to watermark. Only PDF files are accepted. Your file stays on your device and is never uploaded.
Enter Your Watermark Text
Type the text you want to use as the watermark (e.g. CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, your company name, or © 2025). The default is CONFIDENTIAL. You can use any text that fits your purpose.
Adjust Font Size, Opacity, and Angle
Use the sliders to set font size (e.g. 10–150px), opacity (how faint or strong the text appears), and rotation angle (e.g. -45° for a classic diagonal watermark). Lower opacity keeps the watermark visible without blocking the content.
Apply and Download
Click Add Watermark. The tool will process each page and add the watermark. When finished, your watermarked PDF will download automatically. You can then reset and process another file if needed.
Free vs Paid — Add Watermark
Get started free, upgrade when you need more power.
Unlock the Full Power of Add Watermark
Remove daily limits, process larger files up to 500 MB, enable batch processing, and get priority support.
PDF Tools includes:
- 21 PDF tools included
- Unlimited daily uses
- 100 MB file size limit
- Batch processing
- Sign, Redact, OCR, Watermark
- All export formats
Also available in the All Tools Bundle
User Q&A / Reviews
Questions from users and answers from the OnlinePCTools team
“I need to send a draft proposal to a client but don't want them to treat it as final. Can I add a DRAFT watermark across all pages?”
Rachel Kim
Consultant, Sydney, Australia
Yes. Open the tool, upload your PDF, and type DRAFT (or PREVIEW, SAMPLE, etc.) in the watermark text field. Adjust font size and opacity so it's visible but not overwhelming. Use a diagonal angle (e.g. -45°) for a classic look. Click Add Watermark and the same text will appear on every page. Your watermarked PDF will download automatically. The original file is never uploaded—everything is processed privately on your device.
— OnlinePCTools Team
“Are my files uploaded to a server? I'm adding CONFIDENTIAL to internal reports and need to be sure they stay private.”
Thomas Weber
HR Director, Berlin, Germany
No. Your PDF is processed entirely on your device and is never sent to our or any other server. We have no file storage of any kind. Once you close the tab, nothing remains. You can safely watermark sensitive or confidential documents without privacy concerns.
— OnlinePCTools Team
“Can I remove a watermark from a PDF later if I need a clean version?”
Maria Santos
Legal Counsel, São Paulo, Brazil
Removing a watermark that's been baked into the PDF usually requires editing the PDF (e.g. with an editor that can delete the watermark layer). This tool only adds watermarks; it doesn't remove them. If you need an unwatermarked version later, keep the original file before adding the watermark. You can always re-run the tool on the original to create a new watermarked copy with different text or settings.
— OnlinePCTools Team
“What's the best opacity for a watermark so it's visible but doesn't obscure the content?”
Alex Chen
Designer, San Francisco, USA
It depends on your goal. For a subtle background mark (e.g. 20–40% opacity) the text is visible but doesn't distract. For stronger branding or CONFIDENTIAL labels, 40–60% can work. Avoid very high opacity if you want the main content to remain easy to read. Use the slider to preview—you can always reset and try again with different settings until it looks right.
— OnlinePCTools Team
Use Cases
Common scenarios where adding a watermark protects and labels your PDFs
Confidential and Internal Documents
Mark reports, strategy documents, or HR files with CONFIDENTIAL or INTERNAL USE ONLY so recipients know the material is sensitive. Reduces the risk of accidental sharing or misuse.
Drafts and Previews
Add DRAFT or PREVIEW to unfinished or sample documents so clients and colleagues don't treat them as final versions. Clarifies document status at a glance without changing the content.
Branding and Copyright
Use your company name or a copyright line (e.g. © 2025 Your Company) to brand PDFs and assert ownership when sharing externally. Helps protect intellectual property and deter unauthorized use.
Legal and Compliance
Label legal drafts, discovery documents, or compliance materials with clear status text to avoid misuse or confusion. Ensures everyone understands the document's status and handling requirements.
Proposals and Quotes
Watermark proposals or quotes with SAMPLE or your logo so recipients know the document is from you and not for redistribution. Protects your work while still allowing preview and discussion.
E-books and Digital Content
Authors and publishers can add subtle ownership or NOT FOR RESALE watermarks to protect digital publications. Text watermarks are lightweight and don't significantly increase file size.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Add Watermark to PDF tool
Q1. Is the PDF watermark tool free?
Q2. Are my files uploaded to a server?
Q3. Can I remove a watermark from a PDF later?
Q4. What's the best opacity for a watermark?
Q5. Can I use an image or logo as a watermark?
Q6. Does watermarking increase the PDF file size?
Q7. Can I watermark password-protected PDFs?
Q8. What text can I use for the watermark?
Related Tools
Add a watermark, then use these tools to merge, compress, rotate, or secure your documents