Skip to content
Utlty

Add a watermark to PDF

Stamp text like CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT across your pages.

Updated

How to watermark a PDF

  1. Drop a PDF into the box above, or choose one.
  2. Type the watermark text, then set its size, angle, opacity and colour.
  3. Choose Centre for one mark per page or Tiled to repeat it, and check the preview.
  4. Select the button to add the watermark, then download the PDF.

Choosing the settings

PurposeTextSuggested settings
Work in progressDRAFTGrey, 30% opacity, diagonal, centred
Sensitive documentsCONFIDENTIALRed, 20–30% opacity, diagonal, centred
ID and certificate copiesFor bank KYC onlyBlack or blue, 25% opacity, smaller text, tiled
Previews and samplesSAMPLEGrey, 35–50% opacity, tiled

The watermark is drawn on top of the page, so it shows over photos as well as text. Keep the opacity low enough for the content underneath to stay readable.

Common uses

  • Marking drafts. Stamp DRAFT across a contract or report under review so nobody mistakes it for the final version.
  • Sharing confidential documents. Add CONFIDENTIAL or the recipient's company name before sending figures or plans outside your team, so the source is clear wherever it ends up.
  • ID copies for a single purpose. Watermark a copy of an ID or certificate with the purpose and date, for example “For bank KYC only, Oct 2026”, to discourage reuse.
  • Samples and previews. Tile SAMPLE across an ebook, worksheet or design proof so people can see it without getting a clean copy.

Questions

Can someone remove the watermark?

With a full PDF editor and some effort, yes: no watermark is impossible to remove. It's drawn into each page's content rather than added as a comment, so it can't simply be deleted like an annotation. Use it to mark a document's status or owner, not as a lock.

Will the watermark hide my text?

Not at the default 30% opacity: the text underneath stays readable. Lower the opacity for a fainter mark, or raise it when the watermark must stand out, such as on a sample.

What's the difference between centred and tiled?

Centred draws the text once in the middle of each page. Tiled repeats it across the whole page, which makes it harder to crop out of a screenshot.

Can I use any language or emoji?

The watermark uses Helvetica, which covers Latin letters, numbers and common symbols such as € and ©. Other scripts and emoji aren't supported yet, and the tool tells you if your text includes them.

Can I add a logo as the watermark?

Not yet. The tool adds text watermarks only.

Related tools

All PDF tools →