How to Add a Watermark to a PDF Online Free
A watermark is text stamped across your pages — like "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", or your company name. It discourages unauthorised copying, marks a document's status, and adds a layer of branding. Adding one to a PDF takes just a few clicks.
Why add a watermark?
- Protect ownership: mark documents as yours to deter misuse.
- Show status: label files as DRAFT, SAMPLE or CONFIDENTIAL.
- Branding: place your name or brand across shared documents.
Step-by-step: add a watermark
- Open the Add Watermark tool.
- Upload your PDF by dragging it in or clicking to browse.
- Type your watermark text and adjust the opacity.
- Click Add Watermark and download the stamped PDF.
💡 Tip: Keep opacity low (around 15–25%) so the watermark is visible but the text underneath stays readable.
Choosing good watermark text
Short words work best across a diagonal, such as "CONFIDENTIAL" or "DRAFT". For branding, your company name is ideal. A subtle grey at low opacity looks professional and doesn't overwhelm the content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the watermark appear on every page?
Yes. The text is applied diagonally across all pages of the PDF.
Can I control how strong it looks?
Yes. The opacity slider lets you make it faint or bold.
Can I remove it later?
The watermark becomes part of the file, so keep your original if you might need a clean copy.
Is my document uploaded?
No. Watermarking runs in your browser, so your file stays private.
Is it free?
Yes, free with no sign-up.
Try the Add Watermark Tool