PDF Watermark Online
Stamp your PDF with a custom text or logo watermark, drag it into place, and download instantly.
Processing PDF…
Drag & drop your PDF here
or click to browse — up to 50 MB
Watermark Preview
Upload a PDF to see live preview
Watermark Settings
Click or drag an image (PNG, JPG)
What does this PDF Watermark tool do?
This tool stamps a text label or an image logo onto every page of a PDF, right inside your browser. Type a message such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT, or upload your own logo, then adjust its size, color, opacity, rotation and position while watching the result update on a live preview. Once you are happy with the placement, the watermark is burned permanently into the PDF pages and you download the finished file. The PDF is never sent to a server, so the whole process stays on your device. Exact drag-to-position placement and a custom page range are included at no cost, with nothing held back behind a paid plan.
How to Use This PDF Watermark Tool?
- Upload your PDF. Drag and drop a file onto the drop zone, or click Choose File to pick one from your device. Files up to 50 MB are supported, and the page count appears next to the file name.
- Pick Text or Image. Switch between the Text and Image tabs depending on whether you want a written watermark or your own logo.
- Set the content. For text, type your own message or click a ready-made chip such as CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, COPY or IMPORTANT. For an image, upload a PNG or JPG.
- Choose a pattern. Select Single for one watermark, or Diagonal and Grid to tile it repeatedly across the page, with adjustable horizontal and vertical spacing.
- Style it. Adjust font family, bold or italic, size, opacity, rotation and color, using the preset swatches or the custom color picker with a hex or rgba input.
- Choose which pages. Apply the watermark to all pages, the current page only, odd pages, even pages, or a custom range such as 1-3, 5, 8-10.
- Drag to reposition. Click and drag the watermark directly on the preview canvas to place it exactly where you want on the page.
- Apply and download. Name the output file, click Apply Watermark, then use Download PDF to save the finished document.
Built-In Features
Drag-to-Position Live Preview
Watch the watermark update instantly as you change text, style or color, and drag it directly on the page preview to fine tune the exact spot.
Text and Image Watermarks
Stamp a typed message with your choice of font, style and color, or switch to the Image tab to place your own PNG or JPG logo instead.
Single, Diagonal or Grid Patterns
Place a single watermark, or tile it in a diagonal or grid pattern across the whole page with adjustable spacing between each copy.
All, Odd, Even or Custom Ranges
Apply the watermark to every page, only the current one, odd or even pages, or a specific list of pages such as 1-3, 5, 8-10.
Full Style Control
Fine tune font family, bold or italic style, size, rotation angle, opacity and color, using the preset swatches or a custom hex and rgba color picker.
Browser-Based, No Sign-Up
Your PDF is read, watermarked and rendered entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server, and no account is required.
How the Watermark Is Actually Applied
What you see while adjusting settings and what ends up in your downloaded file are produced in two different ways, so the preview always stays fast while the final result stays permanent.
Live Canvas Preview
While you type, drag or move a slider, the page is redrawn on a canvas so you can see the watermark’s size, color, rotation and position update immediately, without touching the underlying PDF file.
Permanent PDF Embedding
Only when you click Apply Watermark is the text or image actually written into the PDF’s page content on every targeted page, matching the exact position, angle, size, and style you chose in the preview.
Because the watermark becomes part of the page itself, it stays in place when the PDF is opened in any viewer, printed, or shared, not just inside this tool.
Text Watermark or Image Watermark: Which Should You Use?
Both options mark every page the same way, but they suit different situations depending on whether you need a quick label or a consistent brand mark.
| Watermark Type | Best For | What You Control |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Marking drafts, confidential files, copies, or internal versions | Message, font, style, size, color, rotation, opacity |
| Image | Branding a document with a company logo or a scanned signature stamp | Uploaded PNG or JPG, size, rotation, opacity |
If you only need to mark a file as a draft or a copy before sharing it, one of the built-in text suggestions is usually the fastest route. If the document needs to carry your business identity, the Image tab lets you place a logo instead.
Single, Diagonal or Grid: Choosing a Watermark Pattern
The pattern you pick affects how hard the watermark is to crop out and how much it covers the page.
| Pattern | Appearance | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Single | One watermark placed once, positioned by dragging on the preview | A subtle stamp, logo placement, or a single DRAFT or COPY label |
| Diagonal | Repeated watermark tiled across the page in an offset, staggered layout | Discouraging cropping while keeping the page readable |
| Grid | Repeated watermark tiled in even rows and columns | Maximum coverage on sensitive or confidential documents |
Choosing Watermark Opacity and Size for Print vs Digital Use
The right opacity and size depend on whether the PDF will be read on a screen, printed, or scanned back in later. Too light and the watermark gets lost when printed on a home or office printer; too dark and it competes with the page’s own text.
| Use Case | Suggested Opacity | Suggested Size |
|---|---|---|
| On-screen sharing (email, portals) | 10 to 20 percent | Medium, single or diagonal pattern |
| Printed handouts or contracts | 20 to 35 percent | Medium to large, so it stays visible after printing |
| Logo branding on proposals | 40 to 60 percent | Small to medium, positioned in a corner |
| Anti-copy protection on sensitive files | 15 to 25 percent | Small, tiled in a Grid pattern for full coverage |
These are starting points rather than fixed rules. Use the live preview to check how a setting looks on your actual page before applying it, since font size and page layout both affect how visible a watermark ends up being.
Have an Existing Watermark You Want Gone Instead?
This tool is built to add a watermark to a clean PDF, not to strip out one that another program already placed on the file. If your PDF already carries someone else’s watermark, that mark is typically drawn directly into the page content, so removing it cleanly usually means going back to the original source file or using a dedicated PDF editor that can isolate and delete that specific layer. Trying to cover an existing watermark with a new one on top will not remove it, it will only add a second layer over the first.
Common Reasons to Watermark a PDF
Marking Confidential Documents
Stamp contracts, reports or internal files with CONFIDENTIAL before circulating them, so anyone who opens the file knows how it should be treated.
Branding Shared Files
Place a company logo on proposals, invoices or portfolios so the document is recognizable as yours wherever it ends up.
Labeling Drafts and Versions
Add DRAFT or COPY to a work-in-progress file so it is never mistaken for the final, approved version once it is sent out for review, editing, feedback, or further revisions by your team.
Preparing Files for Distribution
Before sending a PDF for distribution, many people number the pages first with a tool such as PDF Page Numbering then add a watermark so the file looks finished and easy to track.
Useful Tips
Keep Opacity Low for Readability
A low opacity, around 10 to 20 percent, marks the page clearly without making the underlying text hard to read, especially with Diagonal or Grid patterns.
Preview Custom Range First
Use the page navigation arrows to check a few pages first, then set Custom Page Range with a list like 1-3, 5, 8-10 to skip pages such as a cover sheet.
Match Brand Colors Exactly
Use the custom color picker’s hex or rgba input if you need the watermark to match a specific brand color instead of one of the preset swatches.
Name Your Output File
Set the Output Filename field before downloading so the watermarked copy is easy to tell apart from your original PDF once both are saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a watermark to a PDF online for free?
Upload your PDF, choose Text or Image, set the style and position you want, then click Apply Watermark and Download PDF. No account or payment is needed.
Can I watermark only specific pages instead of the whole PDF?
Yes. The Apply To setting lets you choose All Pages, Current Page Only, Odd Pages, Even Pages, or a Custom Page Range such as 1-3, 5, 8-10.
Can I add my own logo as a watermark?
Yes. Switch to the Image tab and upload a PNG or JPG file, then adjust its size, opacity and rotation before applying it.
Can I make the watermark repeat across the whole page?
Yes. Choose the Diagonal or Grid pattern instead of Single, then adjust the horizontal and vertical spacing to control how close together the repeats appear.
Can I move the watermark to an exact spot on the page?
Yes. With a Single pattern, click and drag the watermark directly on the live preview to place it anywhere on the page.
Does adding a watermark reduce the quality of my PDF?
No. The watermark is added as text or a lightweight image layer on top of the existing page content, so the original text and images in your PDF are not recompressed or altered.
Can I change the color and transparency of the watermark?
Yes. Pick from the preset color swatches or open the custom color picker for any hex or rgba value, and use the opacity slider to make it as subtle or as bold as you need.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes, PDFs up to 50 MB can be uploaded and watermarked.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The file is read, watermarked and rendered entirely in your browser. It is never uploaded to or stored on a server.
Can I remove or edit a watermark after it has been applied?
Once you click Apply Watermark and download the file, the watermark becomes a permanent part of the PDF page content and cannot be edited or removed with this tool. Use Start Over with your original file if you want to try different settings.
Does this tool work on mobile devices?
Yes. The tool is fully responsive and works the same way on phones, tablets and desktop browsers.
What fonts are available for a text watermark?
You can choose between Helvetica, Times Roman and Courier, and toggle bold or italic styling for any of them.