Add Watermark to PDF
Free tool to add a text watermark to a PDF, such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT, in any language, with the angle, size and transparency you choose, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
What it does
The watermark is drawn over each page, centred on what you see, at the angle and transparency you choose. Text in the Latin alphabet is written with a standard PDF font and stays sharp at any zoom. Other scripts, such as Arabic, Chinese or Tamil, are not covered by the standard PDF fonts, so the text is drawn by your browser and placed as a transparent image; it looks the same, it just cannot be selected. The watermark goes on top of the page without changing what is underneath, and the rest of the document, including bookmarks and form fields, stays as it was.
How to use it
- Choose a PDF from your device. It is read in the browser and goes no further.
- Type the watermark text and choose the angle, size, opacity and colour.
- Add the watermark and the new file downloads straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Can the watermark be removed?
A watermark is a deterrent, not a lock. Anyone with a PDF editor can delete it, because it is a separate object drawn over the page. It works because it makes a copy traceable and discourages casual reuse, not because it cannot be taken off.
Can I write the watermark in my own language?
Yes, in any language your device can display. Latin letters become vector text; other scripts are drawn by your browser as a transparent image, so they look right even though the standard PDF fonts do not include them.
Which opacity should I use?
15% is discreet and barely gets in the way of reading; 25% is the usual choice; 40% is hard to ignore and also harder to read through. On pages with dark photos, a lighter colour works better than a darker one.
Can I add a watermark to a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. A protected file has to be unlocked before it can be changed, and doing that here would mean asking for the password, which a page that promises not to upload anything should not be asking for. This includes files that open without a password but restrict editing, as many bank statements do. Remove the protection in your PDF reader first.
Are my documents uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read by your browser and the new one is built in the page itself. There is no upload and nothing is stored, and once the page has loaded it keeps working with the network switched off.
Wikipedia — PDF
Wikipedia — Watermark
Wikipedia — Digital watermarking