Add Watermark to PDF
Add watermark to PDF files to mark them as confidential, a draft or a copy. Type your words, choose whether they cross each page once or cover it, and whether they sit on top of the text or behind it. Arabic works too: “سري” is drawn joined and from the right. Everything happens in your browser, so your file is never uploaded.
- Free, no sign-up
- Files never leave your device
- Up to 100 MB per file
Drop a PDF file here
or
Up to 100 MB per file. Your files stay on your device.
Your file stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
What next
- Scroll through a few pages to check the mark does not hide anything the reader must see, such as figures or a signature.
- Sending a draft to several people? Put each person’s name in their copy’s watermark, so a copy that travels can be traced.
How to watermark a PDF
- 1
Click “Choose a PDF file” or drag your PDF into the box.
- 2
Type the watermark, or pick one of the suggestions.
- 3
Choose the layout, direction, colour and strength, and check the preview.
- 4
Press “Add watermark”, then download your file.
When you would use it
Marking a draft contract as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT before it goes round for comment.
Labelling a copy of a certificate or licence as a copy, so it is not mistaken for the original.
Putting your name across coursework or a portfolio you are sharing.
Marking a price list with the quarter or the year it applies to.
What to expect
A watermark marks a document; it does not protect it. Anyone with an editor can take it off, and it is not a password or a lock.
"Behind the text" slips the mark under the page’s own words so they stay readable, and works on most files. A scanned page, or one whose background is a picture, covers it completely. The tool checks the finished page and warns you when that happens, so you never download a watermark that cannot be seen.
Arabic words such as «سري» are drawn joined and from the right, at whatever angle you choose.
Tiled covers the whole page, single crosses it once, and both are fitted to each page’s own size, so a mixed document still looks even.
For a small line in the margin instead of a mark across the page, use Header and footer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watermark PDF free online, with no sign-up?
Yes. No sign-up, no daily limit, and no watermark of ours on your file.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The watermark is added inside your browser, on your device. Your PDF is never sent to us or anyone else, which matters when the reason for the watermark is that the file is confidential.
What is the difference between “on top” and “behind the text”?
On top, the watermark is painted over everything, so nothing on the page can hide it. Behind the text, the page’s own words are painted over it, so they stay perfectly crisp. That works on most files, including ones saved from Word, Google Docs or a browser. A scanned page, or one with a picture as its background, covers it completely; the tool checks the result and tells you if the watermark is hidden, with a button to put it on top instead.
Can I write the watermark in Arabic?
Yes. Arabic is drawn in an Arabic face, joined and in reading order, and a watermark mixing Arabic with English or numbers keeps each part where it belongs.
How big will it be?
A single watermark is sized to stretch across three quarters of each page along its slope, page by page, so a landscape page is fitted as well as a portrait one. A repeated watermark is smaller, so it can cover the page.
Can I watermark only some pages?
Yes. Type the pages you want, such as 1-3, 5. Leave it empty for every page.
Can a watermark be removed?
Yes, by someone with the right tools and the will to do it. A watermark tells readers what a document is; it does not stop anyone changing it. The text is also real text, which is the point for a reader but means it can be selected.
Why can’t I open my password-protected PDF?
Protected files are encrypted, so nothing can be added to them. Remove the password first, then open the file again.