How to Add a Text Watermark to a PDF (Free)
A watermark is a faint word or phrase that appears behind or across the content of a page, such as CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT or your own name. People use it to mark unfinished documents, show who a copy was prepared for, or discourage careless reuse of a file.
Step by step: add a watermark
- Open the Add Watermark tool.
- Choose your PDF file.
- Type your watermark text.
- Set the font size and the opacity.
- Press Run and download the watermarked PDF.
What the watermark looks like
Your text is placed diagonally across the middle of every page, in a soft grey and semi-transparent, so the page underneath stays readable.
Choosing size and opacity
- Opacity controls how faint the text is. A smaller number is fainter. Around 0.25 is a good starting point.
- Font size controls how big the text is. If a long phrase runs off the page, lower the size or use shorter text.
- Short words work best.
DRAFTorCOPYlooks cleaner than a full sentence.
Ideas for what to write
- DRAFT for documents that are not final.
- CONFIDENTIAL for private papers.
- For John Smith only for a copy prepared for one person.
- Your business name on a price list or sample.
Be honest about its limits
A watermark is a clear visual message, not a security lock. Someone with a PDF editor may still be able to remove it. For truly sensitive files, do not rely on a watermark alone.
This tool adds text watermarks. It does not place a logo or picture.
Tips
- Keep your original PDF. Save the watermarked copy under a new name, such as
contract-DRAFT.pdf. - Add the watermark last, after merging or reordering pages.
- You can also number the pages with Add Page Numbers.
Is it safe?
Yes. The watermark is added inside your own browser, and your PDF is not uploaded to our servers.