How to add a DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL watermark to a PDF

Upload the PDF to Watermark, type your text, adjust the opacity, size and angle, and download the result. The text is stamped on every page.

Step by step

1. Open the Watermark tool and upload your PDF.
2. Type the watermark text, such as DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or your company name.
3. Adjust the opacity, font size and angle. A soft, semi-transparent diagonal watermark is the classic look.
4. Click "Add Watermark" and download the result.
5. Open the file and check that the text is visible but does not stop you reading the page.

Choosing settings that look right

• Opacity: keep it low enough that the text underneath stays easy to read. Start around 20 to 30 percent and adjust.
• Angle: a 45 degree diagonal is the traditional choice and is hard to crop out.
• Size: large enough to be seen on the page, but not so big that a short word runs off the edge.
• Wording: one or two short words work best. Long sentences get crowded.

Before you rely on it

A watermark becomes part of the page, so it cannot be switched off afterwards. Always keep an unmarked original. If you need to share the file with someone who should not edit it, you can also add a password with the password guide.

Limits

• Text watermarks are supported today; image watermarks are not yet available.
• The same text is applied identically to every page.
• For adding page numbers instead, see the page numbers guide.

Watermark or password: which do you need?

A watermark labels a document as draft or confidential. It does not stop anyone opening it or copying it. A password controls who can open the file at all.

For sensitive drafts, use both: stamp the text first, then protect the result with a password.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an image or logo as the watermark?

Not yet. Text watermarks are supported; image watermarks are on the roadmap.

Is the watermark on every page?

Yes. It is applied the same way to every page of the document.

Can I remove a watermark later?

A watermark becomes part of the page, so it cannot be reliably removed afterwards. Keep your original file.

What can I adjust?

The text, its opacity, its font size and its angle.

Does a watermark stop someone copying the document?

It marks the document and discourages casual reuse, but it does not prevent copying. For access control, add a password.

More guides