Add a DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, or Custom Watermark to a PDF

How to add a watermark to a PDF - 4 steps

1. 1

   Upload the PDF

   Add one PDF up to 500 MB. It opens in the browser before you choose the watermark settings.

2. 2

   Choose text or an image

   Use a preset such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL, type your own words, or upload a PNG or JPEG logo.

3. 3

   Adjust the mark

   Set the font, size, colour, opacity, rotation, and position. Drag the mark in the preview until it sits where you want it.

4. 4

   Download the stamped PDF

   Apply the mark to every page and download a new PDF. Keep the original if you may need an unmarked copy later.

What this watermark tool is for

Use a watermark to show a document's status or ownership at a glance. DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, SAMPLE, APPROVED, COPY, and DO NOT COPY are ready-made choices, or you can write a project name, recipient, date, or other short label.

The watermark is placed into the page content of the PDF, not added as a temporary viewer note. It appears when the file is opened or printed in another application. This is useful for documents that may be forwarded, printed, or separated into individual pages.

This tool applies the same watermark settings across the document in one pass. It does not create a different label for each page or recipient automatically, so check the result before distributing a file with sensitive information.

Text stamps and logo watermarks

Text works well for a status or handling instruction, such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL. You can choose a font, size, colour, bold or italic styling, opacity, rotation, and position.

A logo works better when the mark is part of your visual identity. The editor accepts an image watermark and can embed PNG or JPEG image files. A transparent PNG usually gives a cleaner result than a logo with a solid background.

The watermark is applied to the pages of the uploaded PDF. It is not a separate layer that can be switched off in a PDF viewer, so save an unmarked source copy before you start.

How to choose opacity, position, and rotation

For a DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL mark, lower opacity usually keeps the text underneath readable. A diagonal mark across the page is easy to notice, while a corner mark is less distracting but can disappear if the page is cropped.

Use the preview to judge the actual document rather than relying on a fixed setting. A watermark that looks light on a blank page may be too strong over a dark photograph, table, or signature.

Supported PDF files and the 500 MB limit

The landing page accepts one PDF at a time, with a maximum file size of 500 MB. Images are used only when you choose an image watermark in the editor; Word documents and other non-PDF files are not accepted as the source document.

A large PDF or a document with many pages may need more browser memory and time to process. Keep the original file somewhere safe and open the downloaded PDF to check every page before sharing it.

What this tool does not do

A watermark is not password protection, encryption, redaction, or a legal guarantee that a document cannot be copied. It makes a status or ownership message visible, but it does not stop someone from editing, cropping, or removing content with another application.

It also does not add a watermark only at print time. The mark is written into the PDF pages, so the file itself changes. If you need to remove hidden document properties, use Remove PDF Metadata; if you need to hide sensitive page content, use Redact PDF.

For a focused example using a DRAFT stamp, read our guide to adding a draft watermark.

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