How to Add a Watermark or Logo to a PDF

A watermark tells everyone how a document should be treated — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, COPY — or who it belongs to. It also makes a document harder to pass off as something else. Here is how to add a text or logo watermark that looks deliberate rather than slapped on, and when to use each style.
Key takeaways
  • Choose Text for words like CONFIDENTIAL or your name; choose Image for a logo (PNG with transparency looks best).
  • A diagonal watermark at 20–30% opacity is readable without hiding the content.
  • Tile across the whole page when the goal is to make copying or cropping harder.
  • Apply to all pages, the first page only, odd/even pages or a custom range.
  • Watermarking runs in your browser — the document is never uploaded.
Use Watermark PDFFree · no sign-up · no watermark

Text or logo?

Text watermarks are for status and ownership: DRAFT on a proposal that isn’t final, CONFIDENTIAL on salary information, COPY on a duplicate certificate, or a name on a document shared with one person. Watermark PDF accepts text in any language, including Hindi, so “गोपनीय” works as well as “CONFIDENTIAL”.

Logo watermarks are for branding: a school crest on notes, a company logo on a price list, a studio mark on a portfolio. Use a PNG with a transparent background so only the logo shows, not a white rectangle around it.

Add a text watermark step by step

Open Watermark PDF and select your file. A preview of page 1 appears with the default CONFIDENTIAL stamp so you can see changes immediately.

Type your text or pick a quick option such as DRAFT or COPY. Choose a font, bold or italic, a size and a colour. Pick a position on the 3×3 grid — the centre with a 45° rotation is the classic diagonal watermark. Set opacity: 20–30% is visible but lets the text underneath be read.

Choose the pages — all pages, first only, odd, even or a custom range like 2-10 — then press Add watermark. The watermarked PDF downloads immediately.

Add a logo watermark

Switch to Image and choose your PNG or JPG. Set its size as a percentage of the page width — 30–40% for a centred mark, 10–15% for a corner logo. Lower the opacity for a subtle background mark, or keep it high for a corner logo placed in a margin where it doesn’t cover content.

Tiled watermarks for sensitive copies

Switch on “Tile across the whole page” to repeat the watermark in a diagonal pattern. It is much harder to crop out or edit away than a single stamp, which makes it a good choice when you share ID copies or statements for a single purpose — for example a tiled line such as “For bank KYC only” across a copy of your ID.

Check before sending

Use the page arrows under the preview to look at a couple of pages, especially ones with dense text, and make sure the watermark doesn’t hide numbers or signatures. The watermark is written into the page itself, so it appears in every PDF reader and when printed.

What to do next

Add a password with Protect PDF after watermarking confidential documents.

Numbering a watermarked report? Add Page Numbers places them neatly in the footer.

Shrink the watermarked file with Compress PDF before emailing it.

A watermark marks a document; to hide information, use Redact PDF instead.

Recommended tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a watermark in Hindi?

Yes. Watermark PDF supports text in any language, including Hindi and Marathi.

Can I remove the watermark later?

The watermark becomes part of the page, so keep your original file if you might need an unwatermarked copy.

Can I watermark only some pages?

Yes. Choose First, Odd, Even or Custom and type a range such as 2-5, 8.

What opacity should I use?

20–30% for a diagonal watermark over text; higher for a small logo in a margin.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. Watermarks are added in your browser, so the file stays on your device.

Related guides