Add watermark to PDF
Stamp text or image watermarks on every page. Control position, opacity, rotation, and font. Perfect for drafts, copyright, or branding.
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A watermark is the simplest way to mark a PDF as a draft, claim copyright, or stamp a confidentiality label on every page. PDFOnly's watermarker overlays text or an image (your logo, a stamp graphic) across all pages with full control over position, opacity, rotation, and font size. The result is a flattened PDF where the watermark is part of the page content — recipients can't drag it off or remove it without re-running the page through a PDF processor. Free for the basics, no signup required.
How to add watermark step by step
- 1
Upload your PDF
Drop the PDF you want to watermark. Up to 100 MB free, 200 MB on Pro.
- 2
Configure your watermark
Type the text (DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, your name, etc.) or upload a logo image. Set opacity 0.05-1.0 (0.25 is a good default — visible but not overpowering), rotation (-30° to -45° works well for diagonal banners), and font size.
- 3
Click Add Watermark and download
We overlay your watermark on every page (or only the pages you specify) and flatten it into the page content. The output is a normal PDF with your watermark baked in.
Why add watermark on PDFOnly
Real flattening, not a hint layer
Some tools add the watermark as a separate annotation layer that recipients can hide. We flatten it into the page content — visible to every viewer, can't be turned off.
Image and text both
Most free tools support text-only or image-only. We do both, and you can layer them (text and a logo on the same page).
Per-page control
Watermark only the cover page, only odd pages, only the introduction — whatever your workflow needs.
What people use add watermark for
A few common scenarios. If your workflow looks like one of these, this tool is a good fit.
Mark drafts before circulating
Add 'DRAFT' diagonally across each page so reviewers don't accidentally treat the PDF as final. Reduces miscommunication on long review cycles.
Stamp 'CONFIDENTIAL' on legal documents
Many law firms require confidentiality watermarks on outgoing case documents. One click adds it to every page consistently.
Add your logo as a brand watermark
Designers and consultants stamp deliverables with their logo before sending to clients — light branding without overpowering the content.
Mark proof copies or sample versions
Sending a sample chapter of a book or a preview of paid research? Watermark with 'SAMPLE — NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION' to discourage forwarding.
What you get
- Text watermarks (DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, your custom text) or image overlays
- Adjustable opacity (5-100%) — bold or subtle
- Custom rotation (-90° to 90°) for diagonal banners
- Apply to all pages or specific page ranges
- Watermark is flattened into the page — recipients can't easily remove it
- Free, no signup, no watermarks of OUR own added
Frequently asked questions
Can recipients remove my watermark?
Not easily. We flatten the watermark into the page content, so removal would require running the PDF through specialized tools that re-render the page (essentially copying it minus the watermark layer). For typical use cases (drafts, copyright marks, confidentiality stamps), this is sufficient deterrent.
Does the watermark affect the underlying text?
No — your original text remains fully searchable, selectable, and copyable. The watermark is added as overlay content on top of the existing page.
What's a good opacity for a watermark?
0.20-0.30 (20-30% opacity) is the standard for most uses. Strong enough to be unmissable, light enough not to obscure the text. Drop to 0.10 for very subtle branding, raise to 0.50+ for bold 'DRAFT' or 'CONFIDENTIAL' stamps.
Can I add an image watermark like my logo?
Yes. Upload PNG (with transparent background works best), JPG, or WebP. The image is centered or positioned per your settings, with opacity applied.
Will the watermark scale across different page sizes?
Yes. The watermark is positioned proportionally so it appears consistent across mixed-size pages (e.g. a PDF with both A4 and Letter pages).
Can I watermark only the first page?
Yes — specify '1' as the page range. Or use '1,3' to watermark just pages 1 and 3, etc.
Does watermarking add metadata that says 'Made with PDFOnly'?
No, we don't add hidden metadata or branding to your output. The PDF Producer field is set to 'PDFOnly.com' (standard PDF metadata) but no branding visible to readers.
Ready to add watermark?
Free to use for the basics. Files are auto-deleted within an hour and never used to train AI.
Open Add Watermark