How to Add a Watermark to a PDF Online Free
Watermarks protect intellectual property, mark documents as drafts, or brand PDFs with company identity. Whether you're adding 'CONFIDENTIAL', 'DRAFT', or a company logo, PDFBro's watermark tool stamps every page of your PDF in seconds — entirely in your browser.
Free Online Tool
Add Watermark
Add text or image watermark to every PDF page
How to Watermark a PDF in 3 Steps
- 1
Upload your PDF
Upload the PDF you want to watermark.
- 2
Configure your watermark
Enter your watermark text (e.g. 'CONFIDENTIAL', 'DRAFT', 'DO NOT COPY') or upload an image. Set position (center, corner, diagonal), opacity (10–100%), font size, and color.
- 3
Download the watermarked PDF
Click Apply Watermark and download. The watermark is embedded on every page.
Text vs Image Watermarks
Text watermarks are best for standard labels like CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, SAMPLE, or FOR REVIEW. They scale perfectly at any size and don't add significant file size. Diagonal placement at 45° with 30–40% opacity provides the classic watermark look.
Image watermarks are ideal for company logos and branded marks. Upload a PNG with a transparent background for best results — a white background logo will look like a white box covering your content.
Watermark Placement Options
Diagonal center: The most common placement — a large angled watermark spanning the entire page. Hardest to remove or crop out.
Header/Footer text: Adds smaller text at the top or bottom of each page. Less obtrusive but easier to print around.
Centered stamp: A circular or rectangular stamp centered on the page. Good for 'APPROVED' and 'REJECTED' marks.
Pro Tips
- 1
Set watermark opacity lower (20–30%) on image-heavy PDFs so it doesn't completely obscure content.
- 2
For external sharing, use diagonal full-page watermarks which are the hardest to remove by cropping.
- 3
Use a unique watermark per recipient ('CONFIDENTIAL — FOR JOHN DOE ONLY') to track document leaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a logo as a watermark?
Yes. Upload a PNG image (preferably with a transparent background) and it will be placed as a watermark on every page.
Can watermarks be removed?
No simple 'remove watermark' button exists for embedded watermarks. They require specialized tools to detect and remove, making them effective for basic protection.
Does watermarking affect PDF quality?
No. The original content is unchanged. The watermark is added as a separate layer on top.