Security & Privacy
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
Stamp DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or a recipient name across every page — how to make it readable without obscuring the document underneath.
A watermark states what a document is before anyone reads a word of it: a draft, a copy, confidential, issued to a named person. It is a labelling device, not a security control, and it is very good at the job it actually does.
Add a watermark
- 1Open the Add Watermark tool and add your PDF.
- 2Type the text — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, a name, a date.
- 3Set the angle, size and opacity. Diagonal at low opacity is the convention for a reason.
- 4Preview it over a text-heavy page, not the title page.
- 5Apply and download.
Getting the settings right
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Opacity | 10–20% | Legible as a label, transparent enough to read through |
| Angle | 45 degrees | Crosses the text without following any line of it |
| Size | Roughly half the page width | Unmistakable without swamping the content |
| Colour | Mid grey | Neutral in print and on screen |
| Position | Centred | Cannot be cropped off the edge |
What a watermark does and does not do
It communicates status, discourages casual misuse, and — when it carries a recipient name — makes a leaked copy traceable back to who was given it. That last use is the one with real teeth, because people behave differently with a document that has their own name across it.
It does not prevent copying, printing, editing or redistribution. Anyone determined can remove it, particularly from a digital PDF where it is simply another object on the page. Treat it as a label, not a lock.
Watermarking each recipient differently
For circulating a sensitive draft, generate one copy per recipient with their name and the date on it. It costs a few minutes, it changes how the document is handled, and if it does leak you know which copy it was.
Removing one
On a document you own — a draft becoming final, a template you are reusing — go back to the source and export again without it. Removing a watermark from someone else's document to obscure its provenance is a different matter, and usually a licensing or copyright breach.
Do it now
Add Watermark
Add text or image watermarks. It runs in this browser tab — your file is not uploaded anywhere.
Open Add WatermarkFrequently asked questions
Does a watermark stop people copying my PDF?+
No. It labels the document; it does not restrict any action.
What opacity should I use?+
10–20%. Above 30% the document becomes hard to read; below 10% the watermark stops registering.
Can I watermark only some pages?+
Yes, though for a status label it is usually clearer on every page.
Can a watermark be removed?+
From a digital PDF, by someone determined — it is an object on the page like any other.