Watermark PDF
Stamp text across every page, at the weight you set.
or drop it here
Nothing is uploaded. Your file never leaves this tab.
What watermark is
Text drawn across the content of every page at a chosen angle and opacity. Because it becomes part of the page content it survives printing and screenshotting and appears in every reader — and because it is drawn content, it can be found and removed by anyone editing the file’s internals.
What this tool does that others do not
It is described as a deterrent, not a lock
A watermark says "this is a draft" or "this copy belongs to X". It does not prevent copying: anyone determined can extract the underlying text or re-render the page without the mark. Protection with a password is a different operation and a different tool.
Opacity with a usable range stated
Around 0.15 is the usual choice — clearly visible, still readable underneath. Above about 0.3 it competes with the text for attention; below 0.08 it disappears when printed on anything but a good laser printer.
How to use it
Write the shortest text that does the job
"DRAFT" or a recipient’s name. Long strings at an angle collide with the layout on every page at once.
Set the opacity around 0.15 and look at a dense page
The page with the most text is the one where a watermark either works or ruins the document.
Use Protect PDF if the goal is control
A watermark marks status; a password restricts access. They solve different problems and are often confused.
Worked example
Real input, real figures.
Marking a document as a draft for review
You give it
"DRAFT" at 0.15 opacity, diagonal, on every page.
You get
Visible in every reader and on every print, and readable through on dense pages. It will not stop anyone copying the text — which is the thing to be clear about before sending it.
Watermarking against protecting
| Aspect | Watermark | Password protection |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Marks status or ownership visually | Restricts opening the document |
| Survives printing | Yes | Not applicable |
| Stops reuse | No | Until the password is shared |
| Removable | By anyone editing the PDF | Only with the password |
Guide
What it will not do
- Text only for now. An image watermark needs to be embedded once and referenced per page to avoid multiplying the file size, which is worth doing properly rather than quickly.
A watermark is a deterrent, not a lock
Text is drawn across the centre of every page at the angle and opacity you choose. It becomes part of the page content, so it survives printing and screenshotting, and it will be visible in any reader.
What it will not do is prevent copying. Anyone determined can extract the underlying text or re-render the page without the mark. Watermarking says "this is a draft" or "this copy belongs to X"; it does not protect a document. Protect PDF does that, with a password.
Questions people ask
Straight answers. Each one links directly: copy the address after opening it.
Can a watermark be removed?
By someone who wants to, yes. It is drawn content, so it can be found and deleted by anyone comfortable editing a PDF’s internals. Its value is in marking status and discouraging casual reuse, not in enforcement.
What opacity should I use?
Around 0.15 is the usual choice: clearly visible, still readable underneath. Above about 0.3 it starts competing with the text for attention, and below 0.08 it disappears when printed on anything but a good laser printer.
Can I use an image or a logo?
Not yet — text only. An image watermark needs to be embedded once and referenced per page to avoid multiplying the file size, which is worth doing properly rather than quickly.
Nothing leaves your device
Your file is read into this tab and worked on there. It is never uploaded, which is why there is no queue, no daily limit and no account, and why the tool still works with the network switched off.
All 15 PDF tools, and what we do not build