A watermark tells anyone who opens or prints a document what it is and where it came from: a DRAFT that must not be mistaken for the final version, a CONFIDENTIAL report, a portfolio with your name across every image, or a proposal carrying your company logo. The S-PDF tool to add watermark to PDF files stamps text or an image on every page, or only on the pages you choose.
You control the position, angle, size, colour and transparency, and whether the mark sits on top of the content or behind it like a letterhead. Text watermarks support accented and non-Latin letters, and PNG logos keep their transparent background, so only the logo itself appears on the page.
How to add a watermark to a PDF in 4 steps
- Upload your PDF Drag your PDF onto the upload box or select it from your device.
- Choose text or image Type your text, for example
CONFIDENTIAL, and pick a font, size, colour and bold. Or upload a PNG or JPG image and set its size as a percentage of the page width. - Position and style it Pick a spot on the 9-point grid or Mosaic to repeat the mark across the page, choose a rotation (none, 45°, −45° or 90°), set the transparency, and put it over or below the content. Add a page range to stamp only some pages.
- Apply and download Apply the watermark, download your PDF and open it to check how the mark looks on a few different pages.
Why use S-PDF for Add watermark
- Text or imageStamp a word such as DRAFT or your own PNG or JPG logo, with PNG transparency preserved.
- Nine spots or MosaicPlace one mark in a corner, on an edge or in the centre, or repeat it across the whole page.
- Angle and transparencyTurn the mark 45, -45 or 90 degrees and set its transparency anywhere from 5 to 100%.
- Over or underPut the mark on top as a clear stamp or behind the text like a letterhead.
- Any alphabetText watermarks handle accented letters and non-Latin scripts, not just plain English characters.
- Chosen pages onlyUse a page range to stamp only the cover, an appendix or any other set of pages.
Watermark settings for common jobs
| Goal | Suggested settings |
|---|---|
| Mark a draft for review | Text DRAFT, centre, 45°, light grey, over the content with high transparency |
| Label a confidential report | Text CONFIDENTIAL, top or bottom centre, red, bold, no rotation |
| Discourage reuse of a portfolio or photos | Your name or website, Mosaic, −45°, small size |
| Brand a proposal or price list | PNG logo with a transparent background, top-right corner, no rotation |
| Trace who received a copy | Text such as Copy for J. Smith, bottom edge, small; run once per recipient |
A diagonal mark across the middle is hard to crop out but sits over the main text; a small mark in a corner is discreet but easy to cut off. Mosaic is the strongest deterrent for images, because there is no clean area left to copy.
Over or below the content?
Over the content places the watermark on top of everything, so it is always visible, including on photos and full-page images. Raise the transparency so the text underneath stays easy to read.
Below the content puts the mark behind the text, like a printed letterhead or paper watermark. Text stays perfectly legible because it is drawn over the mark. The catch: anything opaque on the page covers it. A scanned page is one big picture, so a watermark placed below the content of a scan is hidden behind it. For scans, and for slides with a solid background, choose over.
How much protection does a watermark give?
A watermark is a label and a deterrent. It makes a document's status unmistakable, discourages casual copying, and makes leaked copies traceable when each recipient gets their own version. It is not a lock: someone determined, with PDF editing software, can remove or cover a watermark.
- For real protection, combine it with Protect PDF to add a password to the file.
- To remove sensitive text or images for good rather than just marking them, use Redact PDF.
- If the pages should also be numbered, add page numbers before or after watermarking; the two never interfere when they sit in different positions.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to add a watermark to a PDF?
Yes. You can watermark up to 10 files and 50 MB per task, 5 times a day, with no signup, and we never add a watermark of our own. Pro ($5 a month or $50 a year) allows 50 files and 500 MB per task, unlimited tasks under fair use, and no ads.
How do I add my logo as a watermark?
Choose an image watermark and upload your logo as PNG or JPG. A PNG with a transparent background keeps that transparency, so only the logo shows. Set the size as a percentage of the page width and pick a position.
Can I put the watermark diagonally across the page?
Yes. Choose the centre position or Mosaic and set the rotation to 45 or -45 degrees.
Can I watermark only some pages?
Yes. Enter a page range such as 1 or 2-5, and only those pages are stamped. Leave it empty to watermark every page.
Why can't I see my watermark on a scanned PDF?
It was probably placed below the content. A scanned page is a single image that covers the whole page, so it hides anything underneath. Run it again on the original with the layer set to over the content.
Can a watermark be removed?
Someone determined can remove or cover a watermark with PDF editing software, so treat it as a deterrent and a label. For real protection, add a password with Protect PDF as well.
Does the text watermark support other languages?
Yes. Text watermarks support accented letters and non-Latin alphabets, so names and words in other languages appear correctly.
Are my files safe?
Files are sent over HTTPS, stored in a private folder that is not reachable from the web, never shared or used for anything else, and deleted automatically one hour after your last action. The Delete my files now button removes them immediately.
Last updated by The S-PDF team.