Add Watermark to PDF

Why watermark documents?

A watermark marks a document’s status or ownership and discourages misuse. Common examples: “COPY” or “Only for KYC with XYZ Bank” on ID proofs, “DRAFT” on reports, “CONFIDENTIAL” on internal documents, and a company logo on quotations and brochures.

Protect your ID copies

When sharing Aadhaar, PAN or passport copies, a purpose-specific watermark such as “For rental agreement with ABC only – 10/2026” makes it harder to reuse the copy for something else. Use a clear angle and medium opacity so the document stays readable but the text can’t be cropped out easily. Tiled watermarks are harder to remove than a single one.

Settings that work well

• Opacity 15–30% keeps content readable underneath.
• 45° angle is the classic diagonal stamp.
• Font size 40–60 pt for a single centred mark; 20–30 pt when tiled.
• Logo width 30–50% of the page for image watermarks.

Limitations

A watermark is a visible deterrent, not encryption. A determined person with editing software could remove it. For stronger protection, flatten the document by compressing it with compress PDF (pages become images, so the watermark is merged into them). To hide specific details on an image instead, use blur image.

Private

Watermarks are added in your browser; your document is never uploaded. Standard PDF fonts support English letters, so write watermark text in English.

Examples

• ID copy for a rental agreement: text “For rental agreement only – Oct 2026”, 30 pt, tiled, 20% opacity.
• Draft report: “DRAFT” in red, 72 pt, centred, 45°, 15% opacity.
• Company brochure: your logo, 40% width, centred, 10% opacity.

Preview the downloaded file to make sure the watermark doesn’t hide important numbers.

Quick answer

Will the watermark print? Yes, it is part of each page, so it appears on screen and on paper. Choose a light opacity if you want the printed text underneath to remain easy to read.