Watermark PDF — Add Text or Image Watermarks for Free

Why Watermark Your PDFs

Watermarks serve three purposes: they establish ownership, indicate document status, and deter unauthorized use. A "DRAFT" watermark prevents someone from treating a preliminary version as final. A company logo watermark brands deliverables. A "CONFIDENTIAL" watermark signals handling requirements.

The PDFlys Watermark tool lets you add text or image watermarks with full control over placement, opacity, rotation, and page range — with a live preview that shows exactly how your watermark will look before you commit.

How to Add Watermarks to PDFs

Step 1: Open the Watermark PDF Tool

Navigate to the PDFlys Watermark tool. No account required.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

Drag your file into the upload area or click to browse. Your document loads into browser memory and the first page appears in the preview panel.

Step 3: Choose Your Watermark Type

You have two options:

Text watermark: Type any text — "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", "SAMPLE", your company name, a copyright notice, or any custom text. Then configure:

• Font size — scale to fit the page
• Color — any color, with popular presets for red (urgent), gray (subtle), and blue (professional)
• Opacity — from fully transparent (10%) to fully opaque (100%)
• Rotation — diagonal (45 degrees is standard), horizontal, vertical, or any custom angle

Image watermark: Upload a PNG, JPG, or SVG image — a company logo, seal, or custom graphic. Then configure:

• Size — scale relative to the page
• Position — center, corners, or custom coordinates
• Opacity — make logos subtle or prominent
• Rotation — angle the image if needed

Step 4: Set the Page Range

Choose which pages receive the watermark:

• All pages — every page gets the watermark
• First page only — useful for cover sheets
• Custom range — specify pages like "1-3, 5, 8-10"

Step 5: Preview and Adjust

The live preview updates as you change settings. Scroll through pages to see how the watermark looks on different content. Adjust opacity if the watermark is too prominent on text-heavy pages, or increase it if it's too subtle on image-heavy pages.

Step 6: Apply and Download

Once you're satisfied with the preview, click "Apply Watermark" and download your watermarked PDF. The tool processes the file in your browser and generates a new document with the watermark embedded.

Watermark Configuration Examples

Here are practical configurations for common use cases:

Draft Documents

• Text: "DRAFT"
• Color: Light gray (#CCCCCC)
• Opacity: 25-35%
• Rotation: 45 degrees (diagonal)
• Pages: All

This creates a subtle but visible marker that indicates the document isn't final, without obscuring the content.

Confidential Documents

• Text: "CONFIDENTIAL"
• Color: Red (#CC0000)
• Opacity: 15-25%
• Rotation: 45 degrees
• Pages: All

Low opacity ensures readability while the red color and diagonal placement make the classification immediately apparent.

Company Branding

• Type: Image (company logo PNG with transparent background)
• Position: Bottom-right corner
• Opacity: 40-60%
• Size: Small (10-15% of page width)
• Pages: All

Subtle logo placement brands every page without interfering with content. Transparent PNG backgrounds integrate cleanly with the document.

Copyright Notice

• Text: "Copyright 2026 Your Company. All rights reserved."
• Color: Gray (#999999)
• Opacity: 30%
• Rotation: 0 degrees (horizontal)
• Position: Bottom center
• Pages: All

A horizontal footer-style watermark that adds legal protection without visual disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can recipients remove the watermark?

Watermarks applied by PDFlys are embedded into the PDF page content. They can't be removed with a simple "delete watermark" button. However, watermarks are not DRM — a determined user with PDF editing software could manually cover or remove them. For stronger protection, combine watermarking with password encryption.

What image formats work for image watermarks?

PNG (recommended — supports transparency), JPG, and SVG. For best results, use a PNG with a transparent background so only your logo or graphic appears, without a white rectangle behind it.

Does the watermark affect print quality?

No. The watermark is rendered at the same resolution as the document. When printed, it appears exactly as shown in the preview. Adjust opacity before printing — watermarks that look subtle on screen may appear darker on paper.

Can I watermark only odd or even pages?

The page range selector accepts specific page numbers and ranges (e.g., "1, 3, 5, 7" for odd pages). For automated odd/even selection, manually specify the page numbers based on your document's total page count.

Does PDFlys support bulk watermarking?

Yes. With bulk processing mode (available to signed-in users), you can watermark up to 200 PDFs in a single batch. See our bulk processing guide for details.

Combine Watermarks with Document Security

Watermarks are one layer of document protection. For a comprehensive approach:

1. Watermark — Visual deterrent and ownership indicator (this tool)
2. Redact — Permanently remove sensitive content before sharing
3. Protect — Add password encryption to restrict opening or editing

Each layer addresses a different risk. Watermarks deter misuse, redaction eliminates sensitive data, and encryption controls access.