Add a Watermark to a PDF
Mark a document as DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, or with your name across every page. Add a text watermark with the position and transparency you choose. It's free, and no software is needed.
or drop a file here · free, no signup, files deleted automatically
How to watermark a PDF
- Upload your PDF (drag & drop or browse).
- Choose Add Watermark, type your text, and set the position and opacity.
- Download the watermarked PDF. Your upload is deleted from our server automatically.
Why use Forge Files?
- Every page covered: the watermark is applied across the whole document in one pass.
- Adjustable look: diagonal or straight, faint or bold: you control position and opacity.
- Free & verifiably private: deleted after download, open source, no signup.
Stamp text across every page
Add a text watermark (DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, a company
name, or a copyright line) across every page of a PDF, with control over
position and opacity so it's visible without hiding the content. It marks a
document's status or ownership at a glance and discourages casual reuse.
Good pairings
- Restrict who can open or print it: Protect PDF.
- Add reference numbering: Page numbers.
- Watermarking an image instead? Watermark Image.
Is the Watermark PDF tool private?
Yes. Your file is uploaded over encrypted HTTPS, processed, handed back, and then deleted — the upload goes the moment the Watermark PDF operation finishes and the result the instant you download it, with an hourly sweeper as a backstop. Unlike closed tools that just claim they don't keep your files, Forge Files's code is fully open source, so you can verify exactly how the Watermark PDF tool handles your data — or self-host it. No account, no watermark, no upsell. See our privacy details for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control how strong the watermark looks?
Yes, set the opacity so it's a faint background mark or a bold overlay, and choose diagonal, top, center, or bottom placement.
Will the watermark cover my content?
A low-opacity diagonal watermark stays readable over your text. Pick the opacity that balances visibility with legibility.
Can I watermark images too?
Yes, use the free Add Watermark to Image tool for JPG, PNG and WebP files.
More free tools
Protect PDF · Sign PDF · Add Page Numbers · Compress PDF · Watermark Image