Guide · Free · No upload
How to add a watermark to a PDF
Stamp DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or your own text across every page. Set the opacity and angle in a live preview, then download — free, in your browser, with no signup and no RaptorPDF branding on your file.
Free to start. Files stay on your device. No installation required.
How do I add a watermark to a PDF?
Open RaptorPDF's Watermark tool, drag in your PDF, and type the text you want — for example DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or your name. Adjust the opacity and angle in the live preview, apply it to every page, and download. It's free, runs in your browser with no signup, and the only mark on the file is the one you add — there's no RaptorPDF branding.
Add a watermark in 3 steps
Type, adjust, download — all in the browser.
Open the Watermark tool
Open RaptorPDF's Watermark tool and drag in your PDF. The file loads into your browser — it is not uploaded.
Type your text
Enter your watermark text and adjust its opacity and angle in the live preview until it looks right.
Download the result
Apply it to every page and download. The watermark is part of the PDF; no RaptorPDF branding is added.
Common watermarks
A few text stamps people reach for most.
What a watermark does — and doesn't do
A watermark is text laid across your page content, usually semi-transparent and often at an angle. It communicates status or ownership at a glance: a diagonal DRAFT tells a reviewer the document isn't final, CONFIDENTIAL signals restricted handling, and a name or date discourages someone from passing your work off as their own. Because the text sits over the content rather than in a corner, it's awkward to remove without damaging the page, which is what makes it a deterrent. It's worth being clear about the limits, though: a watermark is a visible label, not encryption. If you need to stop people from opening or copying a file, add a password with the Protect tool instead — and you can do both, watermarking for status and password-protecting for access. With RaptorPDF all of this happens in your browser, so even sensitive drafts are never uploaded to a server.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a watermark to a PDF for free?
Open RaptorPDF's Watermark tool, drag in your PDF, and type the text you want — for example DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or your name. Adjust the opacity and angle in the live preview, apply it to every page, and download. It's free, runs in your browser with no signup, and the only mark on the file is the one you add.
Can I set the transparency and angle of the watermark?
Yes. You can control the opacity so the watermark sits lightly behind your content, and set the angle — a diagonal watermark across the page is common for DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL stamps. A live preview shows the result before you download.
Does RaptorPDF add its own watermark to my file?
No. RaptorPDF never stamps its own branding on your PDF. The only watermark on the file is the text you choose to add. If you don't add one, the file has no watermark at all.
Is my PDF uploaded when I add a watermark?
No. The watermark is applied in your browser on your own device, so the file is not uploaded to our servers. You can mark up confidential drafts and contracts without sending them anywhere.
Why should I watermark a PDF?
A watermark signals the status or ownership of a document — DRAFT for a work in progress, CONFIDENTIAL for restricted material, or a name and date to deter unauthorised reuse. Because it sits across the page content, it's hard to remove cleanly, which discourages passing the file off as final or as someone else's.
Watermark your PDF now
Add your text stamp across every page — free, in your browser, no signup to start.
Add a watermark