Stamp DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL on a PDF
Choose the wording, angle and opacity so the stamp shows without hiding the content, and decide which pages get it.
To mark a PDF as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL, add a diagonal text watermark at low opacity: it appears on every page yet leaves the content readable underneath. Watermark PDF does it in your browser, with text or your logo, and the document isn't uploaded anywhere. The defaults already fit the job: the text CONFIDENCIAL, red, 60 px, 30% opacity and -45 degrees, centered on the page. Type your own word, such as DRAFT, and apply.
When is a stamp the right move?
- Drafts. A contract or proposal under review that must not be mistaken for the final version.
- Internal documents. "INTERNAL USE" or "CONFIDENTIAL" tells the reader how to treat it.
- Reference copies. "COPY" or "SAMPLE" on a document you share only for viewing.
- Branding. Your logo on every sheet of a quote or catalog.
A stamp communicates a document's status. It doesn't protect it, as the last sections explain.
How to apply the stamp, step by step
- Open Watermark PDF and drop the file (up to 500 MB). Page 1 appears as a preview.
- Choose the mode: text or image.
- Text: type the word and adjust size (12 to 120 px), color, opacity (5 to 100%) and rotation (-90 to 90 degrees).
- Image: upload a PNG or JPG and set its size as a percentage of the page width, plus its opacity. A PNG with a transparent background is recommended.
- Pick a position out of nine, or switch on Repeat as a tiled pattern to cover the page.
- Choose which pages: all, or ranges such as
1-3, 5, 7-9. - Decide whether it goes Behind page content, then click Apply watermark.
- Download the file, which ends in
-watermark.pdf.
The text field accepts Latin letters, digits and basic symbols. With emoji or non-Latin alphabets the tool says it can't write them, so keep the wording to plain letters.
Which settings stay readable?
It's a trade-off between visible and legible. General rules of thumb:
| You want | Try |
|---|---|
| A clear warning that doesn't hide text | -45 degrees, 30% opacity, centered |
| Something discreet | Lower opacity (10 to 20%) and a smaller size |
| A stamp nobody can overlook | Tiled pattern instead of a single mark |
| To set the cover apart | A page range, such as the first page only |
Always check the preview, then scroll a few pages in the PDF reader after applying: a colorful sheet or a dense table can behave differently from page 1.
Using your logo instead of text
Image mode starts at 50% of the page width and 50% opacity. A square logo at half the page width is large, so lower it to somewhere around 20 to 30% when the stamp is there for branding rather than for warning. Place it in a corner for a letterhead feel, or in the center with tiling for a pattern across the page. Use a PNG exported with a transparent background: a JPG logo brings a solid white rectangle that shows over colored areas.
Behind the content, or on top?
Behind page content draws the stamp under the page's text. The document reads better, but when a page has an opaque background or is a scan (one full-page image), the stamp may end up hidden. In those cases untick the box so it draws on top, and lower the opacity.
Does a stamp really protect the document?
No. A watermark is a graphic element inside the page, and someone with a PDF editor can remove it or crop the document. It communicates and discourages, it doesn't prevent. If the content is sensitive, pair it with other steps: clean the hidden data, add a password knowing what a PDF password actually protects, or lock the form fields if it has any. For photos and cropping, read do watermarks actually protect your work?
Switching from DRAFT to FINAL
Start again from the original unstamped PDF and apply the new wording, instead of stacking marks over an already stamped file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT on every page of a PDF?
With a text watermark applied to all pages. The tool's default is already CONFIDENCIAL in red, 30% opacity at -45 degrees, so you can apply it as is or type a different word, like DRAFT.
Can I watermark only some pages?
Yes. Choose Specific pages and enter comma-separated ranges, for example 1-3, 5, 7-9.
Can I use my logo instead of text?
Yes, in image mode: upload a PNG or JPG, set its size as a percentage of the page width, and its opacity. A transparent-background PNG looks best.
Can the watermark be removed afterwards?
Someone with an advanced PDF editor could remove it. It's a graphic element of the page, not protection. Always keep the unstamped original.
Why can't I see the stamp on my scanned PDF?
If it is drawn behind the content and the page is a full-page image, the image covers it. Untick Behind page content and apply again with a lower opacity.
Is my document uploaded to a server?
No. The stamp is applied in your browser and the file downloads from your device. You can check the Network tab in developer tools: analytics requests show up, but no POST or PUT the size of your file.
Stamp your PDF
Text or logo, opacity, position and pages. Runs locally, free, no signup.
Open Watermark PDF →Related tools
- Watermark PDF: text or logo, opacity, rotation, tiling and page ranges.
- Flatten PDF: lock a form's fields before stamping it.
- Protect PDF: add a password to limit who can open it.
- Sanitize PDF: remove metadata, attachments and active content.
You might also like: how to watermark photos so it can't be cropped, edit a PDF without installing anything and Add page numbers to a PDF, skipping the cover.