Why add a watermark to a PDF?
Watermarks serve several purposes: branding documents with a company name or logo, marking drafts as "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL", indicating copyright ownership, or deterring unauthorized distribution.
How to add a watermark to a PDF free
- Go to ihatepdf.cv/add-watermark
- Upload your PDF
- Choose text watermark or image watermark
- Customize appearance — text, font, color, opacity, rotation, position
- Click Apply and download the watermarked PDF
Text watermark options
- Opacity — 10–100%. Most watermarks use 20–40% so content remains readable underneath
- Rotation — diagonal (45°) is standard for draft marks; horizontal for header/footer style
- Position — center, corner, or tiled across every page
Image watermark
Upload a PNG or JPG logo as your watermark. PNG with a transparent background works best — transparency is preserved so the watermark blends naturally with the document.
Frequently asked questions
Can the watermark be removed by recipients?
The watermark is burned into the PDF — it's not a removable layer. For extra security, combine with password protection.
Does ihatepdf add its own watermark too?
No. ihatepdf never adds its own watermark to any output file.