How to Add Text Watermark to PDF Free (2026)

Need to add text watermarks to your PDF documents? Whether you want to mark files as Confidential, Draft, or add copyright notices, this guide shows you how to add customizable text watermarks to PDF files for free.

Popular Text Watermark Examples

Status Watermarks:

Confidential - For sensitive documents
Draft - For work-in-progress documents
Sample - For demonstration copies
For Review Only - For feedback versions
Internal Use Only - For company documents
Not for Distribution - To prevent sharing

Copyright Watermarks:

Copyright © 2026 Company Name
© Your Name - All Rights Reserved
Proprietary and Confidential
Do Not Copy

Custom Watermarks:

Company name or website
Document version or date
Author or department name
Project or client name

How to Add Text Watermark with PdfVala

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Visit PdfVala.com/add-watermark
Upload your PDF file
Select Text Watermark option
Type your watermark text
Customize text appearance:
- Font: Choose from multiple fonts
- Size: Small, medium, large, or custom
- Color: Any color using color picker
- Opacity: 10% to 100% transparency
- Rotation: 0° to 360° angle
Choose position:
- Center (most common)
- Diagonal (classic watermark style)
- Corners (subtle placement)
- Header or footer
Preview on sample pages
Click Add Watermark
Download watermarked PDF

✨ Text Watermark Features:

Any text: Type any custom text you want
Multiple fonts: Professional font choices
Any color: Full color picker support
Adjustable size: From subtle to prominent
Transparency control: Perfect opacity balance
Rotation: Diagonal or any angle
Live preview: See before applying

Text Watermark Best Practices

1. Choose Appropriate Text

Document Type	Recommended Text
Sensitive documents	Confidential, Internal Use Only
Work in progress	Draft, Preliminary, For Review
Copyrighted work	Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved
Demo materials	Sample, Demo, Not for Sale

2. Select Optimal Opacity

20-30%: Very subtle, minimal interference (for final documents)
40-50%: Balanced visibility (recommended for most uses)
60-70%: Strong presence (for draft or confidential marking)
80-100%: Maximum visibility (may obscure content)

3. Choose Right Position

Diagonal center: Classic watermark, highly visible
Horizontal center: Modern, clean look
Top/bottom: Header/footer style, less intrusive
Corners: Subtle, minimal content interference

4. Font Selection Tips

Sans-serif (Arial, Helvetica): Modern, clean, highly readable
Serif (Times, Georgia): Traditional, formal, professional
Bold fonts: Better visibility at lower opacity
Avoid decorative fonts: May be hard to read

Common Text Watermark Scenarios

Scenario 1: Confidential Business Documents

Text: CONFIDENTIAL
Position: Diagonal center
Color: Red
Opacity: 50%
Font: Bold Arial, large size

Scenario 2: Draft Documents

Text: DRAFT - Not Final
Position: Diagonal center
Color: Gray
Opacity: 40%
Font: Arial, medium size

Scenario 3: Copyright Protection

Text: © 2026 Your Name - All Rights Reserved
Position: Bottom center
Color: Black
Opacity: 30%
Font: Times New Roman, small size

Scenario 4: Sample Documents

Text: SAMPLE - Not for Distribution
Position: Diagonal center
Color: Blue
Opacity: 45%
Font: Arial, large size

⚠️ Text Watermark Tips:

Keep text concise - long text reduces readability
Use ALL CAPS for status watermarks (CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT)
Choose colors that contrast with document background
Test different opacities to find perfect balance
Preview on multiple pages before applying
Consider document purpose when choosing visibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple lines of text?

Yes. You can include line breaks in your watermark text to create multi-line watermarks, such as company name on one line and copyright notice on another.

What is the best font size for text watermarks?

It depends on document size and purpose. For A4 documents, 48-72pt works well for diagonal watermarks, while 12-18pt is better for header/footer placement.

Can I use special characters in watermark text?

Will text watermarks work on scanned PDFs?

Yes. Text watermarks are added as an overlay on top of existing content, so they work on both text-based and scanned PDFs.

Can I change watermark text color?

Yes. PdfVala provides a full color picker allowing you to choose any color for your text watermark.

Add Text Watermark Now

Add professional text watermarks to your PDF documents. Customize text, font, color, and opacity. Free, secure, and works on all devices.

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Conclusion

Adding text watermarks to PDF files is an effective way to mark document status, protect copyright, and maintain brand identity. PdfVala offers complete customization of text, font, color, size, and opacity - all for free with browser-based processing for maximum privacy.

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