Add a header, footer, page number, border or text watermark to every page of a PDF. This free tool runs in your browser and adds overlays; it cannot replace existing words, remove content or securely redact a document.
How to add PDF headers and watermarks
- Choose one unencrypted PDF and keep the original as a backup.
- Use a quick action such as DRAFT watermark or Page numbers, or enable the individual overlays you need. Applying a style preset resets the overlay settings, so choose it before customizing text.
- Set the text, alignment, font size and margins. Use {page} and {pages} in headers, footers or the page-number format to insert the current page and total count.
- Select Apply & download. Open the edited PDF and check every page size and orientation for overlapping or clipped labels.
Place overlays without covering important content
Margins position the added labels and border in points; they do not move or reflow the original page. A larger margin can push an overlay into existing content. Use short labels and leave enough room for headers and footers.
For a review copy, try a faint diagonal DRAFT watermark and Page {page} of {pages} in the footer. Watermarks appear on every page. A watermark is a visual label, not a restriction on copying or printing.
Text, languages and document features
The original pages remain in the PDF rather than being flattened into images. Labels supported by the standard PDF font are added as text. Other scripts use your browser fonts and are added as images, so those labels are not selectable. Check that all characters display correctly.
There is no page selection for overlays. Downloaded output must be checked separately; the source preview does not show a finished overlay proof. Existing digital signature verification may be invalidated by saving changes.
Privacy and protected PDFs
Your PDF is processed on your device and is not uploaded to our conversion API. Normal website resource requests still occur. Large documents can exhaust browser memory; work with a smaller copy if necessary.
This export requires an unencrypted PDF. Entering a password for the preview does not unlock overlay editing. Use a permitted unencrypted copy, and retain the original signed or protected file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change or delete existing PDF text?
No. This tool adds content on top of existing pages. To revise the original wording, edit the source document or use PDF to Word as a text extraction starting point.
Can I hide sensitive information with a watermark or overlay?
No. The original content remains in the file. Overlays are not secure redaction and must not be used to remove confidential information.
Can I number only selected pages?
Overlays apply to every page of the selected PDF. Split out the pages first if you want to create a separately numbered document; numbering then starts from page 1.