Add a watermark in three steps

A watermark is text or an image that appears behind your document content — usually faded so it does not block what you are reading. In Word, you add one through the Design tab. Open your document, click the Design tab at the top, select Watermark, choose a preset watermark or create your own, and it appears on every page automatically.

The watermark stays in place even if you edit the document later. If you remove it, you go back to the same Design menu and select "Remove Watermark" at the bottom of the list.

Key Takeaways

  • Watermarks appear on every page of your document and sit behind the text so they do not interfere with reading.
  • Word includes preset watermarks like "CONFIDENTIAL" and "DRAFT" that you can apply in one click.
  • You can create a custom watermark with your own text, and control whether it appears in color or grayscale.
  • Once you add a watermark, it stays on all pages until you remove it through the same Design menu.

Using Word's built-in watermark options

Word comes with several preset watermarks ready to use. Click the Design tab, then select Watermark. A dropdown menu shows options like "CONFIDENTIAL," "DRAFT," "DO NOT COPY," and others. Click any one and it applies to your entire document immediately.

These presets use a diagonal angle and light gray color by default, so they stay visible without making your text hard to read. If none of the presets match what you need, you can create a custom watermark instead.

Create a custom watermark with your own text

To make a watermark that says something other than the presets, click Design, then Watermark, then scroll to the bottom and select "Custom Watermark." A dialog box opens with two options: Text or Picture.

For text, type what you want in the Text field. You can then choose the font, size, and color. Leave the "Semitransparent" box checked — this makes the watermark fade into the background so it does not block your document. Click OK and the watermark appears on every page.

If you want the watermark to appear in color instead of grayscale, uncheck the "Semitransparent" box before clicking OK. The watermark will be darker and more visible, but it may make reading harder depending on your text color and the watermark color you chose.

Add a picture or logo as a watermark

You can use an image file instead of text. In the Custom Watermark dialog, select the Picture option, then click Select Picture. Choose an image from your computer — it can be a company logo, a signature, or any other image file.

Word automatically scales the image to fit behind your text. The image appears faded by default. If you want it darker or lighter, you can adjust the scale slider in the same dialog before clicking OK.

Remove or change a watermark

To remove a watermark, click Design, select Watermark, and choose "Remove Watermark" at the bottom of the menu. The watermark disappears from all pages.

To change an existing watermark to a different one, go back to Design and Watermark, then select a new preset or custom option. The new watermark replaces the old one across the entire document.

Watermarks in headers and why they stay on every page

Word stores watermarks in the document header — the space at the very top of each page that most readers do not see. Because the header repeats on every page, the watermark appears on every page too. This is why removing a watermark requires going back to the Design menu rather than just deleting it from one page.

If you need a watermark on only some pages, Word does not have a built-in option for that. You would need to split your document into sections and remove the watermark from the sections where you do not want it, which requires working with section breaks.

Watermarks and printing

Watermarks print by default when you send your document to a printer. If you want to print without the watermark, you can remove it before printing and add it back afterward, or you can check your printer settings — some printers have an option to skip background graphics.

If you are sharing the document as a PDF or email, the watermark stays visible in those formats too. The watermark is part of the document itself, not a display-only feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a watermark appear on only the first page?

Word's watermark feature puts the same watermark on every page. To get a watermark on only the first page, you would need to insert a text box or image directly on that page instead, which is a different process than using the watermark tool.

Why does my watermark look different on screen than in print?

Word sometimes displays watermarks differently depending on your view. Switch to Print Layout view (View tab, then Print Layout) to see how the watermark will actually look when printed. Some display modes fade watermarks more or less than others.

Can I use a watermark with a colored background?

Yes. Create a custom text watermark and choose a color from the color picker in the Custom Watermark dialog. The watermark will appear in that color, though it will still be semitransparent unless you uncheck that box.

What image formats work for picture watermarks?

Word accepts common image formats including JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP. The image should be at least 96 pixels wide for the watermark to display clearly. Very small images may appear blurry when scaled up.

Does the watermark stay if I save the document as a different file type?

Watermarks stay in Word documents saved as .docx or .doc. If you save as PDF, the watermark converts to the PDF and stays visible. If you save as plain text or other formats, the watermark may not transfer — check the preview before saving in a different format.