How to Add a Watermark to a Word Document

The quickest way to add a watermark in Word

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Go to the Design tab (or Page Layout if you're using an older version). Click Watermark in the ribbon. Choose from Word's built-in options like "CONFIDENTIAL" or "DRAFT", or select Custom Watermark to add your own text, image, or logo. Click OK, and the watermark appears behind your text on every page.

The watermark stays in place even if you edit the document later. If you want to remove it, go back to the Design tab and click Watermark again, then select Remove Watermark.

Key Takeaways

Text watermarks like "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL" are added through the Design tab and appear on every page automatically.
Image watermarks let you use a logo or picture instead of text, useful for branding documents with your company mark.
Custom watermarks can be edited or removed at any time without affecting the document's actual content.
Watermarks appear behind text on screen and in printed copies, but do not change the file size or make the document harder to edit.

Using Word's built-in watermark options

Word comes with several ready-made watermarks you can use without any setup. Open Design > Watermark and you'll see options like "CONFIDENTIAL", "DO NOT COPY", "DRAFT", and "URGENT". Click any one and it appears immediately on all pages of your document in light gray text, angled diagonally across the page.

These built-in options are useful when you need a quick, professional-looking watermark without customization. The text size and angle are fixed, so you don't have to adjust anything. If none of the preset options match what you need, use the Custom Watermark option instead.

Creating a custom text watermark

Click Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark. In the dialog box, select the Text watermark radio button. Type your text in the field — this could be your company name, a project code, or any phrase you want to appear on every page.

You can adjust the font, size, and color of your text watermark. The Semitransparent checkbox is checked by default, which makes the watermark lighter so it doesn't obscure your document's content. Leave this on unless you want the watermark to be more visible. Click OK when you're done.

Adding an image or logo as a watermark

Click Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark. Select the Picture watermark radio button. Click Select Picture and browse to the image file on your computer — this works with .jpg, .png, .gif, and other common image formats.

Once you choose an image, you can set its scale (size relative to the page) and turn semitransparency on or off. A smaller scale works better if you want the watermark to be subtle; a larger scale makes it more prominent. Click OK to apply it. The image watermark appears on every page behind your text.

Watermarks in different sections of your document

By default, a watermark appears on every page of your document. If you want different watermarks in different sections — for example, "DRAFT" on the first half and "FINAL" on the second half — you need to break your document into sections first.

Go to the Layout tab and click Breaks > Section Breaks > Next Page where you want the new section to start. Then go to Design > Watermark and add your watermark. Make sure Link to Previous is turned off in the header area so the new watermark only applies to the current section. Repeat this process for each section that needs a different watermark.

Removing or changing a watermark

To remove a watermark entirely, go to Design > Watermark and click Remove Watermark. This deletes it from all pages at once.

To change an existing watermark, go back to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark. Edit the text, image, size, or color as needed and click OK. The updated watermark replaces the old one on every page. You don't need to delete the old one first.

What happens when you share or print a document with a watermark

Watermarks appear in printed copies of your document and in PDF exports. When you send the Word file to someone else, they see the same watermark on their screen. The watermark is part of the document's formatting, not a separate layer, so it travels with the file.

If someone opens your document and removes the watermark, it doesn't affect your original file. Watermarks are not a security feature — they're a visual indicator. If you need to prevent others from editing or copying your document, use Word's password protection or restriction features instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly through the watermark tool — watermarks apply to all pages or to a specific section. To get a watermark on the first page only, create a section break after page one, add the watermark to the first section, then turn off Link to Previous in the second section's header so it doesn't inherit the watermark.

Why doesn't my watermark show up in Print Preview?

Make sure you're viewing the document in Print Layout view, not Draft view. Watermarks don't display in Draft view. Go to the View tab and click Print Layout to see the watermark on screen.

Can I use a watermark with a transparent background?

Yes, if you're using an image watermark. Save your logo or image as a .png file with a transparent background, then insert it as a picture watermark. Word will preserve the transparency, so only the visible parts of the image appear on your document.

Does a watermark increase the file size?

Text watermarks add almost nothing to file size. Image watermarks add slightly more, depending on the image's resolution and size, but usually only a few kilobytes. The watermark won't make your document noticeably larger or slower to open.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.