Add a Watermark Logo to a Video (FFmpeg overlay)
Burn a PNG logo into the corner of any video with one ffmpeg command.
Run ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i logo.png -filter_complex "overlay=W-w-20:H-h-20" output.mp4 to pin the logo in the bottom-right corner.
01Command
Command
$ ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i logo.png -filter_complex "overlay=W-w-20:H-h-20" output.mp402What it does
The overlay filter stacks the second input (your logo) on top of the first (your video). W-w-20:H-h-20 means 20 pixels from the right and bottom edges; use 20:20 for top-left, or (W-w)/2:(H-h)/2 to center it. The video is re-encoded once, so expect a few minutes for a full-length file.
03Risk
!Warning: A PNG with a transparent background is essential — an opaque JPG will cover the video like a sticker; adjust -crf if the output is larger than expected.
04Undo
✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.
05Sources
- overlay — FFmpeg Filters DocumentationEvidence: Documents the overlay filter and the W-w/H-h expressions for placing the overlay relative to the main video's edges.
- OverlayFilter — FFmpeg Trac WikiEvidence: Shows practical examples of watermarking a video with a PNG logo using the overlay filter.
Last verified: 2026-09-18 · Category: Media