Add Page Numbers to PDF
Stamp page numbers onto every page of a PDF. Choose where they go, how they look, what number to start from, and whether to skip the cover. Your file stays on your device.
Runs in your browser. Your files are never uploaded.
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How to use Add Page Numbers to PDF
- Choose a PDF file.
- Pick a position, such as bottom centre, and a format such as Page 1 of 10.
- Set the start number and font size. Tick the box if the first page is a cover that should not be numbered.
- Press Add page numbers to download the numbered PDF.
Why page numbers matter
Page numbers make a document easier to navigate, discuss and print. In a meeting, saying turn to page 14 only works if every copy shows the same numbers. Legal papers, theses, reports, manuals and combined scans all benefit, and many submission rules require numbered pages. When you merge several files, the original numbering usually breaks, and adding a fresh sequence afterwards is the neat fix.
Choosing position and format
Bottom centre is the most widely used placement and is a safe default. Bottom right suits double-sided printing where numbers sit near the outer edge, and top right is common in academic papers. A Page 3 of 20 format helps readers notice missing pages, while a plain number looks cleanest in a formal document.
Numbers are placed 28 points, about 10 millimetres, from the page edge. Font size between 9 and 12 points is comfortable for most documents.
- Use the skip option for cover pages and title pages.
- Change the start number for chapters that continue a longer document.
- Check scanned pages that have wide margins or edge content.
- Preview the first number in the line above the button.
Limits and privacy
The numbers are added in dark grey Helvetica using the font built into PDF, which supports Latin digits and letters. They are drawn on top of the page, so if a page has important content right at the edge, it could overlap. Encrypted PDFs cannot be modified here.
Everything runs in your browser with pdf-lib. The document is not uploaded, and closing the tab removes it from memory.
Why use this add page numbers to pdf tool
- Six positions. Top or bottom, left, centre or right.
- Five formats. Plain numbers, Page 1, 1 / 10, Page 1 of 10, or - 1 -.
- Custom start and cover skip. Begin at any number and leave the first page unnumbered.
- Rotation aware. Numbers appear upright in the correct corner even on pages that carry a rotation setting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set the start number to whatever you like, which is useful when your PDF is a chapter that continues from a longer document. With a format like Page 5 of 12, the total shown is based on your start number and page count.
How do I leave the cover page without a number?
Tick the option to skip the first page. The second page then receives the start number, so your numbering begins on page two of the file.
Are the numbers editable afterwards?
No. They are drawn onto the page as ordinary text in the Helvetica font, not as a removable form field. Keep your original file if you may need to renumber later.
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