Add page numbers to a PDF
Number the pages of a document with control over format.
Or drop one anywhere on this page
What to know about Add Page Numbers
Put page numbers on a document that is missing them — useful after merging files or for anything that needs to be referenced or filed. Choose where the numbers sit, what number to start from, and how they are formatted.
The usual reason a document has no page numbers is that it was just assembled from several files, and the numbering each of them had no longer means anything.
You can choose which page the numbering starts on and what number it starts at, which is what a document with a cover page or a title sheet needs — the cover should not be page one, and pretending otherwise makes every later reference wrong by one.
The numbers are drawn onto the pages as real content, so they appear in every viewer and in print rather than only in the one that added them. They are not a header field, which means renumbering later is a matter of doing it again rather than editing a setting.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
- 1
Open the document
Drop in the PDF that needs numbering.
- 2
Choose the format
Pick a position, a starting number, and a format such as 1 or Page 1 of 20.
- 3
Apply and save
Numbers are drawn onto the pages and the document is downloaded.
What Add Page Numbers accepts and produces
- Input
- One PDF that has no page numbers of its own.
- Output
- The same document with numbers drawn on the pages, in the position and format you choose.
- Limits
- Numbers are added as page content, not as a header field, so they cannot be re-flowed or renumbered later without doing it again.
- Offline
- Yes, completely. Drawing numbers onto pages needs no additional engine.
Why Add Page Numbers here
- Six positions across the header and footer
- Custom starting number for documents that continue from another
- Formats including plain numbers and Page X of Y
- Numbering is applied locally with no upload
Where your file goes
Nowhere. This tool runs inside your browser, and the page is served with a policy that forbids it from sending your document anywhere. You can confirm that yourself: open your browser’s developer tools, watch the Network tab, and process a file.
Questions
Can I start numbering from a page other than the first?
Yes. Set the first page to be numbered and the starting value independently, so a cover page can be skipped while the numbering still begins at 1 on the page after it.
Will new numbers clash with numbers already printed on the page?
They can. This tool draws new numbers on top and cannot remove numbering that is already part of the page content. Choose a position that avoids the existing numbers.
Can I use Roman numerals?
Not in this version. Arabic numerals with several formatting options are supported now.
How do I skip a cover page?
Set the first numbered page to 2 and the first number shown to 1. The cover stays unnumbered and numbering starts at 1 on the page after it.
Will the numbers overlap my content?
They can, if your pages already have content in that corner. Six positions are available — pick one that is clear. The margin used is generous enough for most documents.
Can I put the numbers at the top?
Yes. Three of the six positions are along the top edge, which suits documents that already use the footer for something else.
Can I number only part of the document?
You can choose where numbering starts, and everything from that page onward is numbered. Numbering an arbitrary subset in the middle is not supported.
Does this change the order of my pages?
No. It draws numbers onto the pages exactly as they are. Use Organize PDF first if the order needs changing, then number the result.