Add Page Numbers to a PDF
Insert page numbers into a PDF with custom position and style.
Select PDF file
or drop a PDF here
- Stays on your device
- No sign-up
- No watermark
How to add page numbers to a PDF in 3 steps
- 1
Select PDF file
Click the button or drop the file. It is not uploaded.
- 2
Choose position and style
It runs in this tab, on your device.
- 3
Download
Save the new file. Your original stays as it was.
Often used next
All 26 toolsAbout this tool
Insert page numbers anywhere on the page — bottom center, bottom right, top corners — with a custom starting number and format.
Limits and edge cases
- Every page is numbered. There is no field for skipping a cover or choosing a page range, so leaving pages unnumbered means splitting the file first and merging afterwards.
- The output is only the plain number. There is no Page 3 of 20 format, prefix, suffix or Roman numeral option.
- The Start number field falls back to 1 when given 0 or an empty value. Font size accepts 6 to 36 points.
- The preview only shows page 1, while every later page is placed from its own size.
- Numbers are ordinary text stamped once. If you delete or reorder pages afterward, the existing numbers stay as they are.
- A password-protected or damaged file fails to load and you get a generic error message. Unlock it first.
Add page numbers to a PDF: when the numbers do not land where you wanted
- The cover should stay blank
- Cut the cover off with Split PDF, number the rest starting at 1, then join the two with Merge PDF.
- A page looks sideways or the number sits on the wrong edge
- Pages saved with a rotation flag can place text relative to their unrotated layout. Straighten the page with Rotate PDF first, then number the file.
- The number collides with a footer
- Switch to a top position, or change the size or color until the preview reads clearly.
- You want proof the file stayed local
- The guide to checking for uploads walks through the Network tab check.
Compared with tools that upload your file
iLovePDF, Smallpdf and PDF24 all offer this kind of job, and the online ones upload your file to their servers to do it. Here the work happens in this tab instead. Read the honest comparisons with iLovePDF, Smallpdf and PDF24, including where they are the better choice, or how to check that a tool does not upload.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start numbering from a page other than 1?+
Yes, but only by changing the number. The Start number field sets what the first page shows, so 5 gives 5, 6, 7 and so on. The tool cannot begin on a later page, because every page receives a number.
Can I skip the cover page?+
Not directly, since the tool numbers every page. Split the cover off, number the remaining pages with Start number 1, then merge the cover back in front. The cover keeps no number and the body starts at 1.
Can I use a format like Page 1 of 10?+
No. The tool writes only the digits. If you need a label such as Page 1 of 10, you would have to add it with a different editor. The plain number works well for most reports, theses and legal packets.
Will the numbers overlap my existing footer?+
They can. The number sits 28 points from the edge, and the tool does not detect existing content. Check the preview, then try another position or a top placement if your footer is busy.
Is my PDF uploaded to add page numbers?+
No. The document is processed by code running in your browser tab, and the new file is created in memory and downloaded directly. You can check the Network tab in your browser's developer tools while it runs.
Which positions can I choose?+
Bottom left, bottom center, bottom right, top center and top right. There is no top left option. Each sits 28 points in from the page edge, and the preview shows the exact spot before you download.
Why did the tool show an error with my file?+
The message appears when the file cannot be opened as a normal PDF, which usually means a password, corruption or a file that is not a PDF. Unlock or re-export it and try again.
Related guides
Ready to start?
Free, no sign-up, nothing uploaded.