How to add page numbers to a PDF
- Drop your PDF into the box above, or press "Choose PDFs". You can select several files at once; the same settings are applied to each one. The first page of the first file is previewed on the right.
- Pick a position. Bottom center is the usual choice for reports and theses, bottom right suits double-sided printing and letters, and the top corners are popular for legal bundles and manuscripts.
- Choose a format: a plain number, "1 / 12", "Page 1", "Page 1 of 12", "- 1 -" or your own pattern. In a custom pattern,
{n}becomes the page number and{total}the last number. - Set the starting number, how many pages at the front to skip, and, if you want, a page range. Adjust the size, margin and color while watching the preview.
- Press "Add page numbers", then download the result. Files are saved as
yourfile-numbered.pdf, and your original is never changed.
Skipping the cover and starting at the right number
Most documents should not show a number on the title page. Enter how many pages to skip and numbering begins after them. What happens next depends on one checkbox. With "Count them in the numbering" switched off, the first numbered page is page 1: a report with a one-page cover is numbered 1, 2, 3 from its second sheet. With it switched on, the cover silently counts as page 1, so the second sheet shows 2. Use the second behavior when the printed document must agree with a table of contents or an index that treats the cover as page 1.
The "Starting number" field lets you continue a sequence. If your document is the second part of a report that ends at page 46, start at 47. Need numbers on only some pages, say the main chapters and not the appendix? Type a range such as 3-40 in the page range field. Pages outside the range are left untouched, and the numbers on the others still follow page order, so page 12 of the file stays 12.
Choosing a format that fits the document
A plain number is the cleanest option for books, manuscripts and theses. "Page 3 of 20" is common in contracts, policies and forms, because it proves nothing is missing: the reader can see that a document of 20 pages has all of them. In legal and business paperwork a custom pattern can also carry a label, for example Exhibit B – {n} or Draft v2 · {n} / {total}. The tool counts from your starting number, so the total shown is the last number in the sequence, not necessarily the number of pages in the file.
Custom patterns are written with the same font that is embedded in the PDF, so accented Latin letters, Greek and Cyrillic characters print correctly. The tool uses Arabic numerals only. If your thesis needs roman numerals for front matter, number the main body here and add the roman numbers in your word processor before exporting.
Settings that make numbers look professional
- Size. 9 to 11 pt is typical for body text pages. Go larger only for posters or large-format sheets.
- Margin. The default of 12 mm (about half an inch) keeps numbers clear of the trim and away from most footers. Increase it if your pages already have a footer, or if you will bind the printout.
- Color. Black is safest. A dark gray looks more discreet on design-heavy pages, and a brand color works for proposals, provided the contrast stays strong.
- Bold. Helpful on scanned pages with busy backgrounds, where a thin number can disappear.
- Check the preview. The preview shows page 1 of your first file. If page 1 is skipped, the note beneath it says so, and the number appears from the first numbered page in the finished file.
Pages of every size and orientation
Pages in one PDF do not have to match. Letter, A4, legal, landscape and portrait pages can be mixed, and every number is placed relative to its own page. Scanned pages that were stored rotated are handled too: the tool reads each page's rotation and draws the number the right way up in the position you chose, so a landscape scan still gets its number at the bottom as the reader sees it.
Common uses
Students number theses, dissertations and coursework before submission. Lawyers and paralegals number exhibits and bundles so everyone can refer to the same page in a hearing or a call. Freelancers and agencies number proposals and reports. Researchers number scanned archives, and anyone merging a stack of documents with Merge PDF can number the combined file in one go. If the pages are in the wrong order, put them right with Organize PDF first, because numbers are printed in the order the pages currently appear.
Privacy: your files stay with you
The numbers are drawn into your PDF by the open-source pdf-lib library running inside your browser, and the preview comes from pdf.js. Nothing is uploaded, no account is needed and the page works offline once loaded. That is useful for documents you would not want to hand to a stranger's server, such as contracts, medical records or unpublished manuscripts.
Why use this tool?
- Batch ready. Number several PDFs with identical settings in one go, then download them one by one or all together.
- Flexible numbering. Skip covers, continue from any number and number only a page range.
- No limits and no watermark. Use it as often as you like.
- Original quality. Pages are not re-rendered, only a small text label is added.
Frequently asked questions
Are my PDFs uploaded to a server?
No. Numbers are added inside your browser and the finished file is created on your device. Turn off your connection after the page loads and the tool still works.
How do I skip the cover page?
Enter 1 in "How many pages to skip at the start". Numbering begins on the second page. Tick "Count them in the numbering" if the second page should show 2 instead of 1.
Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Change "Starting number", for example to 47 to continue a report that ended on page 46. The "of" total in formats such as "Page 47 of 60" follows the same sequence.
Can I add roman numerals for the front matter?
Not at the moment: the tool prints Arabic numerals. A practical approach is to number the main body here and add roman numerals to the front matter in your word processor before exporting to PDF.
Can I number only some pages?
Yes. Type a page range such as 3-10, 12 into "Page range". Only those pages receive a number, and the numbers still follow page order.
Does it work on landscape or scanned PDFs?
Yes. Each page is handled on its own, including pages stored with a rotation, so the number appears upright in the position you chose.
Will it reduce the quality of my pages?
No. Your pages are kept as they are and a small text label is added on top. Text stays selectable and images are not recompressed.
Can I number several PDFs at the same time?
Yes. Select several files and the same settings are applied to each one. You can then download them separately or use "Download all".
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no premium tier, no trial and no registration. The site is supported by unobtrusive ads that never sit next to the buttons.
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