Add Page Numbers to a PDF
Number every page of your document automatically. Pick the position, the starting number and the size — the file is processed in your browser.
Upload a PDF
Tap to choose a PDF file
or drag and drop it here
About this page numbering tool
This tool stamps a number onto every page of a PDF. You decide where it sits, what number the count starts from and how large the text is, and the numbers become part of the document rather than a temporary overlay.
It is most useful for documents assembled from several sources — a merged application pack, a scanned contract, a set of invoices — where nothing carries a page number yet.
When numbered pages matter
Anything that will be printed
A printed stack has no scroll bar. Numbers are what let a reader put dropped pages back in order and find the right sheet during a meeting.
Reports and assignments
Course and workplace submission rules commonly require numbering, and a table of contents is useless without it.
Documents people have to discuss
"The clause on page 14" only works when page 14 is marked. It saves real time in reviews, interviews and phone calls.
Merged bundles
After several files are combined, continuous numbering is what turns a stack of separate documents into one navigable packet.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
- 1
Upload the document
Select a PDF or drop it onto the upload area. The number of pages is shown once it opens.
- 2
Set your options
Choose bottom centre, bottom right or top right, set the starting number and pick a font size.
- 3
Generate and download
The numbers are drawn onto each page and the finished PDF is ready to save.
What it is useful for
Easier to reference
Reviewers can point at page 14 instead of describing which section they mean.
Printed stacks stay in order
If a printout is dropped or shuffled, numbered pages can be put back correctly.
Meets submission rules
Courts, universities and tender processes often insist on numbered pages.
Finishes a merged file
After combining several documents, numbering makes the result read as one piece.
Common use cases
Number a report before review
Give colleagues an unambiguous way to refer to a finding or correction during discussion.
Keep an assignment organized
Add a continuous sequence to a paper assembled from separate chapters or appendices.
Prepare a printed manual
Make loose sheets easy to restore to the correct order after handling or copying.
Finish a merged application packet
Number the final combined file so references cover the whole submission rather than restarting in each source document.
Practical examples
A dissertation where numbering starts after the front matter
A title page and a contents page should not count. Split those two pages off, number the body starting at 1, and merge the front matter back on — or simply number the whole file starting at a number that makes the body line up.
One section of a larger bundle
Your appendix begins at page 48 of the combined document. Set the starting number to 48 so the numbers on the appendix match the bundle it belongs to, instead of restarting at 1.
A report that already has a footer
Bottom centre would land on top of the existing footer text, so bottom right or top right keeps both readable. The thumbnails show where the numbers will sit before you commit.
Numbering runs locally
Your PDF is opened and rewritten inside the browser tab. It is never sent to a server, never stored and never seen by anyone else.
The numbered copy exists only in your browser memory until you download it.
How the numbers are added
Choosing the settings
You pick a position — bottom centre, bottom right or top right — a starting number and a text size. The starting number shifts the whole sequence, so page one of the file can be labelled 1, 5 or 48 as needed.
Drawing on each page
The number is drawn into the margin of every page in a standard document typeface, using the page's own dimensions so mixed page sizes each get their number in the right place. Existing content is not moved or altered; the number is added on top, in the blank margin area.
Saving the file
A new PDF is written in your browser and downloaded. Numbers are drawn into the page, so they cannot be switched off afterwards — keep the original file if you might need an unnumbered version later.
Devices and limits
The tool runs in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on computers and phones, and accepts files up to 100 MB.
Numbering is a light operation compared with rendering or compressing, so even a few hundred pages complete quickly on a modest device. Very narrow margins are the one thing to check: if a page has almost no blank edge, a smaller text size keeps the number clear of the content.
Tips for best results
Choose a clear margin
Use top right when an existing footer occupies the bottom, or bottom center when both corners contain content.
Set the sequence deliberately
A starting number other than 1 is useful when the PDF forms one section of a larger printed bundle.
Check tight layouts
Numbers are drawn over the existing page. Choose a smaller font if text or artwork already reaches the margins.
Keep an unnumbered original
Numbers become part of the new PDF and cannot be switched off later, so retain the source file.
Page numbering questions
Can I start numbering at something other than 1?
- Yes. Set the starting number to any value — handy when the document continues from an earlier part.
Can I skip the cover page?
- Not directly. A common workaround is to split off the cover, number the rest, then merge the two back together.
Will the numbers cover my content?
- They are drawn in the margin. If your layout uses very tight margins, pick a smaller font size or a different position.
Can the numbers be removed later?
- No — once applied they are part of the page. Keep your original file if you might need an unnumbered version.
Which font is used?
- Helvetica in dark grey, which stays legible and unobtrusive on almost any document.
Is adding page numbers free?
- Yes. All positions, starting numbers and font sizes are available without payment.
Do I need an account?
- No registration or email address is required.
Is the PDF uploaded?
- No. The numbers are drawn and the new PDF is created locally in your browser.
What is the maximum file size?
- The tool accepts PDF files up to 100 MB; available device memory is the practical limit for very long files.
Does it work on mobile?
- Yes. The settings and download work in current mobile browsers.
Will the output have a watermark?
- No. Only the page numbers you requested are added.
What happens when I close the tab?
- The source and temporary numbered copy are cleared from the page's memory. Your original and download remain on your device.