Add Page Numbers to PDF

Add page numbers to a PDF the way you want

Long reports, theses, legal bundles and manuals are hard to use without page numbers — “see page 14” means nothing if the pages are not numbered. The Add Page Numbers to PDF tool stamps clean, consistent numbers onto every page, or just the pages you choose, in a few seconds.

Pick one of six positions, a format such as 1, Page 1, Page 1 of 10, 1 / 10 or - 1 -, the starting number, size, colour and distance from the edge. A live preview shows exactly how the numbers will look, and you can step through the pages before saving.

Numbering happens on your device. The PDF is not uploaded, so it is safe for unpublished manuscripts, client documents and exam submissions.

How to add page numbers to a PDF

1. Drop your PDF onto the upload area or click to choose it. A preview of the first page appears.
2. Click a spot on the small page diagram to choose the position — top or bottom, left, centre or right.
3. Choose a format and the number to start at, then adjust the font size, distance from the edge and colour.
4. Optionally limit numbering with “Pages to number” (for example 3-40) or tick “Don’t number the first page” for a cover.
5. Check the preview with the arrows, press “Add page numbers” and download the numbered PDF.

Add Page Numbers to PDF features

How numbering and “Page X of N” work

Numbers are given to the pages that will be numbered, in order, starting from the value in “Start at”. N in “Page 1 of N” or “1 / N” is the last number printed, so the final numbered page always reads like “Page 12 of 12”.

For a document with a cover, tick “Don’t number the first page”. By default the page after the cover then becomes page 1. If you would rather count the cover — so the second page shows “2” — set “Start at” to 2. To number only the main body of a thesis, type its pages in “Pages to number”, such as 9-120, and keep “Start at” as 1.

Choosing size, position and margin

• Font size: 9–12 pt suits most A4 and US Letter documents; slides and posters may need 14–18 pt.
• Distance from edge: 28 pt (about 1 cm) keeps numbers clear of the paper edge. Many printers cannot print right to the edge, so avoid values below about 15 pt for documents you will print.
• Position: bottom centre is the most common choice. Bottom right is typical for business reports, and top right for academic manuscripts — always follow your style guide if you have one.
• Colour: dark grey reads well without competing with the text; use white on pages with dark backgrounds.

Good to know

Numbers are drawn with the standard Helvetica font, which every PDF reader can display. If your PDF already has printed page numbers, the new ones are added on top, so pick a position that does not overlap them. The rest of the document — bookmarks, links and form fields — is kept as it is.

Combining several files first? Use Merge PDF and then number the result so the numbering runs continuously, and reorder pages beforehand with Organize PDF. To stamp text such as “Confidential” or “Draft” on every page, use Watermark PDF.