Add Page Numbers puts a number on every page of your document. Choose the position, the starting number, the size and the format, such as Page 1 of 10. Processing happens in your browser.
Add page numbers to any PDF
Page numbers make a long document easier to navigate, discuss and print. Reports, theses, contracts, manuals and scanned books often arrive without any numbering. This tool places a number on each page at the position you choose, with the text style you want, and gives you a new numbered PDF.
Why page numbers matter
- Easy references. In meetings, you can say "look at page 14" and everyone finds the same place.
- Order after printing. If printed sheets are dropped, numbers let you put them back in order quickly.
- Professional appearance. Academic and business documents are expected to be numbered.
- Legal and official use. Numbered pages show that no page has been removed from a document.
- Merged files. After combining several PDFs, numbering the full result gives a single continuous sequence.
Your options
Position. Choose bottom center, bottom right, bottom left, top center, top right or top left. Bottom center is the most common for reports; bottom right is popular for printed books.
Text format. By default only the number is shown. Use {n} for the page number and {total} for the total count. For example, the format Page {n} of {total} produces Page 3 of 25. You can also add a dash or a prefix, such as – {n} -.
First number. Start at 1 or any other value. This is useful when your document continues from a previous part, or when the cover page should not count as page 1.
Font size. Twelve points is comfortable for most documents. Increase it for large-format pages and reduce it for small ones.
How it works
The tool opens your PDF in memory, embeds a standard font and writes a small line of text on every page near the margin. The original content is not changed or re-compressed. Because text is added as real text, it can be selected and searched in your PDF reader.
Privacy
All work is done in the browser and your document is not uploaded. This makes the tool suitable for confidential reports and personal files.
Tips for professional results
- Merge all your parts first, then number the final document once.
- Choose a position that does not overlap existing footers or headers. Check a few pages after downloading.
- For double-sided printing, consider that readers expect odd numbers on the right. Bottom right is a simple compromise for single-position numbering.
- If the cover page should be unnumbered, remember that page 1 will still carry a number; set the first number to 0 if you want the cover to show 0 and the next page to show 1.
Common questions and fixes
The number overlaps text. Pick a different position, such as the top, or reduce the font size.
My format shows curly braces. Make sure you typed {n} exactly, with curly brackets and a lowercase n.
The numbering looks too small on large pages. Increase the font size to 16 or 20.
Free and fast
There are no limits and no charges. Select your PDF, set the options and download the numbered file.
A real-world example
Bilal finishes a 48 page thesis by merging chapters written in separate files. The chapters have no continuous numbering, which his supervisor requires. He chooses bottom center, sets the format to Page {n} of {total} and creates a numbered version. His supervisor can now say "see page 23 of 48" and everyone finds the same place.
Checklist before you download
- All parts of the document are already merged.
- The position does not overlap existing footers or page labels.
- You chose a font size that is readable on your page size.
- You checked the first, a middle and the last page after downloading.
Related tools
Use Merge PDF to combine the parts first. If you need to remove a cover page afterwards, Remove PDF Pages can help, and Add Watermark to PDF can label the document as a draft.
How to use Add Page Numbers to PDF
- Select your PDF file.
- Choose the position, size, first number and text format.
- Click "Add page numbers" and download the numbered PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I show "Page 1 of 10"?
Set the format to Page {n} of {total}. The tool replaces {n} with the page number and {total} with the number of pages.
Can I start from a number other than 1?
Yes. Change the "First number" field.
Is this tool really free?
Yes. All tools on this website are free to use, with no sign-up needed.
Are my files and data safe?
Yes. Everything is processed inside your own browser. Your files and text are not uploaded to our servers.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The tools work on modern phones, tablets and computers.