How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF Online
A PDF without page numbers is hard to discuss on a call or to check after printing. You can add them in your browser in under a minute, with a choice of position, format and starting number.
Pick the position, format, start number and size, then download numbered.pdf.
Number every page in under a minute
- Open Add Page Numbers and load your file with Select PDF File.
- Choose a Position: bottom center (the default), bottom right, bottom left, or the same three along the top.
- Choose a Format: "1, 2, 3...", "Page 1, Page 2..." or "1 of N, 2 of N...".
- Leave Start at on 1, or enter another number. Set the Font size between 8 and 24 (12 by default).
- Press Add Page Numbers, wait for "Done! Your numbered PDF is ready.", and press Download PDF. The file is
numbered.pdf.
Which format fits which document
| Format | Looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3... | 7 | Reports, applications, anything formal |
| Page 1, Page 2... | Page 7 | Handouts and scans where a bare digit could be mistaken for something else |
| 1 of N... | 7 of 12 | Faxed or printed packs where a missing sheet must be obvious |
The "of N" version helps a reader at a printer notice that page 12 never arrived. It is a useful choice for anything that will be printed and handed round.
Where the number is drawn
The tool draws the number on top of each page in dark grey Helvetica. Left and right positions sit 24 points in from the page edge. Top numbers start 24 points below the top, and bottom numbers sit 12 points above the bottom edge. A point is 1/72 inch, so 24 points is a third of an inch (about 8.5 mm). That sits inside the unprintable margin on some office printers and outside it on others, so print one page to check if a clipped number would be a problem.
The number is added on top of the existing page and is not placed in a reserved space. If your document already has a footer, a number at the bottom can print over it. Move the number to the opposite corner or to the top rather than fighting the layout.
Start at: continuing, skipping and starting from zero
The start number is the number given to the first page of the file you load, and every later page counts up from there. Three common uses:
- A chapter in a longer document. If this file continues from page 25 of the main report, enter 25.
- A cover page that counts as page 1. Enter 2 if the cover has been removed but the first inside page should read 2.
- Page 0. The field allows 0, so a title page can be numbered 0 and the content starts at 1. Handy for documents where the cover is not counted.
With "1 of N", the N is the last page number in the sequence, not the count of pages in the file. A 10-page file starting at 5 reads "5 of 14" on the first page and "14 of 14" on the last. If you wanted "5 of 10", number it from 1 instead.
Leaving the cover page unnumbered
Every page gets a number, so a clean cover needs a short detour. Use Split PDF to separate the cover, number the rest here with Start at set to 2 if you want it to continue the count, then join them with Merge PDF with the cover first. If pages are in the wrong order, sort them before you number anything, since numbers move with the pages, as described in how to reorder pages in a PDF.
Do things in this order
- Merge, delete and reorder pages first. Numbers added early become wrong the moment a page moves.
- Fix rotation. A sideways scan numbered before rotating can put the number in an odd place.
- Add the page numbers.
- Add a watermark or password last: see adding a watermark to a PDF.
If you deleted pages after numbering, the printed numbers will skip. Instead of editing, go back to the unnumbered version and redo the steps. The tool cannot remove numbers once added, so keep your original file. For a guide to the bigger picture of managing pages, read the complete guide to PDF page management.
When the result looks wrong
- The number overlaps text. Pick another corner or reduce the font size.
- The number is tiny on a large page. Sizes stop at 24, which is modest on posters or A3 sheets. The tool does not scale to the page size.
- The number is not centred on a rotated page. The position is calculated from the page's stored size, so fix rotation first.
- The output file is a different size. It is a rebuilt PDF; the result box shows the new size. See Compress PDF if you need it smaller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start page numbers at something other than 1?
Yes. Use the Start at field. It accepts 0 and any higher whole number, so you can continue a longer document or number a title page as 0.
How do I skip the cover page?
Every page is numbered, so split the cover off first, number the rest, then merge the cover back in front. Set Start at to 2 if the count should continue.
Why does "1 of N" show a number higher than my page count?
N is the last page number in the sequence. A 10-page file starting at 5 ends with "14 of 14".
What font and size are used?
Helvetica in dark grey. You can choose a size from 8 to 24, and the default is 12.
Will the number cover my existing footer?
It can, because it is drawn on top of the page. Choose another corner or the top of the page if the footer is already used.
Can I remove page numbers I added?
No. Keep your original file and run the tool again from it with new settings.