Add page numbers to a PDF
Choose a PDF, pick where and how to print the numbers and save a numbered copy. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Free · no signup Runs in your browser
How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
Choose the PDF, pick the position (bottom centre is the usual one), the format (1, Page 1, 1 of 12 or - 1 -) and the starting number, and press Add page numbers. A numbered copy is saved to your downloads. You can skip the first page so a cover is not numbered and start the count at 1 on the second page. The file is read on your device and never uploaded.
Numbering a document properly
Reports, applications, contracts and evidence bundles are easier to read and refer to when every page has a number, and many offices require it. Word processors do this for you, but a finished PDF, a scan or a merged bundle has no numbers unless you add them.
The tool draws the number on each page in a plain font, in the corner or the centre of the margin that you choose. The format 'Page 3 of 12' gives the reader the total as well, which is handy for a faxed or printed document where a missing page should be obvious. If your document has a cover page, tick 'Skip the first page' so it is left blank and the second page is numbered 1, or set the starting number yourself. The tool works with pages that are turned (rotated) as well, drawing the number the right way up as it is displayed.
It runs in your browser. Your file is never uploaded, and there is no watermark or sign-up.
How it works in detail
The PDF is opened in your browser with pdf-lib. For each page, the number text is worked out from your format (3, Page 3, 3 of 12, or - 3 -) and the number you start at, and drawn in Helvetica at your chosen position, size and colour. PDF positions are measured in points (1/72 inch) from the bottom-left corner, and the distance you set is the margin from the page edge to the text. 'Skip the first page' leaves a cover unnumbered, and the numbering then begins on page two. For the 'of Total' format the total is the number of pages numbered, adjusted for your start number and the skipped cover. The numbered copy is saved; the original is not changed.
How to use it
- Choose the PDF.
- Pick the position (bottom centre is the usual one) and the format, such as 'Page 3' or '3 of 12'.
- Set the number to start at, the font size, the distance from the edge and the colour.
- Tick 'Skip the first page' if the first page is a cover.
- Press Add page numbers, download the copy and check a few pages, especially pages that have footers of their own.
What changes and what stays the same
What the tool does to your file, and what it leaves alone.
| Aspect | What happens |
|---|---|
| Page content | Unchanged; the number is drawn on top |
| Numbers | In order from your start number, on every page except a skipped cover |
| Position | As you set, from the page edge |
| Existing printed numbers | Not removed; they stay under or beside the new ones |
| The original file | Never changed: the tool builds a new file and the original stays where it is |
| Privacy | The PDF is read on your device and is not uploaded; there is no account and no watermark |
When to use it
- Numbering a merged bundle of documents
- Adding numbers to a scanned report
- Preparing an application or evidence pack
- Starting the count after a cover page or contents
Problems you may run into
Most problems come from the file itself, not from the tool.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 'This PDF is password-protected' | The file is encrypted, so the browser cannot read it | Remove the password in the program that made it (or open and print to a new PDF), then try again |
| 'This file could not be read as a PDF' | The file is damaged, or is not really a PDF (it was only renamed) | Open it in a PDF viewer to check; if it opens there, re-save it as a new PDF and try again |
| The number overlaps the footer | The page already has text where the number goes | Change the position or increase the distance from the edge |
| The numbers start at the wrong value | The start number or the skipped cover | Set 'Start at' to the number you want on the first numbered page |
| Old numbers still show | The tool adds numbers; it does not remove printed ones | Cover them in the source document, or number only the pages without numbers using extract and merge |
| Pages with different sizes | Position is measured from each page's own edge | Check a large and a small page in the result |
Mistakes it helps you avoid
- Numbering the cover page when it should be left blank.
- Placing the number where it overprints existing text: check a preview page.
- Using a tiny size that is unreadable when printed.
- Forgetting that numbers are drawn on top of the page and cannot be changed afterwards: keep your original.
How it works
Your PDF is read and rewritten inside your browser.
1. The PDF is opened in your browser with pdf-lib.2. For each page the number text is worked out from your format and starting number.3. The text is drawn in Helvetica at your position and size, on top of the page.4. The numbered copy is saved. The original is not changed. Nothing is uploaded.
PDF positions are in points (1/72 inch) from the bottom-left corner of the page. The margin you set is the distance from the page edge to the text. The built-in Helvetica font covers Latin letters and common symbols, which is enough for numbers. For 'N of Total', the total is the number of pages numbered, adjusted for the start number and skipped cover.
Example: a 12-page report with a cover
A 12-page PDF has a cover on page 1. You choose 'Page 1 of 11' style numbering at the bottom centre, skipping the first page.
- Page 1 (cover)No number
- Page 2Page 1 of 11
- Page 12Page 11 of 11
A numbered copy saved as report-numbered.pdf
Set the start number to 2 if you want the first numbered page to be 2.
Terms on this page
- Point
- A PDF unit of 1/72 inch.
- Footer
- The strip at the bottom of a page where page numbers usually go.
Common questions
Can I skip the cover page?
Yes. Tick 'Skip the first page'. The second page then becomes number 1, or the start number you set.
Where can I put the numbers?
At the bottom or top, on the left, in the centre or on the right.
Can it write 'Page 3 of 12'?
Yes. Choose that format.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Your browser reads the file on your own device, changes it and saves the result. Nothing is sent over the network.
Can it open a password-protected PDF?
No. Remove the password first, then try again.
What to work out next
Where these numbers come from
- pdf-lib — create and modify PDF documents in any JavaScript environment (MIT licence) The open-source library used to draw text on the pages in your browser.
- Adobe — PDF 32000-1:2008 (ISO 32000-1), the PDF specification Page coordinates in points, the standard fonts and page rotation.
- MDN Web Docs — Using files from web applications How a page reads a file you choose without uploading it.
Last verified 2026-10-25 The method on this page is checked against the sources above at least once a year. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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