How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF
To add page numbers to a PDF, stamp a number onto each page in a fixed spot. PDFDEN's free page numbering tool does it in your browser, with a choice of position, format and start number. The numbers become part of the page, so they print and display everywhere.
Add Page Numbers: Number the pages of a PDF. Free, and your file never leaves your device.
Open Add Page NumbersSteps
Open Add Page Numbers and drop in your PDF.
Pick a position: top or bottom, on the left, center or right.
Choose a format: 1, Page 1, Page 1 of N, or 1/N. Set the font size and the margin from the page edge.
Set a custom start number if needed, and tick the option to skip the first page for a cover.
Run it and download the numbered PDF.
How to insert page numbers in a PDF that has a cover page
Reports and theses often start with a title page that should carry no number. Tick skip the first page so numbering starts on page two.
The start number handles the rest. A document that is chapter two of something bigger can start at 31. Page 1 of N and 1/N show the total, which helps readers spot a missing page in printed copies.
Number pages after you merge
Number the final document, not the parts. If you are combining files, join them first with Merge PDF (see how to combine PDF files), then run the whole thing through the PDF page number tool. The numbers then run straight through without restarting at each file.
The same goes for removing pages. Delete what you don't need first, then number, so there are no gaps.
Add Page Numbers: Number the pages of a PDF. Free, and your file never leaves your device.
Open Add Page NumbersAdd page numbers without Acrobat
Mac Preview and the Windows print dialog cannot add page numbers to an existing PDF. If you still have the source document in Word or Google Docs, insert page numbers there and export a fresh PDF.
When all you have is the PDF, a stamping tool is the way to do it. PDFDEN's is free and adds no watermark.
It also works on scans and on PDFs from any source, since the numbers are stamped on top of the existing page rather than typed into the original document.
Other things you can stamp on every page
Page numbers are one kind of stamp. For a "Draft" or "Confidential" label across every page, use Watermark PDF. To add a one-off note, header or date on a specific page, place a text box with Add Text to PDF.
Check that stamps do not overlap. If a watermark sits at the bottom center, move the page numbers to a corner.
Pick a position and size that fit the document
Bottom center is the most common spot and reads well on printed pages. Bottom right suits documents that are flipped through, since the number sits where the thumb goes. Top right works for legal and academic papers that already use footers.
Look at the existing layout before you choose. If the pages already have a footer, a number in the same spot will print over it. Raise the margin to move the number further from the edge, or switch to the top.
Keep the font size modest. A size close to the body text looks deliberate, while a large number competes with the content. Run a test on the page numbering tool and check a few pages before sending.