Add Page Numbers to PDF
Stamp page numbers on every page, or skip the cover. Choose the position, format, size and starting number.
Select a PDF fileor drop it anywhere on this page, or paste
Opens in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Add Page Numbers to PDF, free and private
Add page numbers to a PDF in one pass. Pick one of three formats, one of six positions, any starting number, a font, colour and size, and see the numbers on a live preview of your pages. You can number every page, skip the cover page, or number only a range such as 2-10.
The numbers are drawn onto each page in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and there is no account, page cap or watermark.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
- 1
Add your PDF
Press Select PDF files or drop a PDF on the page. The tool numbers one file at a time and shows its page count once read.
- 2
Pick a number format
Under Number format, choose 1, 2, 3 for the number alone, Page 1 to add the word Page, or 1 of 12 to show the number with the total.
- 3
Choose the pages to number
Under Pages to number, pick All pages, Skip first page, or Page range. For a range, type pages like 2-10, 3- or 2-5, 8.
- 4
Set position, start number and style
Click a spot in the Position grid, or drag the number on the preview to another corner or to the top or bottom centre. Bottom center is the default. In Start at, enter the number for the first numbered page. Pick a font and colour, set Size (pt) from 6 to 36 (11 by default) and the distance from the edge. Flip through the preview to check each page.
- 5
Add page numbers and download
Press Add page numbers. The result says how many pages were numbered. Press Preview to check, then Download PDF to save a copy ending in -numbered.pdf.
Why use PDFToolz for this
Skip the cover or number a range
Skip first page leaves page 1 blank and starts numbering on page 2. Page range numbers only the pages you type, so front matter and appendices can stay unnumbered.
Six positions, three formats
Put numbers in any corner or centred at the top or bottom, as a plain number, Page N or N of total.
Start from any number
When a document is split across several PDFs, such as chapters or exhibits, start each file at the right number so the printed set runs as one sequence.
Part of the page
Numbers are drawn into the page in the colour you pick, dark grey by default, not added as comments. They print in every viewer and cannot be dragged off by accident. Rotated and cropped pages get the number in the spot you picked.
Numbered on your device
Your PDF is never sent to a server. Confidential reports and unpublished manuscripts stay with you.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
The same format, position and size apply to every numbered page, so pick the mix that suits how the document will be read.
- 1, 2, 3 is the cleanest choice for books, theses and reports with a table of contents.
- Page 1 is clearer in files that already have other numbers near the margin, such as invoices or forms.
- 1 of 12 shows at a glance if pages are missing. It suits printed or loose-leaf documents and multi-page agreements.
- Bottom center is the most common spot. Corners suit bound or stapled documents. Top positions help when the bottom margin already has a footer.
- Start At takes any whole number from 0 up, so a second volume can begin at 101 and an appendix can continue from the main report.
Skip the first page or number a range
The first numbered page always gets the Start At number. With Skip first page and Start At 1, page 2 shows 1, page 3 shows 2, and so on. Set Start At to 2 if page 2 should show 2.
Page range takes pages and ranges split by commas, like 2-10 or 2-5, 8. An open range like 3- runs to the last page, and -4 starts at page 1. Pages outside the range are left as they are.
How 1 of 12 works
In the 1 of 12 format, the second number is the last number stamped, and it counts only the numbered pages. A 10-page PDF numbered from 1 gets 1 of 10 through 10 of 10. Skip the cover and you get 1 of 9 through 9 of 9. Start the full file at 5 and you get 5 of 14 through 14 of 14, so the total is never smaller than the page number.
If each file should read 'of 10' on its own, leave Start At at 1.
Common adjustments
Numbers sit 28 points (about 1 cm) in from the page edge by default, which clears body text in most documents. Move them with the margin slider. They have no background, so if text already sits in that spot, run the original again with another position or a smaller size.
- Numbering several files? Merge them first so the sequence runs through in one pass.
- Need a title or notice too? Add Header / Footer puts fixed text at the top or bottom of each page. Use a different position from your numbers.
- For legal productions that need IDs like ABC000001 instead of plain numbers, use Bates Numbering.
- Files that block printing or copying work as they are. A file that needs a password to open must go through Unlock PDF first.
Frequently asked questions
Add the PDF, pick a number format and position, and press Add page numbers. It is free and the file is processed in your browser, not uploaded.
Under Pages to number, pick Skip first page. Page 1 stays blank and numbering starts on page 2 with your Start At number.
Yes. Pick Page range and type the pages, like 2-10 or 3- for page 3 to the end. Only those pages get a number.
Top left, top center, top right, bottom left, bottom center or bottom right. Pick it on the grid or drag the number on the preview. The same position is used on every numbered page.
Yes. Set Start At to any whole number from 0 up. This helps when the sequence should continue from a previous file.
Yes. Set Size (pt) from 6 to 36. The default is 11 pt. You can also change the font and the colour.
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