🔢 Page Numbering

Add Page Numbers

Number every page of your PDF. Pick the position, number format, starting number and font size.

Last Updated: August 2026Written by Ayaz Dilawar

Drop your PDF here

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Numbers on every page

Each page of the PDF gets a number, counted from the starting value you choose. Pick from six positions and four formats.

Size you can set

Use the slider to set the number between 8 and 18 points. The text is printed in Helvetica.

Handled in your browser

Your PDF is read and numbered in your browser tab. The tool has no upload step.

Long reports, theses and contracts are easier to read, print and reference when every page is numbered. Upload a PDF, choose where the numbers go and how they look, and download a numbered copy. Your original file stays as it is, and the numbers are printed onto the pages of the new one.

How to add page numbers to a PDF

  1. Drop your PDF into the upload box, or click it to choose a file.
  2. Select a position: bottom, top, left, center or right. Bottom Center is the default.
  3. Choose a format, set the Start At number, and drag the slider to set the font size.
  4. Optionally change the output filename. It defaults to “numbered-pdf.”
  5. Click “Add Page Numbers,” then “Download PDF.” The result shows how many pages were numbered and the new file size.

What you can use it for

  • Reports and proposals: make a long document easy to reference in meetings (“see page 14”).
  • Theses and dissertations: number a finished manuscript before it is printed or submitted.
  • Contracts and legal packets: use the “Page 3 of 12” format so a reader can tell if a page is missing.
  • Merged documents: number a combined PDF that came from several files so the pages run in one sequence.
  • Printouts: keep loose pages in order once they are printed.

Tips and limitations

Tips for best results

  • Finish your edits first. Merge, reorder or remove pages before numbering, because the numbers follow the final page order.
  • Use a number of 1 or higher in Start At. Entering 0 or leaving the box empty results in a start of 1.
  • Choose a corner that your pages leave empty, since there is no preview and the tool does not check for existing content.
  • Open the downloaded file and look at a few pages before you share or print it.

Good to know

  • Every page is numbered. There is no way to skip the cover or number only a range of pages.
  • The numbers are printed text. They do not change the page labels some PDF readers show in their navigation panel.
  • Pages that already carry numbers will end up with duplicates.
  • One continuous sequence only, so chapter-style numbering such as 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 is not possible.
  • Font, color and distance from the edge are fixed. Only the size can be changed.

Troubleshooting

  • The options never appear after I choose a file: The PDF may be password-protected or damaged. Try Unlock PDF or Repair PDF first. Also make sure the file is a PDF.
  • “Failed to add page numbers”: The file could not be processed, which usually points to a damaged PDF. Repairing it first often helps.
  • The numbers overlap existing text: The position is fixed, so try another corner. The distance from the edge cannot be adjusted.
  • The “of total” figure looks wrong: The total is the page count of the file you uploaded. It does not change with Start At, so use a format without the total if you start above 1.
  • The numbers look small or large: Adjust the font size slider (8–18 points) and run the tool again on your original file.

Frequently asked questions

There are six positions: top or bottom, each in the left, center or right. Bottom Center is selected by default. The numbers sit about 30 points (roughly 0.4 inch) from the page edge, and that distance is fixed.
Not directly. The tool numbers every page and has no page-range option. The Start At box changes which number the first page gets, but page 1 of the file is still numbered. To skip a cover, you could split it off first, number the remaining pages, and combine the files again afterward.
Four: plain numbers (1, 2, 3), “Page 1,” “1 / 10,” and “Page 1 of 10.” The total in the last two formats is the page count of the file you upload, not an adjusted figure, so if you set Start At above 1 the counter can run past that total. For a custom start number, the plain or “Page 1” format is the safer pick.
You can change the size with the slider, from 8 to 18 points (11 is the default). The font is Helvetica and the color is a fixed dark gray, so neither can be changed in this tool.
They can. The tool places each number at the position you choose without checking what is already there, and there is no preview before you download. If your pages have a footer or header, try a different corner or open the result to check it.
The tool reads your PDF and builds the numbered copy in your browser. The code on this page has no step that sends your file to a server. The download uses the filename you enter, which defaults to “numbered-pdf.pdf,” and your original file is not changed.

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