Add page numbers to a PDF
Number every page, in the position and format you want.
- Runs on your device — the file is never sent anywhere
- No sign-up, no watermarks, no daily quotas
- Free, with no limit on how often you use it
How it works
Page numbers are the thing you notice are missing at the worst moment — as a document goes to print, or to a court, or to a client. Adding them afterwards is a small job that most tools want either a subscription or an upload for. This does it in the page.
Real text, not a picture
Each number is drawn as genuine PDF text in Helvetica, a font every reader already has. That keeps the file small, keeps the page sharp at any zoom, and leaves the original content completely untouched and still searchable.
Formats and starting number
Plain numbers suit most documents. “Page 1 of 20” is the formal option for printed reports and legal bundles. The starting number matters when a document is one section of something larger, or when a cover page should not be counted — set it to 0 and the cover becomes page zero while the next page becomes page one.
Position
Bottom centre is the convention for reports and books. Bottom right suits documents that will be bound on the left. Top positions are used where a footer is already occupied by something else.
What it does not do
It numbers every page with the same style — there is no roman-numeral preamble, no per-section restart and no skipping. Those belong in a layout application, not a quick utility.
Add page numbers to a PDF — questions
Will the document still be searchable?
Yes. The numbers are added as text and the original content is not modified in any way.
Can I start numbering from something other than 1?
Yes. Set the starting number — useful when the document is one part of a larger set, or when a cover page should not count.
Can I number only some pages?
No. Every page is numbered, which covers the ordinary case.
Is my document uploaded?
No. It is read and rewritten in your browser by pdf-lib.