Add Page Numbers to PDF
Stamp page numbers onto a PDF in the position and format you choose.
Court filings, tenders and university submissions routinely require numbered pages, and a document assembled from several sources rarely has them. This stamps numbers onto the pages in the position and format you choose.
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Result
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What the Add Page Numbers to PDF does
Numbers are drawn onto each page as new text using one of the standard PDF fonts, so no font has to be embedded and the file barely grows. The existing content is untouched underneath.
The starting number is adjustable because covers and title pages often should not count. Setting the start to 0 makes the first stamped page 0, so the second becomes 1.
How to use this tool
- Select your PDF and wait for the thumbnails.
- Tick specific pages if only some should be numbered — leave all unticked to number the whole document.
- Choose the position. Bottom centre is the safe default for formal submissions.
- Pick a format and the starting number, then press Add page numbers.
Where the number is placed
Text width is measured, then positioned:
left → x = margin
centre → x = (page width − text width) ÷ 2
right → x = page width − margin − text width
bottom → y = margin
top → y = page height − margin
Numbers increment from your chosen starting value across the
pages being stamped, not across the whole document.
Points are the PDF unit: 72 points = 1 inch, so 28 pt ≈ 10 mm.
Worked example
Example: a tender with a cover page
| Document | 21 pages, page 1 is a cover |
| Pages ticked | 2 to 21 |
| Start at | 1 |
| Result | cover unnumbered, content numbered 1 to 20 |
Ticking the pages to stamp, rather than numbering everything, is what keeps the cover clean.
What your result means
Numbers are drawn on top of the page. If a page already has a number printed in the same place, both will show — choose a different position.
Existing content is unchanged; only new text is added.
Margin matters for printing. Below about 20 points the number may fall inside the printer's unprintable edge.
Important considerations
- Number after merging and reordering, not before — otherwise the numbers will not match the final sequence.
- Check the bottom of your pages first. Documents that already carry footers need the number at the top or in a corner.
- The "1 of 20" format counts the pages being stamped, which is what you want when a cover is excluded.
- Only the standard PDF fonts are available, so numbers appear in Latin digits. Devanagari numerals are not supported.
- Adding page numbers invalidates any digital signature on the document.
Limitations of this tool
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be opened without the password.
- Processing happens in your device's memory, so very large documents can be slow.
- Damaged or partially downloaded files cannot be parsed.
- Only the three standard PDF font families are available, since embedding a custom font would enlarge the file considerably.
- Roman numerals and letter-based numbering are not offered.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip the cover page?
Yes. Tick only the pages that should be numbered and set the starting number to 1 — the cover stays clean and content starts at 1.
Will the numbers overlap existing content?
They are drawn on top, so they can. Check the bottom of your pages first and choose a different position if there is already a footer.
Can I use roman numerals?
Not currently. The available formats are plain numbers, "Page n", "n of m" and a dashed style.
Should I number before or after merging?
After. Numbering first and then merging produces duplicate or out-of-sequence numbers.