How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF

A printed report with no page numbers is hard to discuss (“see the third paragraph on, um, the sixth page”). Numbering a PDF takes seconds.

Using the tool

1. Choose a PDF, up to 50 MB, in the PDF Page Numbers tool.
2. Pick the position: bottom left, bottom centre or bottom right.
3. Set the starting number (the default is 1).
4. Download the numbered file.

Numbers are added near the bottom edge of every page in small black type, about 10 points.

The starting number

Set it above 1 when the PDF is the second part of a larger document. If the first PDF has 12 pages, start the next one at 13. For bundles you can number each part separately and then merge them, or merge first and number once.

What it does not do

• It does not skip a cover page: the first page gets the starting number. To leave the cover unnumbered, number a copy without it and add the cover back by merging.
• It has a fixed style (plain number, small black type) with no “Page 1 of 10” format or font choice.
• It does not avoid existing footer text, so check that the number does not overlap anything.

Frequently asked questions