Add Page Numbers to a PDF — Free Online PDF Numbering
Number the pages of a PDF in your browser. Choose where the number sits, how it reads — 1, 1 / 12, or Page 1 of 12 — and which number to start from, then download the numbered file. Nothing is uploaded.
If the pages are the wrong way up, fix them with Rotate PDF first; add a password afterwards with Protect PDF, or build the document from images using Images to PDF.
How to use the PDF Page Numbers
- 1 Choose the PDF you want to number.
- 2 Pick a position — bottom centre is the usual choice, but all six corners and edges are available.
- 3 Choose the format, the starting number and the font size, and tick "leave the first page unnumbered" if the document has a cover.
- 4 Check the preview to confirm where the number will sit, then download the numbered PDF.
How to add page numbers
- Choose the PDF you want to number.
- Pick a position: any of the six corners and edges, or the middle of the footer or header.
- Choose the format, the starting number, and the font size.
- Download the numbered PDF.
Choosing a format
A bare number is the cleanest for most documents, and "1 / 12" is the most useful when pages may be separated — a reader who finds page 7 alone still knows how much is missing.
Starting the count somewhere other than 1 matters for anything with front matter: a report with a cover and a contents page usually wants the body to begin at page 1, with the cover unnumbered.
The numbers are real text
Each number is drawn as text using an embedded font, not pasted in as an image. That means the digits stay selectable, are readable by screen readers, and survive a copy-and-paste — and the added size is a few hundred bytes rather than the tens of kilobytes a stamped image would cost.
Because the font is embedded in the file, the numbers look the same everywhere. No reliance on a font being installed on the reader machine.
Will numbering affect my content?
The numbers are drawn in the page margin, so pick a margin larger than your existing content if the document already has text close to the edge. Everything else in the file is left exactly as it was — text, links and images are untouched.
Is it private?
Yes. The PDF is opened, annotated and saved again entirely in your browser. There is no upload and no server processing, so confidential documents stay on your machine.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add page numbers to a PDF online?
Choose the file, pick a position and format, then download. Every page is numbered in one pass, and the numbers are drawn in the page margin so they do not collide with your content. There is no page limit and no watermark.
Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set "Start at" to whichever number you need, and "1 / 12" style formats will count from there. That is what you want for a report with a cover and contents pages, where the body should begin at page 1.
How do I skip the first page?
Tick "Leave the first page unnumbered". The count then begins on page two, so a cover sheet stays clean. Combine it with a custom start number if the body should restart at 1.
Are the page numbers selectable text or an image?
They are real text, drawn with an embedded font. That means the digits stay selectable, are readable by screen readers and survive copy-and-paste — and they add a few hundred bytes rather than the tens of kilobytes a stamped image would cost.
What is the best page number format?
"1 / 12" is the most practical, because a reader who finds page 7 on its own still knows how much of the document is missing. A bare number is cleaner for anything that will always be read as a whole.
Will the numbers overlap my existing content?
The numbers sit about 28 points from the page edge, which clears the usual margin. If your document has text running very close to the edge, choose a larger margin in your source document or reduce the font size here.
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