Add Page Numbers to PDF – Free
Finished-looking documents in seconds.
At a glance
- Input:
- Output:
- The same PDF with printed page numbers
- Processing:
- Runs locally in your browser
- Limits:
- Up to 100 MB per file, max 1 file
- Privacy:
- Your files stay on your device — nothing is uploaded to a server
Last updated: 2026-10-03 · How we test — measured numbers from real files, with documented limits.
Common use cases
- Numbering a thesis or report so reviewers can cite pages
- Stamping Bates-style numbers on evidence bundles
- Finishing an ebook assembled from separate chapters
- Adding folios to scanned minutes before archiving
- Preparing court or tender filings that require numbered pages
About this tool
Professional documents carry page numbers; drafts assembled from scans and chapters often do not. This tool stamps clean, consistent folios onto any PDF in seconds — added as real text in the margins, with your format, position and starting number.
How to use it
- Add your PDF (up to 100 MB).
- Pick a format (1, Page 1, or 1 / 12), a position, a start number and a size.
- Run — pages number sequentially with progress and cancel.
- Download the numbered file and spot-check first and last pages.
Practical tips
- Match position to binding: right-side numbers suit single-sided printing; centered bottoms suit on-screen reading.
- Start numbering at the body, not the cover: extract the body, number from 1, merge the cover back.
- Size 10 suits most documents; drop to 8 for dense pages where margins are thin, raise to 12 for presentations.
- Check the first and last numbered pages before sending — off-by-one starts are the classic numbering error.
- For dark or tinted pages, gray numbers may wash out — this tool suits standard white documents, so check contrast on colored stock.
- When a filing demands top-right placement, set it once and reuse the same setup for every exhibit — consistency reads as care.
Common mistakes
- Numbering a file that already has printed folios — doubled numbers confuse every reader.
- Putting numbers where footnotes live: bottom-center collides with footers, so use a corner on annotated pages.
- Starting at 1 when the PDF opens with 10 pages of front matter — body numbering starts where the body starts.
- Forgetting rotated pages: number after rotating upright, since positions follow the page box.
How this compares
Desktop editors number pages behind print dialogs and subscription walls; upload tools keep your document. This tool stamps real text numbers with format, position and start control in the tab. The tradeoff: no cover-skipping in one step (extract-then-merge covers it) and no detection of pre-existing folios.
Good to know
- Adds numbers; does not detect or remove existing printed folios.
- Positions follow the page box — rotate sideways pages upright first.
- One file up to 100 MB per run; numbers render in gray Helvetica for universal compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
Will numbering affect my text or layout?
No. Numbers are added as small gray text in the margin area; your content is never reflowed, re-rendered or compressed. Text stays fully selectable and searchable.
Is my document uploaded?
No. Page numbering happens entirely on your device — the file never leaves your browser.
What formats and positions are available?
Three formats — plain number (1, 2, 3), 'Page 1' style, and '1 / 12' style — each in six positions (top/bottom × left/center/right). Start at any number, so front matter can begin at page 1 where it belongs.
Can I skip numbering on the first pages?
Indirectly: extract the main body with Extract PDF Pages (or Split PDF), number it starting at 1, then merge the cover back in front. Three quick steps, all local.
What if my pages already have numbers?
The tool adds; it does not detect or remove existing folios. Check for printed numbers first — doubling them looks broken. For scanned books with burned-in numbers, numbering anew is usually still clearer.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Yes — numbers stamp onto any page, scanned or born-digital. On scans they sit on top of the image layer, which is exactly how professional Bates-style stamping works.
How large can the document be?
Up to 100 MB per file. Numbering is sequential with a cancel button, so even long documents process steadily without hanging the tab.
Can I use Roman numerals?
No — Arabic numerals only, in 1, Page 1, or 1 / 12 styles. For front-matter conventions, keep the cover unnumbered and start the body at 1 via extract-then-merge.
Will numbers print correctly?
Yes — numbers are standard PDF text in gray Helvetica, which every viewer and printer renders. Print one test page first when margins are tight.