PDF page numbering

An online tool to add page numbers to a PDF, showing the number on your actual page instead of a blank rectangle — so you can see whether it collides with text, a stamp or a border. PDF page numbering is configurable across nine positions, your own pattern (“Page {n} of {total}”, “Exhibit A, sheet {n}”), size, colour and margin; front matter can take roman numerals while the body restarts at 1 in the same pass. Numbering pages, skipping the cover and preparing a document for print all happen in the browser, with nothing to install.

How to add page numbers to a PDF

1
Upload the file

Drop a PDF in or pick one from your device.

2
Choose corner and format

The number appears on the document page straight away.

3
Step through the pages

Use the arrows under the page and check the number is out of the way.

4
Download the result

The same document, now numbered.

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Place the number and see exactly where it lands before you download

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What the tool does

See the number before downloading
It is drawn on the real page of your document, not on a white mock-up. Step through the pages and confirm it does not sit on anything.
Sections in one pass
Roman i, ii, iii for the front matter, then the body restarting at 1. Acrobat needs two passes for this; here it is one row.
Your own pattern
{n}, {total}, {sectionTotal}, {filename} plus any text: “Page 7 of 40”, “ACME-000042”, “Exhibit A, sheet 3”.
Any alphabet in the label
Non-Latin words print correctly — a covering font is embedded automatically, because the 14 fonts built into the PDF format cannot render them at all.
Facing pages and a backing box
Mirrored numbering for books keeps the number on the outer edge. A white backing box rescues a number that lands on text.
Nine positions, margin in mm
Top, middle, bottom × left, centre, right. The margin is set in millimetres, like in print, not in unnamed units.

When you need this

  • Number a contract before printing it for signature.
  • A thesis: unnumbered cover, roman front matter, body starting at 1.
  • Court and HR bundles with continuous numbering and leading zeros (ACME-000042).
  • A book or booklet with the number on the outer edge of each spread.
  • A report that reads “Page 7 of 40” in your own language.

What makes this one different

Most online numbering tools show you settings but not your page — where the digit actually lands is something you discover after downloading. Here the number is drawn over the real page, and it is drawn by the same code that later writes it into the file, so the preview and the result cannot disagree. Plus three things that are usually missing: different sections in one pass, mirrored facing pages, and non-Latin text in the number itself.

Frequently asked questions

Can the label say “Page 7 of 40” in my own language?

Yes. Pick the ready-made “Page {n} of {total}” option or type your own text in the Pattern field. Non-Latin alphabets work too: the 14 fonts built into the PDF format do not contain them, so a suitable font is embedded into the document automatically.

How do I skip the cover?

Press “Skip the cover” or type 2-end in the Number field. The count does not shift: page two becomes number 1, not 2.

Roman front matter and then arabic — in one pass?

Yes. Open “More”, add a section and say which page the body starts on and from which number. This is usually the exact reason people reach for Acrobat, where the operation has to be run twice.

The number lands on text or a stamp. What now?

You can see that in the preview before downloading. Move the position, increase the margin, or switch on the backing box to put a white rectangle under the digit.

I need legal numbering with a prefix and zeros.

Put the prefix in the pattern (“ACME-{n}”) and set Leading zeros to 6. You get ACME-000001, ACME-000002 and so on.

How do I number a book with spreads?

Choose the bottom-right corner and switch on “Mirror on facing pages”. Even pages move to the left, so the number always sits on the outer edge.

Will bookmarks and links survive?

Yes. The tool draws the number over the page and leaves the content, outline and internal links untouched.

What about a password-protected PDF?

That file has to be decrypted first — there is a separate “Unlock PDF” tool for it, after which numbering proceeds as usual.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The document page and the settings stack one above the other, and numbering works the same way.

💡 Want us to improve this tool just for you?

We can! Just send us a quick message with your idea. If you'd like to discuss it in detail, leave your email and we'll get back to you. You can stay anonymous.

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Who is this tool for?
✨ Content Creators
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