Add Page Numbers to PDF Online

How to add page numbers to a PDF

Page numbers turn a loose stack of pages into a navigable document. They make printed reports easy to reference in a meeting, let reviewers cite "see page 7", and keep a printout in order if it's ever dropped. This tool stamps clean, consistent numbers onto every page of a PDF in a few clicks — and does it entirely inside your browser.

How the numbering works

The tool loads your PDF, embeds the standard Helvetica font, and walks through each page drawing the number text at the position you selected. Because it draws on top of the existing page rather than re-rendering it, the original text, images, links, and form fields all stay exactly as they were — only the new number is added.

Positions and formats

You can place numbers in any of six spots: top or bottom, paired with left, centre, or right. Bottom-centre is the traditional choice for reports and books; bottom-right suits documents that will be bound on the left. For the format, a plain number is cleanest, "Page 1" is explicit, and "1 of N" reassures readers they have the whole document. The custom template, using {n} and {total}, lets you build anything from "- 1 -" to "Page {n} / {total}".

Starting number and cover pages

The "Start numbering at" setting offsets the count. To leave a cover page unnumbered you can't skip the first page directly, but you can begin at 0 or a number that matches your intent, or remove the cover with the Delete Pages tool, number the rest, and merge the cover back in. For a document that continues a series, set the start value to where the previous part ended.

Stamped in the tab, never uploaded

Numbering is an additive, lossless edit — the existing page is untouched and a short string is layered on top — so it runs comfortably in pdf-lib inside your browser. The file is read into memory, each page is stamped, and the numbered copy is offered for download with no server in the loop, which is what lets you paginate a legal filing or a financial report without handing the draft to a third party.

Tips for clean results

Keep the font size between 9 and 12 points for a professional look; larger sizes draw too much attention. If a number lands on top of existing footer text, switch corners or nudge the size down. Preview the downloaded file before printing a large batch, especially if your pages have unusual margins or mixed orientations.

Related PDF tools

• Merge PDF — combine documents first, then number the whole thing consistently.
• Delete PDF Pages — drop a cover page before numbering.
• Split PDF — break a long numbered document into sections.
• Rotate PDF — fix page orientation so numbers sit the right way up.