Add page numbers to a PDF

Merged documents almost always need numbering afterwards, and court filings, contracts and printed handouts need it as a matter of course.

Choose where the number sits, what format it takes — plain, 'Page 3', or '3 of 40' — which page it starts counting from, and which pages get one at all. Cover sheets and title pages usually shouldn't be numbered, and front matter is often numbered separately, so both are straightforward here.

The numbers are drawn into the page content rather than added as annotations, which means they print exactly as they appear and can't be selected and deleted by whoever opens the file next. On documents that mix page sizes — a Letter report with an A3 foldout in the middle, say — each number is positioned relative to its own page, so they stay in a consistent place visually.

What this does — and what it doesn't

  • Numbers are drawn into the page content, so they print exactly as shown and can't be accidentally deleted by a viewer. They can't be removed later without editing the file again.

Next steps

Add Page Numbers — frequently asked questions

Can I start numbering from a page other than the first?
Yes — set which page the numbering starts on and what number it starts at, so cover pages and front matter can be skipped or counted separately.
Can I choose the format?
Yes: just the digit, 'Page N', or 'N of M', positioned in any of six spots on the page.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Every operation runs in your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly — the file never leaves your device. You can verify it: load the page, disconnect from the internet, and the tool still works. There is no upload endpoint to send it to.
Is it really free? What's the catch?
It's free because it costs us almost nothing to run: there's no server doing the work, so there's no per-file cost to recover. No account, no watermark, no daily task limit, and no feature that turns out to be paid at the download step.

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