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.

Switch to Bates numbers for legal and discovery work: a prefix and suffix around a zero-padded number (ACME-000123), placed bottom right by default. To carry on from an earlier or merged batch, enter the last number you used and this batch starts at the next one.

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.
  • Latin, Greek, Cyrillic and Vietnamese text can be used in a prefix or custom label. Other scripts (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hebrew, Indian scripts) and emoji can't be drawn here, and you're told which characters if you try.
  • Page boxes are respected, but a page with a solid background drawn over the margin can still hide a number placed there.

Next steps

Watermark PDF

Add DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or a logo across the pages.

Merge PDF

Combine files into one PDF and set the order before you merge.

Organize PDF

Drag pages into a new order, rotate or drop the ones you don't need.

Flatten PDF

Make filled fields and comments permanent, non-editable content.

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', 'N of M' or your own wording with {n} and {total}, as 1, i, I, a or A numerals, in any of six spots on the page. 'N of M' always ends at the last number printed, so numbering pages 2-10 of a 10-page file reads 'Page 10 of 10'.
Does it do Bates numbering?
Yes. Choose Bates numbers, set a prefix, suffix and number of digits, and it stamps ACME-000001, ACME-000002 and so on. To continue a series after a merge or in a second batch, enter the last number of the previous batch.
Can I process many PDFs at once?
Yes. Switch on "Process many files" to number up to 60 PDFs (300 MB in total) and download a ZIP. Page numbers and Bates numbers can keep counting from one file into the next in the order shown, so ACME-000001 carries on where the previous file stopped; you can reorder the files first. Files that fail can be retried, and the numbers of later files are then redone to stay in order.
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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