How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF for Free

Page numbers are easy to forget until someone asks you to "see page 14" of a document that has none. You can add them to any PDF in a few seconds, without Acrobat and without uploading the file.

How to add page numbers to a PDF

1. Open Add Page Numbers.
2. Drop in your PDF.
3. Choose a position: bottom center, bottom right, bottom left, top center or top right.
4. Choose a format: 1, 1 / 10 or Page 1 of 10.
5. Click Add Page Numbers. The numbered PDF downloads straight away.

The numbers are small (10 pt) and dark grey, placed just inside the page edge, so they read like normal printed page numbers rather than a stamp.

Which format should you use?

• 1 is the standard for books, reports and anything printed.
• 1 / 10 is handy for documents read on screen, because the reader always knows how much is left.
• Page 1 of 10 is common on contracts, forms and anything sent for signature, where a missing page has to be obvious.

How to skip the cover page

The tool numbers every page, starting at 1. If you don't want a number on the cover:

1. Use Split PDF to extract the cover (page 1) as one file and the rest (pages 2 to the end) as another.
2. Add page numbers to the second file.
3. Use Merge PDF to put the cover back in front.

A side effect is that numbering starts at 1 on the first page after the cover, which is usually what you want for a report or thesis anyway.

How to start numbering from a different number

Say you're adding chapter 3 of a document and it should start at page 41. Add Page Numbers always starts at 1, but Bates Numbering lets you set the starting number. Set Prefix to nothing, Digits to 1 (so you get 41 rather than 000041) and Start number to 41. Bates numbers can go at the bottom left, center or right.

Bates numbering is really meant for legal documents. What is Bates numbering? explains the difference.

Tips

Check the margins first. If your pages already have text right at the bottom edge, such as a footer or a scanned page with no margin, a number in the same spot can overlap it. Try a top position instead.

Remove a password first. If the PDF is password-protected, the tool can't write to it. That includes PDFs that open without asking but restrict editing or printing. Remove the password first, then add numbers.

Numbering a scanned book? Merge all the scans into one PDF before numbering, or each file will restart at 1.

FAQ

Can you add page numbers to a PDF without Adobe Acrobat? Yes. A browser tool like Add Page Numbers does it for free, with no account, and the file stays on your device.

Will adding page numbers change anything else in the PDF? No. The numbers are drawn on top of each page; the existing text, images and layout aren't touched, and the text stays selectable.

Can I remove page numbers later? Not with this tool. Keep your original file if you might need an un-numbered copy.

Does it work on my phone? Yes. It runs in the mobile browser the same way it does on a computer.