Add Page Numbers to PDF
Pick a position and format, drop your PDF, get back a numbered PDF. Useful for printed handouts, briefs, manuscripts, or anything where the recipient might shuffle the pages and need to put them back in order.
Why number PDF pages?
- Numbering a printed legal brief or court filing where opposing counsel may need to cite specific pages.
- Adding page references to a novel or thesis manuscript before sending to an editor.
- Stamping page numbers on conference handouts so attendees can follow along.
- Numbering exam papers before printing so a teacher can quickly check no pages are missing.
- Adding page numbers to a multi-section report for cross-reference in a table of contents.
- Numbering scanned multi-page documents where the originals had no folios.
How it works
Your PDF is loaded with pdf-lib. Each page has a number drawn in 10pt Helvetica light grey, at the position you choose: bottom-center (horizontally centered, 24pt from the bottom), bottom-right (right-aligned, 24pt from the bottom, 36pt from the edge), or top-right (right-aligned, 24pt from the top). The format is your choice — 'Page N', 'Page N of T' (where T is the total page count), or just the bare number. The numbered PDF is re-saved and downloaded. No upload, no server.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start numbering from a different page or number?
Not from this tool — every page is numbered in document order starting at 1. For roman-numeral front matter or 'skip the cover page' control, split the PDF first with split-pdf, number the body, and merge back.
What if my PDF already has page numbers?
The new numbers will overlay the existing ones — they don't get removed. If your existing numbers are in the same area as the new ones, you'll see both. Move the new numbers to a different position, or use a desktop tool to remove the old ones first.
Can I customize the font, size, or color?
Not yet — the tool uses 10pt Helvetica grey. The defaults work for the vast majority of business and legal use cases. For typography control, use a desktop tool like Acrobat.
Will the numbers be selectable text or part of the image?
Selectable text — they're drawn into the PDF's text layer, not rasterized. Searching, copying, and screen readers all see them as real text.
Are my files uploaded?
No. pdf-lib runs in your browser. Sensitive documents stay on your device.
About this tool
Page numbers are one of those small details that distinguish a polished PDF from a rough one. They're trivial in Word or InDesign and surprisingly fiddly in a finished PDF — Acrobat has the feature buried under a Preflight or 'Add Header & Footer' menu, and most quick web tools require uploading the document. For a document where pages will be printed, photocopied, faxed, or referenced by number, even a simple bottom-of-page folio is the difference between 'professional' and 'sloppy'. Stamping them client-side via pdf-lib makes this a five-second operation without an upload step.