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Paperfoundry / Add page numbers

Add page numbers to a PDF

Choose where the number goes and how it reads, see it marked on every thumbnail, then download a numbered copy. Your file is processed on your device.

  • No upload, no account
  • No file size cap
  • Keeps working offline once loaded

How to number the pages of a PDF

  1. Open the PDF. A yellow marker on each thumbnail shows where the number will be stamped, and the text under it shows exactly what it will say.
  2. Choose a position. Any corner, or the middle of the top or bottom edge. Bottom centre is the usual choice for reports; top right suits legal and academic documents.
  3. Choose a format. 1, Page 1, 1 of 10, Page 1 of 10, 1 / 10 or - 1 -. The total is worked out for you.
  4. Adjust if needed. Set the first number (for a document that continues another), the text size in points, and the distance from the edge. Tick Leave the first page unnumbered to skip a cover; numbering then starts on page 2.
  5. Download. The numbers are drawn onto the pages as real text, so they print and can be searched.

When it helps

  • Merged documents. After merging several files, the pages have no continuous numbering. Add it in one step.
  • Court bundles, tenders and submissions that require every page to be numbered so others can refer to them.
  • Printed handouts, so loose pages can be put back in order.
  • Theses and reports where the cover should stay clean.

Choosing position, size and margin

Most printed documents use 9 to 11 point numbers about 25 to 40 points from the edge (one point is 1/72 inch, so 28 points is about 1 cm). If your pages have a footer, place the number at the top or increase the margin until the marker on the thumbnails clears it. Documents that will be bound on the left read best with numbers in the outer corner or centred, so they stay visible when the pages are stapled.

Limits and what to expect

  • Numbers use Helvetica, the standard PDF font, in dark grey. The rest of the page is untouched.
  • Pages that open rotated get their number at the bottom (or top) of the page as you see it, not as it is stored.
  • The number is stamped on top of the page. If a page already has content in that spot, choose another position or a larger margin.
  • Roman numerals and letters are not offered. Use the start number to continue numbering from another document.

Add page numbers: questions and answers

Can I skip the cover page?

Yes. Tick Leave the first page unnumbered. The second page then shows your start number, and the total counts only the numbered pages.

Can numbering start at a number other than 1?

Yes. Set Start at to any number, for example 41 for a document that continues after page 40 of another one.

What does "Page 1 of 10" count as the total?

The total is the last number that will be printed. With a skipped cover and a start of 1, a 10-page file shows "Page 1 of 9" to "Page 9 of 9".

Will the page numbers be searchable text?

Yes. They are written as text in the PDF, so they can be selected, searched and printed sharply.

What about landscape or rotated pages?

The number is placed relative to the page as it is displayed, so on a rotated page it still sits along the edge you chose and reads the right way up.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. The PDF is read into this browser tab and processed by JavaScript running on your device. The result is created in memory and saved by your browser. You can check this yourself in the Network panel.

Does it work without an internet connection?

Yes, once the page has finished loading. The PDF code is downloaded when the page opens, so you can switch off Wi-Fi and keep working in the same tab. Reloading the page needs a connection again.

What happens to digital signatures?

Any change to a signed PDF invalidates its digital signature, in this tool or any other. If a signature must stay valid, send the original file instead.

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