INSPIRED TOOLS

INSPIRED TOOLS / PDF

Add PDF page numbers

Add page numbers to every PDF page with your chosen starting number and position.

Switching tools requires selecting your files again. Save any results you need first.

Processing location

Changing processing location clears selected files and the current result. Save any needed results first.

Prepare your files

On-device processing

Selected files stay on your device. One PDF, up to 50MiB and 200 pages.

How to check your result

Consecutive visible numbers are added to every input page, starting at your chosen number. Existing numbers stay, and the cover is not skipped automatically.

What to check

  • Check the first and last numbers. To exclude a cover, extract the body, number it, then reattach the cover.
  • Check for overlap with headers and footers. Save a new result after changing the position.

Adding visible numbers does not change PDF viewer page labels. W3C discusses consistency between these numbering systems separately. [1]

Continue with a task

Download the result first, then open it in the next tool. Files are not transferred automatically.

Sources and further reading
  1. W3C PDF17 · Consistent page numbering

Keep this tab open while processing. Changing files or settings releases the previous result link.

Add PDF page numbers

Add page numbers to every PDF page with your chosen starting number and position.

How to use this tool

On this device · no upload

  1. Choose one PDF and check its page count.
  2. Choose the starting number and position. Every page receives a consecutive number.
  3. Create the PDF, then download the result.
  4. Compare page count, orientation and overlaps with the original.

Full instructions and practice files →

Real results from the same practice PDF

Starting at 5 adds 5, 6 and 7 to the three original pages. Compare bottom center, bottom right and top center below. Existing page numbers remain, so choose space without a header or footer. To exclude a cover, split the document first, number the body and merge the files again.

Download the original three-page PDF ↓
Real results from the same practice PDF · Bottom center
Bottom centerDownload result PDF ↓
Real results from the same practice PDF · Bottom right
Bottom rightDownload result PDF ↓
Real results from the same practice PDF · Top center
Top centerDownload result PDF ↓

We processed our synthetic three-page document with the same PDF engine used by the tools. Images show a reduced first page of each result PDF. No personal documents were used; appearance can vary with device fonts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the cover or number only some pages?

Currently, consecutive numbers are added to all pages, including the cover. You can change the starting number. Skipping pages, showing a total page count and removing existing numbers are not supported.

Can I choose where PDF page numbers appear?

Choose bottom center, bottom right or top center. Check for overlap with existing text. A new PDF is created; keep the original separately.

Are my files uploaded?

On-device mode is the default and processes files in your browser without uploading them. Server mode uploads files only after you read the notice and press the server action button. Check the tool for the limits and retention period before choosing that mode.