What changes
The number becomes new visible content; it is not a dynamic viewer label and does not rewrite an existing table of contents.
Add PDF page numbers
Number all or selected PDF pages with a custom format, starting number and accessible top or bottom placement.
Runs locallyNo uploadYou control saved copies
Add visible page numbers to a PDF
Choose selected pages, a starting value, number format, position, size, margin and colour. Numbers are added as visible text; the original page is not rasterised or flattened.
For a reliable result
- Load the document and choose the pages that need numbering.
- Set a format such as `Page {n} of {total}` and preview the position values.
- Download and inspect numbers on normal and rotated pages.
Check the download
Leave enough margin for printing and avoid covering footers, signatures or barcodes.
Know before processing
Built-in text supports basic Latin characters. Page numbering does not update existing internal links or bookmarks.
Quick answers
- Will page numbers update my table of contents?
- No. The tool draws visible numbers on selected pages. It does not rewrite bookmarks, internal links or an existing table of contents.
- Can I use any language or font?
- The built-in PDF font supports basic Latin text. Inspect custom formats carefully, especially on rotated pages and near existing footers.
Add a visible sequence without replacing existing labels
This tool writes page numbers directly onto selected PDF pages. Choose a starting value, format, position, margin, font size and colour. It is useful for an unnumbered scan or a reference pack whose final page order is already settled.
The new numbers are additional page content. Existing printed numbers, viewer page labels, bookmarks and a table of contents are not rewritten. If the source already has a footer, check the placement carefully so the new sequence does not cover it or create two confusing numbering systems.
Decide how the numbering should relate to the document
| Your situation | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Every page needs a number matching its position. | Select all, start at 1 and use {n} in the format. Arrange or remove pages first so you do not have to add a second sequence later. |
| The cover should remain unnumbered. | Select the following pages and choose their starting number. Numbering advances across selected pages only; the optional {total} token still means every page in the PDF, including the unselected cover. |
| The document already has numbers that need replacing. | Adding another number does not remove the old one. Work from an unnumbered source where possible, or use an editing workflow appropriate for the existing page content. |
Number the sample after its first page
This exercise intentionally skips page 1 to show the difference between a new selected-page sequence and the PDF's total page count.
- Choose device-document-lab.pdf and select Load PDF pages. Set Pages to update to 2-5.
- Set Number format to Page {n} of {total} and Starting number to 1. Choose Bottom centre for Position.
- Set Edge margin (mm) to 10 and Font size (pt) to 12. Keep the default colour, #b7791f.
- Select Add page numbers and download the result. Check file pages 2 through 5 for the added labels Page 1 of 5 through Page 4 of 5. File page 1 should have no newly added number.
Expected result. The output should retain five pages. Four selected pages receive a new sequence beginning at 1, while {total} stays 5. If you want the label to describe only those four selected pages, use a literal format such as Page {n} of 4 instead.
Check the downloaded result
- Inspect the first and last selected pages, plus an unselected page. Confirm the starting value, increments and total wording match the intended reading sequence.
- Check the number against existing footers, stamps, signatures and page-edge content. The tool calculates placement but does not detect whether the destination area is already occupied.
- Inspect both portrait and landscape pages and any rotated or cropped source pages. The visible-page geometry is considered, but the actual result still needs review on unusual documents.
- Check a print preview when the document will be printed. Leave enough space for the printer's unprintable edge and verify that the selected colour remains legible in grayscale.
Troubleshooting
- The total is larger than the number of numbered pages.
The {total} token expands to the full PDF page count, not the number of selected pages or the final number in the added sequence.
Try this: Use {n} alone or enter an intentional literal total in the format. Recheck the wording when the source-page count changes.
- A number overlaps existing content or runs off a small page.
Placement does not inspect the document for occupied areas, and long text may not fit the selected page width.
Try this: Return to the original, choose another position or margin, and shorten the format or reduce font size. Inspect the new output before sharing.
- The format is rejected or some letters become question marks.
The format must contain the exact {n} token. The built-in text path supports basic Latin, and other characters are not preserved as entered.
Try this: Use a supported format such as Page {n}, with valid page positions and a numeric starting value. Use a different editor when your label requires another script.
Limits and compatibility
- Added content only
- The tool uses one numbering configuration per operation. Selected pages are processed in document order, even if entered in another order. It does not update references elsewhere in the PDF or detect previously added page numbers.
- Local processing
- The PDF is processed on your device, with file and page limits shown at selection. The output is a modified copy, so keep the unnumbered source and any signed original. Password-protected files need an authorised unlocked copy first.
Your files and form values are processed on this device. Downloaded copies remain wherever you save them. See how to check local processing and our privacy policy for site data and optional services.
Common questions
- Can I begin at a number other than 1?
- Yes. Starting number controls the first selected page's added number, and each following selected page increments it by one.
- Can I change a number after downloading?
- The tool does not track the numbers it added. Start again from the original to avoid placing a new sequence on top of the previous one.
Continue your document workflow
Maintained by Shakti Prasad Ram. Found a mismatch? Report the tool, browser and steps without sending a sensitive document. Back to the tool