Merge PDF
Combine PDFs and reorder pages by dragging. Nothing is uploaded.
Add Page Numbers to PDF
Numbering with position, format and a start offset.
What it does. Page numbers are drawn onto the page as content — a PDF has no numbering property. That means they become part of the page permanently, and it means any numbers already printed on the page stay there. Skipping a cover page and starting the count at the following page is the option people most often need.
Runs in your browserNothing uploadsNo signupWorks offline
How to use Add Page Numbers to PDF
- Drop in the PDF.
- Choose position, format and the page to start numbering from.
- Export with the numbers drawn in.
Starting where the content starts
A report with a cover and a contents page usually numbers from the first page of body text, and that page is often "1" rather than "3".
Two separate settings do this: which page numbering begins on, and what number it begins at.
Getting them confused is the usual mistake. "Start on page 3" and "start at number 1" are different instructions, and a document needs both to look right.
Formats and where they belong
| Format | Example | Convention |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 7 | Most documents |
| Of total | 7 of 24 | Handouts, forms |
| Page n | Page 7 | Formal reports |
| Roman | vii | Front matter |
| Prefixed | A-7 | Appendices |
| Bates | ABC000007 | Legal discovery |
Bates numbering is worth knowing about if you work near litigation: it is a sequential identifier applied across an entire production set, usually with a prefix and fixed width, so every page in a case has a unique reference. It runs across documents rather than restarting per file.
Where to put them
Bottom centre is the safe default and works for single-sided printing. For double-sided, outer corners — right on odd pages, left on even — so the number is always at the outer edge when the document is open.
Keep them clear of the binding margin, which is the inner edge and moves side to side on alternate pages.
Check the existing content first. A document that already has a footer will end up with a number on top of it, since there is no reflow — the number is drawn wherever you put it, over whatever is already there.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start numbering from a page other than the first?
Yes, and you usually should. A cover and contents page normally are not numbered, so the body text starts the count. Set both which page numbering begins on and what number it begins at — they are separate settings.
What is Bates numbering?
A sequential identifier applied across an entire document production, usually with a prefix and fixed width, so every page in a legal case has a unique reference. It runs across documents rather than restarting per file.
Where should page numbers go?
Bottom centre for single-sided. For double-sided, outer corners — right on odd pages, left on even — so the number is always at the outer edge, clear of the binding margin.
What if the PDF already has page numbers?
Yours will be drawn on top of them, because there is no reflow and the existing numbers are page content. Check the footer area before choosing a position.
Can the numbers be removed later?
Not easily. They are drawn into the page content, not stored as metadata. Keep the unnumbered original if you might need it.