Add page numbers to a PDF
Number a merged bundle, a scanned contract or a court exhibit without opening a word processor. Choose the position, the first number, the type size and whether the label reads "7", "Page 7" or "7 of 12". Numbers are added as a real text layer, so they stay crisp when printed and can be searched.
How to use the Add Page Numbers
- Drop the PDF you want numbered.
- Pick a corner and a format — "7 of 12" needs no extra setup, the total is counted for you.
- Set the first number if the bundle continues from another document, and tick the box to skip a cover page.
- Click Add page numbers and download the stamped file.
Where the number goes
The distance from the edge is measured in points (1 pt = 1/72 inch), so the default 28 pt is roughly 10 mm — inside the printable area of every common desktop printer, which typically cannot print within about 5 mm of the paper edge. Bottom centre is the conventional place for reports and dissertations; bottom right suits double-sided binding, where the number falls on the outer edge of the recto page; top right is the norm for legal exhibits and academic manuscripts.
Continuing the numbering
Set First number when the file is one part of a larger bundle. If volume one ended on page 84, set 85 here and the "of" total advances with it, so a 12-page volume two reads "85 of 96". Setting 0 is allowed, for a cover that should count as page zero.
Rotated and mixed-size pages
Position is worked out in the space you actually see. On a page whose /Rotate flag is 90 or 270, the number is drawn rotated to match, so "bottom centre" is the visual bottom of the page rather than an edge lying on its side. Mixed A4 and A3 pages in one bundle each get their number at the correct distance from their own edge.
Fonts, size and colour
The three fonts offered are among the 14 standard PDF fonts, which every reader has built in — nothing is embedded, so the file grows by only a few hundred bytes plus a few bytes per page. Ten point is the usual size for a report; 8 pt is discreet; 14 pt suits large-format drawings. A mid grey such as #444444 stays legible without competing with the body text, but pure black is the safer choice if the document will be photocopied.
Numbers versus Bates numbering
This tool writes a simple sequential number. Legal Bates numbering — a fixed prefix plus a zero-padded counter, such as SMITH-000123 — is a different convention with its own tooling requirements. If you need a prefix, number the file here and stamp the prefix separately, or ask and we will add it.
Undoing it
The numbers become part of the page content, so keep your unnumbered original. There is no reliable way to strip an added text layer afterwards without also disturbing the original text.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start numbering at a number other than 1?
Yes. Set "First number" — useful when a bundle is split across several files, and the "of" total adjusts automatically.
Can I leave the cover page unnumbered?
Yes. Tick "Leave the first page unnumbered"; numbering then begins on page 2 with your chosen first number.
Will the numbers print correctly?
Yes. They are real text in one of the 14 standard PDF fonts, drawn 28 pt from the edge by default, which is inside the printable area of ordinary printers.
What happens on landscape or rotated pages?
The number follows what you see: it is placed and rotated in the page’s visual orientation, not the raw coordinate space.
Privacy
This tool runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly and the Canvas/File APIs. Your files are never uploaded to ToolFlint or any third party; you can verify this in your browser's network tab or by switching to airplane mode after the page loads. Read how we process files.
Last updated 2026-09-23.