How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
To add page numbers, upload your PDF to FixDoks's tool, choose a position such as bottom centre, a format like Page 1 of N, a starting number, font, size and colour, then click Add page numbers. Tick Skip first page to leave a cover page unnumbered. Numbers are added as real vector text, entirely in your browser.
Add Page Numbers to PDF at a glance
| Input | One PDF file |
|---|---|
| Output | PDF with page numbers added |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free, no watermark |
| Download | Free Google sign-in |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use Add Page Numbers to PDF
- Click Select PDF file to upload your document.
- Choose a position, top or bottom, and left, centre or right.
- Pick a format such as "1", "Page 1", "Page 1 of N" or "1 / N", set the starting number, font, size, colour and margin.
- Tick Skip first page if the document has a cover page, then click Add page numbers and download.
Numbering a PDF properly
Adding page numbers stamps real text onto every page at a position you choose, rather than baking a picture over the page. That means the numbers stay sharp at any zoom level, and the rest of the page's text remains selectable and searchable exactly as before.
Position and format
Choose top or bottom of the page, and left, centre or right within that edge. Bottom centre is the most common choice for reports and books, while top right suits many business letters. For the number itself, pick from formats like a plain "1", the friendlier "Page 1", a total-aware "Page 1 of N" or "1 / N", or a simple "- 1 -" style often used in academic documents. "N" always reflects the total page count of the finished document, so it updates correctly whether the PDF has 5 pages or 500.
Starting number and skipping the cover
You can set the starting number instead of always beginning at 1, which is useful when this PDF is one chapter of a larger set that should continue the numbering from where the last one left off. Many documents, like reports and theses, have a title page that shouldn't be numbered at all. Tick Skip first page and numbering begins from the second page, while the count still reflects the position within the whole document as needed by your chosen format.
Font, size and colour
Three fonts are available, Helvetica, Times and Courier, matching the common choices used in most documents. Set the size to suit the page, a report printed at A4 usually looks right around 10 to 12pt, and pick a colour that stands out against the page background without being distracting, dark grey or black are the safest defaults. The margin setting controls how far the number sits from the edge of the page.
Rotated pages
If a page in your PDF has been rotated, for example with rotate PDF, the page number is still placed upright and readable, rather than sideways along with the rotated content. This matters for documents that mix portrait and landscape pages, like a report with a wide table on one page.
Common problems
- Numbers overlap existing content. Increase the margin, or choose a different corner or edge that has more empty space on your pages.
- Wrong total shown. The N in formats like "Page 1 of N" always counts every page in the file, including any you've chosen to skip the number on, so a skipped cover page still counts towards the total.
- PDF won't accept numbering. A password or permission-protected PDF must be unlocked first at unlock PDF, since this tool writes new content onto the file.
Need a stamp instead of a running number, like a company name or "Draft" on every page? Try add watermark to PDF.