Editing & Signing
How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF
Number the pages of a merged pack or a scanned bundle — where to put them, what format to use, and how to handle documents that are already numbered.
Page numbers are what let anyone refer to "page 47" and have everyone find the same page. On a merged pack assembled from a dozen sources, they are the difference between a usable bundle and a pile of paper.
Add page numbers
- 1Open the Add Page Numbers tool and add your PDF.
- 2Choose the position — bottom centre or bottom right are the conventions.
- 3Choose the format: plain numbers, or "Page 3 of 60".
- 4Set the starting number if the document has front matter that should not count.
- 5Apply and check a few pages across the document.
Where to put them
| Position | Suits |
|---|---|
| Bottom centre | Reports and anything read on screen — the default for a reason |
| Bottom right | Single-sided printing; the eye lands there when turning |
| Bottom outer | Double-sided printing, alternating left and right |
| Top right | Legal bundles and documents with footnotes at the foot |
Documents that are already numbered
This is the awkward case. A merged pack where each source document carries its own numbering ends up with two sets of numbers, which is worse than none. Two ways out:
- Place the new numbers somewhere the old ones are not — top right, when the originals are at the foot. Label them clearly, as legal bundles do.
- Cover the old numbers before adding new ones, if the layout allows it.
For a court bundle or a tender submission, continuous numbering across the whole pack is usually required regardless of what the individual documents say.
Starting from a different number
A cover page and a contents page normally should not be numbered, or should be numbered separately. Set the numbering to begin on the first page of the body, so that printed page 1 is the page a reader would call page 1.
Numbers are drawn onto the page
They become part of the page content, which means reordering or deleting pages afterwards leaves the numbering wrong. Get the document into its final order first, then number it — that sequence saves re-doing the work.
Do it now
Add Page Numbers
Insert page numbers into your PDF. It runs in this browser tab — your file is not uploaded anywhere.
Open Add Page NumbersFrequently asked questions
Can I skip numbering the cover page?+
Yes. Set the numbering to start on a later page, and choose whether the skipped pages still count towards the total.
What if pages are already numbered?+
Place the new numbers elsewhere on the page and label them, or cover the originals. Two competing sets of numbers is the outcome to avoid.
Will the numbers print?+
Yes — they are part of the page content, not an annotation.
Can I number only some pages?+
Yes, by specifying a range. Useful when appendices are numbered separately.