Free web tool
Add page numbers to a PDF
Stamp numbers onto every page — pick the format, corner, starting number, and whether to skip a cover sheet. Runs in your browser, so the document never leaves your device.
The short answer
To add page numbers to a PDF, open it in a numbering tool, choose a format (like 1, or Page 1 of 10), pick where on the page it should sit, and download the new file. The numbers are drawn into the page content, so they appear in every viewer and survive printing.
How this works
Add your PDF
Drag it in or click to browse. Nothing is uploaded — the file is read directly in the browser.
Choose format and position
Plain numbers, 1 / 10, or Page 1 of 10 — placed bottom centre, either bottom corner, or along the top. Set a starting number and skip the cover page if you have one.
Download
The numbers are drawn into the pages and the new PDF is handed straight back to you.
Why on-device matters here
Page numbers usually go on things headed for a court, a client, a regulator, or a print shop — bundles, reports, contracts, submissions. Uploading the whole bundle to an unknown server just to stamp a number in the corner is a poor trade.
This tool does the work in your browser with pdf-lib. Your file is read into memory, edited, and handed back — no request ever carries it off your machine. Open your browser's Network tab if you want to verify that yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add page numbers to a PDF for free?
Drop the file in above, choose a format and position, and download. No signup, no watermark, no cap. Word and Acrobat can also do it, but both require the file to be in that application first.
Can I skip numbering the cover page?
Yes — tick "Skip the first page". The cover stays clean and numbering begins on page 2. Combine it with the start number if you want page 2 to read "1" rather than "2".
Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set the start number to anything from zero upwards. This is what you want when the PDF is one section of a larger bound document and the numbering has to continue from a previous file.
Will the numbers cover up my content?
They sit in the page margin — about 28 points from the edge — which is clear on most documents. If your layout runs close to the trim, try a corner position or a smaller font size, and check a page before relying on it.
Are the numbers real text or an image?
Real text, drawn in Helvetica and embedded in the page content stream. They stay sharp at any zoom, print cleanly, and are selectable and searchable like the rest of the document.
Can I remove the page numbers later?
Not easily, and not with this tool. Once drawn, the numbers are part of the page content, exactly like the rest of the text. Keep your un-numbered original if you might need to revise it.
Does 'Page 1 of 10' count pages I skipped?
The total reflects the pages actually being numbered. If you skip a cover page in an 11-page document, the total reads 10, which matches what a reader counting the numbered pages would expect.
Does my PDF get uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser tab with pdf-lib. You can verify no upload fires by watching the Network tab as you click the button.
Can I number a password-protected PDF?
Not here. Encrypted PDFs are rejected with an explanation rather than producing broken output. Remove the password first in Preview (macOS) or Adobe Reader.
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