How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF Online
Adding page numbers to a PDF makes long documents navigable, provides a reference point for discussions ("see page 14"), and is often required for legal filings, academic submissions, and formal reports. This tool stamps the page number on every page without altering any existing content — the original text and images are preserved exactly as they were.
Positioning and formatting options
You can place the page number at the bottom-centre, bottom-right, bottom-left, top-centre, top-right, or top-left of each page. The font size and number format (Arabic: 1, 2, 3 or Roman: I, II, III) can also be customised. If your document has a cover page you want to exclude from numbering, set the starting number accordingly — for example, start numbering at page 2 so the cover page has no visible number.
How the numbering is added
The tool uses PDF-lib to embed a text annotation on each page. This is a non-destructive overlay — the original page content sits beneath the number, and the font is embedded from a standard Helvetica set. The process runs entirely in your browser; your PDF is never uploaded to a server.
Common use cases
Legal documents: most court filing requirements specify that exhibits must have numbered pages. Academic theses: university submission guidelines typically require consecutive page numbering starting from the introduction. Reports and proposals: numbered pages allow readers and collaborators to reference specific sections in feedback. Instruction manuals: page numbers help users locate procedures referenced in the index.
Related PDF tools
After adding page numbers, you may want to add a watermark such as "CONFIDENTIAL" or your company logo. To reduce the file size before sharing, use the PDF compressor. To rearrange pages first, try the PDF page organiser.