peartools

Add Page Numbers to PDF

Put page numbers on a PDF without opening the original document. Pick which corner they sit in, how they are written, and where the counting starts. You can skip the cover, number only some pages, and see exactly how it will look before you save. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

Drag and drop your PDF here, or

Up to 100 MB. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

What adding page numbers to a PDF does

The numbers are drawn on top of your existing pages as real text, in the corner you choose. Nothing already on the page is moved or redrawn, so the file keeps its quality and the numbers can still be selected and searched like any other text.

Because the number is stamped into the file, it prints and shows up everywhere, unlike the page counter a PDF reader displays in its toolbar. That counter is just the reader telling you where you are, and it never appears on paper.

The numbers follow the visible area of each page, so a document that has been cropped gets its numbers inside the part that actually prints rather than out in the trimmed away margin.

Why use our add page numbers to PDF tool

  • ·Free. No signup, no paywall, no watermarks.
  • ·Runs in your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded or saved.
  • ·See it before you save. The preview shows the real number on the real page, in the real spot.
  • ·Skip the cover. Start numbering on page two, and have the totals count only the numbered pages.
  • ·Pick up where another file left off. Set the starting number when a document is split across several files.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Add your PDF

    Drag the file onto the box or click to pick it. It stays in your browser and is never uploaded.

  2. 2

    Pick the position and format

    Choose one of six positions, then how the number reads: just the digit, Page 1, 1 of 20, or Page 1 of 20.

  3. 3

    Choose which pages get numbered

    Number every page, skip the cover, or type the exact pages. Set the starting number if this file carries on from another.

  4. 4

    Check the preview and download

    Step through the pages to see where the number lands, adjust the size and distance from the edge, then save the numbered PDF.

Where page numbers should go, and why it matters

For a document that will be read on screen or printed on one side, bottom centre is the safest choice. It is far from the binding, it does not clash with headers, and it is where most readers look.

If you are printing double sided and binding the result, the outer corners work better. On a bound document the inside edge is swallowed by the fold, so a number in the bottom outer corner stays visible when the pages are held open.

Keep the distance from the edge at 10 mm or more. Most desktop printers cannot print right to the paper edge, and anything closer than that risks being cut off. If the document will be professionally trimmed, allow more room again.

One thing worth checking before you save: if your pages already have a footer, step through the preview to make sure the new number does not land on top of it. Moving to the opposite corner, or increasing the distance from the edge, usually clears it.

Who adds page numbers to a PDF

Anyone handing over a document that people need to refer back to. These are the situations that come up most:

  • ·People submitting reports and coursework. Most submission rules ask for numbered pages. Add them to the finished PDF instead of reformatting the document it came from.
  • ·Anyone printing something to be discussed. Numbered pages let a room full of people turn to the same place. Without them, a meeting stalls while everyone counts.
  • ·People preparing legal or official bundles. Numbering makes it possible to reference an exact page in correspondence, and shows at a glance if a page is missing.
  • ·Anyone combining several files. After merging, the numbering from the original documents no longer runs in sequence. Fresh numbers across the whole file fix that.

Numbering is usually the last step. Merge your files first if the document comes from several sources, put the pages in order, and remove anything you do not need before the numbers go on.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
Add your PDF, choose which corner the number sits in and how it is written, then click download. The numbers are written into the file in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
Can I start numbering from page 2 instead of the cover?
Yes. Choose skip the cover and the first page is left alone, with the numbering starting on page two. The totals in formats like 1 of 20 count only the pages that carry a number, so the last page still reads correctly.
Can I start counting at a number other than 1?
Yes. Set the starting number to whatever you need. This is useful when a long document is split across several files and the numbering has to carry on from where the last file finished.
Where on the page can the numbers go?
Six positions: top left, top centre, top right, bottom left, bottom centre, and bottom right. You can also set the text size and how far in from the edge the number sits.
Will the page numbers cover up my content?
They are drawn on top, so they can overlap something already in that corner. Step through the preview before saving. If the number clashes with an existing footer, move it to another corner or increase the distance from the edge.
Can I remove the page numbers later?
Not with this tool. The numbers become part of the page once saved. Keep your original file if you might need a version without them, since the tool never changes the file on your device.
Are my PDF files private?
Yes. The whole process runs in your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded to a server or saved anywhere, and once the page has loaded you can even use it offline.