Add page numbers to a PDF online - choose position, format and start number

The default is “Page 1 of N” at the bottom center. For page 3 of a 12-page document, the formats produce:

• 1 → 3
• 1 / N → 3 / 12
• Page 1 of N → Page 3 of 12
• - 1 - → - 3 -
• Custom template, for example Report, p. {n}/{N} → Report, p. 3/12

In a template, {n} is the current page number and {N} is the last number in the document. You can add simple prefixes this way: Appendix A-{n}, Draft v2 | {n} or Smith v. Jones - {n}. The text is drawn with the embedded DejaVu Sans font, so accented letters and symbols such as é, ü or § display correctly.

By default the first page is number 1. If the file continues a longer document, say a chapter that starts on page 15, set First page number to 15. The {N} value in “1 / N” and “Page 1 of N” is recalculated automatically, so a 10-page file starting at 15 ends with “Page 24 of 24”.

“Skip the first page (cover)” leaves page one unnumbered but still counts it, so the second page shows 2. If you want the second page to show 1, also set the first page number to 0. Example: 10 pages, cover skipped, start 0 gives numbers 1-9 on pages two to ten, and “of N” shows 9. Negative start values are accepted too, which helps with front matter.

• Font size: 6-36 pt, default 11 pt. For an A4 or Letter page with 11-12 pt body text, 9-11 pt numbers are readable without competing with the content.
• Margin from edge: 3-40 mm, default 10 mm. If the document will be bound or hole-punched, avoid the inner edge or raise the margin to 15-20 mm.
• Colour: dark grey (#333333) by default, which looks natural on screen and in print. On dark scans, pick a lighter colour.

The tool does not detect existing content under the number. If your pages already have a footer, move the numbers to the top or a corner and check a few pages in the preview.

Numbers are added to the existing pages as real text. The original content is not re-rendered, so quality stays the same, the file grows only slightly and text remains selectable. Position is calculated for each page separately from its visible size and rotation, so mixed portrait and landscape pages, rotated scans and different paper sizes are all numbered correctly. Processing happens locally in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.

• Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first.
• Every page is numbered apart from an optional skipped cover. You cannot exclude pages in the middle.
• This is simple pagination, not legal Bates stamping with prefixes per production set.

Add numbers as the last step, after you merge files and reorder or delete pages, so the sequence matches the final document.