Add Page Numbers to a PDF
Add page numbers to a PDF – at the bottom centre, bottom right or top right, as “3” or “Page 3 of 12”. You can leave out a cover page.
Your files stay on your device. Conversions run in your browser.
Your files stay on your device. Conversions run in your browser.
- No signup required
- Files stay on your device
- Browser-based conversion
- Fast download
- Free to use
How it works
How to add page numbers to a PDF
- 1
Choose the PDF you want to number.
- 2
Pick position, format and whether the first page is a cover, then click “Add page numbers”.
- 3
Download the numbered PDF.
Supported file types: PDF · No signup required
Page numbers for theses, reports and handouts
Combined PDFs, scanned documents and exports often have no page numbers – which makes it hard to refer to “page 14” in a meeting, a court submission or a thesis review. The tool writes a number onto every page as real text, in a small, neutral font, a short distance from the page edge.
With “Leave out”, the first page is treated as a cover: it gets no number, and the numbering starts with 1 on the second page. “Page 1 of 12” counts only the numbered pages.
Good to know
- Rotated pages are numbered the way they are displayed, upright and in the chosen corner.
- Numbers are placed on top of the page; if your PDF has content right at the edge, choose another position.
- The original page content and quality stay unchanged.
- Password-protected PDFs have to be unlocked first.
About PDF files
- PDF (Portable Document Format)
- PDF files look the same on every device and are the standard for invoices, statements, contracts and reports. Digital PDFs store real text; scanned PDFs store images of pages. All PDF tools →
Privacy: your files stay on your device
Your files stay on your device. Conversions run in your browser. PDFConvertFast never uploads, stores or reads your documents – there is no server that receives them, no account and no email address.
- Your files stay on your device
- No signup required
- Browser-based conversion
Add Page Numbers to PDF – frequently asked questions
How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
Choose your PDF, pick the position, the format and whether the first page gets a number, then click “Add page numbers”. Download the numbered file – it is saved with “-numbered” added to the name.
How do I start page numbering on the second page?
Choose “Leave out (cover page)” under “First page”. The cover gets no number and the second page becomes page 1. This needs a PDF with at least two pages.
Can I start numbering at a different number, like 5?
No. Numbering always starts at 1 – on the first page, or on the second page if you leave out the cover. A custom start number is not available.
How do I add “Page 1 of 12” style numbers?
Choose the format “Page 1 of 12”. The total counts only the numbered pages, so with a cover page left out, a 13-page PDF is numbered “Page 1 of 12” to “Page 12 of 12”.
Can I change the font, size or colour of the page numbers?
No. The numbers are set in a small 10-point Helvetica in dark grey, about 1 cm from the page edge. You can choose the position – “Bottom centre”, “Bottom right” or “Top right” – and the format.
The page numbers overlap my content – what can I do?
Choose a different position and number the original file again. The numbers are placed on top of the page without a background, so content that reaches right to the edge can collide with them.
Are landscape and rotated pages numbered correctly?
Yes. Each number is placed upright in the chosen position as the page is displayed, also on landscape pages and pages that are rotated in the PDF.
How do I number several PDFs continuously?
Join them into one file with Combine PDF first, then add page numbers to the combined PDF. The numbering then runs through all documents without restarting.
Are the page numbers real text in the PDF?
Yes. They are added as text, not as an image, so they stay sharp at any zoom level and in print and can be selected and searched. The rest of the page is left unchanged.
Is my PDF uploaded when I add page numbers?
No. The numbers are written into the PDF in your browser on your own device; the file is never uploaded or stored.