How To Add Page Numbers To A PDF

Six positions: top-left, top-center, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-center, bottom-right. The most common choice is bottom-center or bottom-right, which is what most books and printed reports use. Top positions work for documents where the bottom margin is reserved for footnotes.

All positions are corner-margin placements - the number sits outside the typical text block, so it rarely overlaps existing content.

Just the number (1, 2, 3...) is minimal and works for short documents. N / Total (1 / 40) tells the reader how much is left. "Page N Of Total" (Page 1 of 40) is the most explicit and is the right choice for formal reports and signed documents.

Pick what fits the tone. A casual handout works with just the number. A legal document benefits from the full "Page X of Y" form because it makes missing pages obvious.

If your front matter is a separate PDF and your body starts at page 5, set the start number to 5. The body PDF then numbers as 5, 6, 7... and the combined document reads correctly when merged with the front matter.

Drop your PDF into Add Page Numbers. Pick a position. Pick a format. Set the start number if needed. Click Number. The result downloads with page numbers baked in.

Need to also add a header or footer with the document title? Run Watermark PDF afterward with a top or bottom position.