Number pages in a PDF online

Adding page numbering to a PDF is a common step before printing a long document or submitting it officially (a thesis, a report, an application file): it makes navigation easier, lets you check no page was lost during printing, and gives a more professional look to a document assembled from several sources.

Position, format, and starting point

The tool overlays a page number as real text (not an image) at the position of your choice — the six classic positions (top or bottom, combined with left, centre, or right) cover nearly every layout convention. The number's format is also customizable: a plain digit, or a "Page X of Y" notation with the page total calculated automatically from the imported document. The starting point is adjustable, to exclude a cover page from the count or continue a sequence started in a previous document.

Live preview before confirming

Since numbering is a visual overlay on already-existing content, poor positioning can overlap text or an image on the page. The tool shows a preview of the page with the number positioned in real time as you adjust the settings, so you can immediately spot a visual conflict before generating the final file across the whole document.

How it works with no server

Numbering is added directly in your browser thanks to pdf-lib, which draws each number as a new text element on the existing page, with the chosen font and size. The resulting file stays a standard PDF, fully compatible with every reader, and the added number stays selectable and searchable like any other text in the document — unlike numbering that had been "flattened" into an image.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose which page to start numbering from?
Yes: you can start numbering from a specific page (useful for skipping a cover page) and choose the starting number (start at 1, or continue a sequence from another number if this document follows on from a previous one).
Where is the page number positioned?
You choose from several common positions (bottom centre, bottom right, bottom left, top right...) with a live preview on the displayed page, to check the number doesn't overlap existing content before confirming.
Can I customize the format of the displayed number?
Yes, beyond a plain digit: formats like "Page 3 of 12" or "3 / 12" are offered, with the page total calculated automatically.
Is the added numbering real text or an image?
Real text, embedded in the page with a standard font: it stays selectable and searchable in a PDF reader, unlike a number added as an image.
Can I number a PDF that already has numbering printed in its content?
Technically yes, but the two numberings will visually overlap if they occupy the same area of the page: in that case, choose a different position from the existing number's, or check the preview before confirming.
Can I remove numbering added by mistake?
Once the file is downloaded, the numbering becomes part of the document, like any other text on the page. Keep your original file before adding numbering if you're not sure about the setting you chose: this tool never modifies the imported file, it always generates a new one.

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