Add Page Numbers
Number the pages of a PDF, with the position and format you choose, on your device.
Numbered PDF ready.
How it works
This tool loads your PDF with pdf-lib and draws a small page number onto each page at the position you choose, then saves a new copy. The numbers are added as a text layer on top of your existing content, which stays untouched and selectable. As with every DocuZero tool, the file is processed entirely in your browser and never uploaded, so even private documents are numbered locally on your device.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
Drop a PDF onto the target area — or click to browse — and the button unlocks as soon as a file is selected. Pick a position: bottom centre by default, or bottom right, bottom left, top centre or top right. Then choose a format from 1, 2, 3…, 1 / 12, Page 1 or Page 1 of 12. Set the "Start at" field if the numbering should not begin at 1, then click Add page numbers. A progress bar walks through the pages and a Download .pdf button appears once your numbered copy is ready.
A concrete example
Say you have a 24-page training manual whose first page is a cover. Set "Start at" to 0 so the cover reads 0 and the real content opens on page 1, keeping the plain 1, 2, 3… format for a discreet, classic look. For a 90-page dissertation you might prefer Page 1 of 90, which makes it easy to answer "which page was that figure on?" during a review, or 1 / 24 so every page reminds the reader of the total length. The exported PDF then prints, shares and opens in any reader with the numbers already in place.
What to expect
The numbers are drawn as a text layer in dark grey Helvetica at 11 pt, placed 28 points in from the edge you chose, so your existing content, images and layout are preserved exactly. Because each number is real text rather than a flattened image, it stays crisp and selectable in most PDF viewers. The tool produces a brand-new PDF that downloads as numbered.pdf, and your original file is never modified. The whole run happens locally with pdf-lib in your browser — nothing is uploaded, and the progress bar reports each page as it is numbered.
Common problems and fixes
If the "Add page numbers" button stays disabled, no PDF has been selected yet — drop or browse a file, and remember the drop zone accepts PDFs only. If a password-protected document returns an error in the progress area, pdf-lib cannot open encrypted files, so remove the protection first and retry. If a number lands close to or over existing text, the numbers sit within a 28-point margin, so choose another edge or a shorter format when your layout already uses that space. And if your document continues an earlier file, use "Start at" — it shifts both the displayed numbers and the reported total to match your offset.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip numbering the cover page?
Set "start at" to 0 so the cover shows 0 (or a low number), or number the document after removing the cover with our Split PDF tool, then merge it back.
Does it change the rest of my document?
No. Only a small number is drawn on each page; your existing text, images and layout are preserved exactly.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. Numbering happens locally in your browser and the document never leaves your device.
Which number formats can I use?
Plain sequential numbers (1, 2, 3…), a number with the total (1 / 12), a labelled number (Page 1) or the full form (Page 1 of 12).
Can I number only some pages?
In a single pass, every page of the PDF receives a number. To leave a cover out, set "start at" to 0 or remove the page first with our Split PDF tool and merge the parts back.
Where on the page does the number go?
Five positions are available — bottom centre, bottom right, bottom left, top centre and top right — each placed 28 points in from the matching edge.