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PDF Page Numbering

Add page numbers to any PDF in your browser. Pick position, font size, start number, and download the numbered PDF.

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About this tool

The PDF Page Numbering tool uses the pdf-lib library (loaded from CDN) to stamp page numbers onto each page of a PDF document entirely in your browser. You can choose from six positions (bottom center, bottom right, bottom left, top center, top right, top left), set the font size, choose a start number, skip the first N pages (useful for a title page or table of contents), and select a format: bare number, N/Total, or 'Page N'. The output PDF is identical to the input except for the added text overlays.

Why use it

  • Adds page numbers without Adobe Acrobat or any desktop software

  • Six position options including top and bottom left/center/right

  • Skip-pages option handles title pages and front matter gracefully

  • pdf-lib runs entirely in your browser — no server upload, no privacy concerns

  • Three numbering formats (bare, N/Total, Page N) to match document conventions

How to use

  1. Drag and drop a PDF file onto the drop zone, or click 'browse' to select one
  2. Choose a position for the page numbers (e.g. Bottom Center)
  3. Set the font size with the slider
  4. Enter the start number (e.g. 1) and how many pages to skip at the beginning
  5. Pick a number format: plain number, N/Total, or 'Page N'
  6. Click 'Add Page Numbers' — the numbered PDF downloads automatically

When it helps

  • When preparing a report or thesis for submission that requires page numbers
  • When a scanned document needs page numbers added before distribution to reviewers
  • When merging PDFs that originally had no page numbers
  • When you need consistent 'Page N of Total' numbering for professional documents
  • When preparing a thesis, dissertation, or report that requires numbered pages for submission

Examples

Thesis with title and TOC

Input

thesis.pdf, 120 pages — skip 3 (cover, dedication, TOC), bottom center, format Page N

Expected result

Pages 1-3 unnumbered; pages 4-120 show Page 1 through Page 117 at bottom center

Report with N of Total

Input

report.pdf, 25 pages — bottom right, format N/Total

Expected result

Each page shows 1/25, 2/25, ... 25/25 in the bottom right corner

Bare-number handout

Input

handout.pdf, 8 pages — top center, font size 14, format plain number

Expected result

Each page shows 1 through 8 at the top center in 14pt Helvetica

Continued chapter

Input

chapter-2.pdf, 30 pages — start number 31, bottom center, format Page N

Expected result

First page shows Page 31, last shows Page 60 — useful when joined to chapter 1

Tips

  • Use Bottom Center for academic papers and theses — it matches most style guides
  • Skip 2-3 pages if your PDF starts with a cover, title, and TOC that should not be numbered
  • Choose Page N format for formal documents; bare number is best for informal handouts
  • Test on a 2-page sample first if you're unsure about position — re-running is fast
  • Font size 10-12pt suits most documents; raise to 14pt for large-print accessibility
  • If page numbers overlap existing footer content, switch position to top or use a smaller font

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this modify the original PDF file?
No. The tool loads your PDF, adds text overlays in memory, and produces a new download. Your original file is unchanged.
What font is used for the page numbers?
Helvetica, which is one of the standard Type 1 fonts built into pdf-lib and does not require embedding extra data.
Can I choose a custom font color?
Currently the page numbers are rendered in black (rgb(0,0,0)). A color picker may be added in a future version.
What does 'Skip first N pages' do?
Pages 1 through N are not numbered. Numbering starts on page N+1, and the counter begins at the Start Number value. Useful for cover pages or table of contents sections.
Will the page numbers overlap with existing content?
The numbers are placed 20px from the edge of each page. If your PDF already has content in the margin area (headers, footers), there may be overlap. Adjust the position to avoid it.
Is there a page limit?
No hard limit. pdf-lib processes all pages in memory before producing the download. Very large PDFs (hundreds of pages) may take a few seconds.
Are the page numbers searchable text?
Yes. They are added as real text overlays using Helvetica, so they remain selectable, searchable, and accessible to screen readers.

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Glossary

pdf-lib
An open-source JavaScript library for creating and modifying PDFs that runs in browsers and Node.js. Used here to stamp text onto each page.
Standard 14 Fonts
The 14 Type 1 fonts (Helvetica, Times, Courier, Symbol, ZapfDingbats and their bold/italic variants) guaranteed to be available in any PDF viewer without embedding.
Type 1 Font
A PostScript font format that uses outline curves and was the original PDF font technology. The 14 standard PDF fonts are Type 1.
Embedded Font
A font included inside the PDF file so it renders identically on any device. Required for non-standard fonts; not needed for Helvetica.
Text Overlay
Text drawn on top of an existing page's content stream. Page numbers are added as overlays so the original content is preserved.
Page Tree
The hierarchical PDF structure listing each page. pdf-lib iterates this tree to add a number to every page (or skip the first N).
RGB Color
Red-Green-Blue color model used in PDFs. Page numbers are drawn in rgb(0,0,0) — pure black — for maximum contrast on white pages.
Page Margin
The blank space around page content. Page numbers are placed 20 pixels from the page edge to sit safely inside standard margins.