How Add Page Numbers to PDF works
Every page gets a number near the bottom edge, about 1 cm from it, in 10 point dark grey DejaVu Sans. Choose the centre, left or right, and either a plain number or Page 1 of 10 style. The existing content is left exactly as it was.
The first number does not have to be 1. If the PDF is chapter two of a longer document, start at 25 so the numbering carries on; with Page 1 of 10 style, the total adjusts to match.
Numbers are added as real text, so they print sharply and can be searched. The work is done by pdf-lib inside this tab, so reports, theses and legal bundles are never uploaded.
The numbered file keeps its name with -numbered added. Numbers are placed within the visible page area, so they sit correctly even on pages that have been cropped. For a legal bundle or tender submission where each document must continue the numbering of the last, note the final number of one file and set it plus one as the first number of the next. Page 1 of 10 style is useful for faxed or printed documents, where a missing page is obvious at a glance. Numbering several PDFs at once gives each file its own sequence from the first number.
Add Page Numbers to PDF options explained
| Position | Bottom centre, left or right, about 1 cm from the edge. |
|---|---|
| Style | A plain number, or Page 1 of 10. |
| First number | Start from any number to continue earlier numbering. |
| Font | DejaVu Sans, 10 point, dark grey. |
When to use it
Add page numbers to a merged PDF before sending it, to a thesis or report for submission, to a legal bundle or evidence pack that will be referred to by page, or to scanned documents so people can find their place.
Merge all the parts first and number the merged file last, so the numbers run continuously through the whole document.
About these PDF tools
The page tools, from merge and split to crop, resize, watermark and page numbers, use pdf-lib, an open-source JavaScript library that reads the structure of a PDF and writes a new one. Because it works on the page objects themselves rather than on pictures of them, text stays text, fonts stay embedded and vector drawings stay sharp, and nothing is added to your pages that you did not ask for. None of these tools edit what is already printed on a page: to change wording or fill a form, use a PDF editor. Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first, since the pages cannot be read without the password. Every tool works on a copy, so the file on your device is never changed.
Add Page Numbers to PDF troubleshooting
The numbers overlap the footer
The document already has something near the bottom edge. Choose left or right to place the number beside it.
Numbers are sideways on some pages
Those pages are stored rotated inside the PDF. Rotate them with Rotate PDF first.
The file will not open
It is password protected. Unlock it first with Unlock PDF.
How to use Add Page Numbers to PDF, step by step
- Press "Choose PDF files" or drag PDFs onto the box.
- Set the options if you need to; the defaults suit most uses.
- Press "Add numbers". The work happens on your device.
- Save the result with its download button.
Is it safe to do this online?
With most online tools, "online" means your file is uploaded to a company's server, processed there and kept for a while before it is deleted. Here it is not. The page downloads the tool's code to your browser, and your file is read and processed inside the tab on your own device. It is never sent to TapToConvert or anyone else.
You can check this yourself: once the page and its engine have loaded, turn off Wi-Fi and the tool still works. That also means there is no queue, no daily limit and no file size cap set by a server; the only limit is the memory your browser gives a single tab.
Add Page Numbers to PDF FAQ
Can I skip numbering the first page?
Not directly. Split off the cover, number the rest starting at 2, and merge the two files.
Can I put numbers at the top?
Not yet; numbers go at the bottom.
Will numbering change my pages?
Only by adding the number; nothing else changes.
Can I number several PDFs at once?
Yes. Each is numbered on its own, starting from the first number you set.
Is it free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark and no limit on use. TapToConvert is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Everything happens inside your browser tab, on your own device.