How to add page numbers to a PDF and skip the cover
To add page numbers to a PDF, draw a short label onto each page at the same spot, then save the result as a new file. Choose the corner, the format and the start number, and tick the box if the first page is a cover. A tool that works in your browser does this on your device, so the document is never uploaded.
Add page numbersPDF pages need numbersOpenWhat a page number in a PDF is
A PDF page does not calculate its own number. A number at the foot of a page is text drawn onto that page, like any other words. It shows the same way on any screen and in print, and it stays put if the file moves to another device.
The same text is also fixed. If you later insert or delete pages, the printed numbers do not renumber themselves. Number the file as the last step, once the pages are in their final order.
PDFs can also carry page labels, a separate setting that changes what a viewer's page list displays. The tool here draws visible numbers and does not change page labels.
Pick a format that suits the document
- 1 is the plain number. It suits a report, a letter or a form.
- Page 1 adds a word, which helps when a printed page is read on its own.
- Page 1 of N shows the total, so a reader can tell at a glance whether pages are missing. It is common for contracts and for anything printed and handed over.
- 1 / N is the compact form of the same idea, for tight footers.
N is the last number used. Without skipping the cover, that is the page count. With the cover skipped, it is the last number on the numbered pages, so the total still matches what the reader sees.
Choose a position and a margin
The bottom centre is the usual place for a footer. The bottom corners suit a page with a centred title or a binding margin, and the top corners suit headers. The small preview beside the position buttons shows where the number will sit.
The margin is the gap between the edge of the page and the number. A wider margin keeps the number clear of text that runs close to the edge, such as a scan with narrow margins. The tool does not look at what is already printed there. If a page has text in that area, choose another corner or a wider margin.
Font size has three steps. Small is quiet and suits dense pages. Large is easier to read on a phone, but it can crowd a footer on a narrow page.
Skip the cover and set a start number
Tick Skip the first page for a cover. The cover gets no number, and numbering starts on page 2 with the start number you set. In a six-page document with the start at 1, page 2 reads "Page 1 of 5" and page 6 reads "Page 5 of 5". The cover is not counted, so the numbers match what a reader expects after the cover.
A start number is useful when a document is split into parts. If the second part should begin at page 41, set the start to 41 and the numbers continue from the first part. Merge the parts first, if you want one file, then number that file. The tool numbers the file you give it and does not look at any other file.
Numbers on sideways pages
A page stored with a rotation still gets upright numbers. The tool reads each page's rotation setting and turns the number to match, so the number reads the right way up on a sideways page. After you save, open one rotated page in a viewer to confirm it looks right.
Text before the number
The optional text box puts words in front of each number, such as Exhibit A- or a reference code. Plain Latin letters, digits and common punctuation work. The standard font the tool uses cannot draw some symbols, such as arrows or characters from other alphabets. If you type one, a message appears and the button stays off, so nothing is saved with a missing symbol.
Check the result
Open the numbered file and look at three things: the first numbered page, the last page, and a sideways page if there is one. The first number should match what you set, the last should match the count you expected, and no number should sit on top of text. The tool does not check what is underneath the number, so a dense footer may need a larger margin or another corner.
Keep the original. The numbered file is a new copy, and the original is not changed.
Quick answers
Will the numbers show in every viewer and in print? Yes. They are drawn onto the pages, so they show on screen and on paper.
Why does the last number not match the page count? With the cover skipped, numbering starts on page 2, so the last number is one less than the page count when the start is 1. Check the example line before you save.
Can I number one part of a document differently? Set the start number for that file, then number it on its own. The tool numbers one file at a time.
