Reports, theses, court bundles, board packs and printed handouts all become easier to discuss once every page has a number. People can say "see page 14" instead of describing where something is, and a dropped stack of printouts can be put back in order.
Adding page numbers is a paid feature in Acrobat, but you do not need it. This guide shows how to number a PDF in a few clicks, which settings suit which documents, and how to handle cover pages and documents made from several files.
Step by step: number your pages
Open Add Page Numbers
Drop your PDF into Add Page Numbers. The file is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
Choose position and style
Pick one of six positions: top or bottom, each at the left, center or right. Then choose a format: 1, Page 1, 1 of N or - 1 -, and adjust the font size if needed.
Download the numbered PDF
The numbers are written onto every page, so they show in every PDF reader and when the document is printed.
Which format to use
The right style depends on how the document will be read:
- Plain 1, 2, 3 at the bottom center: the classic choice for reports, essays and books.
- Page 1 or - 1 -: a little more visible, good for handouts and slides printed as PDFs.
- 1 of N: useful for contracts, forms and anything faxed or scanned, because a reader can tell immediately whether a page is missing.
- Bottom right or top right: easiest to find when flicking through a printed, single-sided stack.
Starting from a number other than 1
Many documents should not start at 1 on the cover. Set the starting number to continue from a previous volume, for example starting at 51 for the second half of a report. If a cover page should have no number at all, use Split PDF to separate the cover from the body, number the body starting at 1, then put the two back together with Merge PDF. The merging guide covers the merge step.
Documents made from several files
When a document is assembled from several PDFs, such as an appendix from another source or scanned signature pages, merge everything first and number the combined file. Numbering each part separately would restart the count in every section. If some pages arrive sideways after merging, fix them before numbering with Rotate PDF, so the numbers land in the right corner.
Avoid covering existing content
Page numbers are placed inside the page margin. If your pages already have a footer, a logo or a printed number in that corner, choose a different position, for example the top right instead of the bottom center. Open the result and check a few pages, especially landscape ones and the last page, before you send it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove the page numbers later?
The numbers become part of each page, so keep your original file if you might need an unnumbered copy.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Add Page Numbers runs entirely in your browser and the file never leaves your device.
Can I skip numbering the cover page?
Split the cover off, number the rest starting at 1, and merge the cover back on. It takes about a minute with Split PDF and Merge PDF.
Do the numbers print?
Yes. They are drawn onto the page itself, so they appear on screen, in print and in any PDF reader.
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