Add Page Numbers

Custom format and placement

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Drop files here, or click to select

One file at a time · max 200MB · processed locally

How to use

Purpose

Batch-add page numbers to a PDF, with customizable position (six standard header/footer slots), starting page index, display format (e.g., "Page 1 of 10"), font size and color, and per-range application (skip cover, etc.). Runs locally via pdf-lib; no upload, no watermark, no page limit, free. Common use: page-number a merged report, paginate a thesis per academic norms, label a contract "Page X of Y" to deter tampering.

Steps

Drag or pick a PDF
Pick position (header/footer × left/center/right, six total)
Pick format: "1", "1 / 10", "Page 1", "Page 1 of 10", "i, ii, iii" etc.
Tune font size (default 10pt) and color
Set start page (default 1) and start number (default 1) — e.g., skip a cover by starting at page 2
(Optional) Enable "Duplex layout": odd pages on right, even on left, mimicking book typography
Pick application range
Preview the first three pages
Confirm and click "Process"
Download with "-numbered" suffix

FAQ

Will my file be uploaded?: No. pdf-lib draws page numbers as a text layer locally; the file never goes to any server.
How are existing page numbers handled?: The tool adds new numbers at the chosen position without removing existing ones. If overlap is a concern, mask the originals via PDF Edit or Crop first, then add fresh numbers.
Can I skip the cover and number only the body?: Yes. Set "Start page" to the first body page (e.g., page 3). The cover and TOC stay un-numbered, and body numbering starts from 1 (or another value you choose).
Does it support Roman numerals (front matter i,ii,iii + body 1,2,3)?: Yes — run the tool twice: first format the front matter as "i, ii, iii" with its own start page; then format the body as "1, 2, 3" with its own start.
Can page number fonts include Chinese characters?: Yes. Default uses browser system fonts; formats like "第 1 页 / 共 10 页" (with Chinese) auto-pick a Chinese-capable font.

Use cases

Number a merged report uniformly for cross-referencing
Apply academic norms to a thesis (front matter Roman + body Arabic)
Stamp "Page X of Y" on contracts to deter page substitution
Number a textbook by chapter so teachers can direct students
Number a duplex-printed employee handbook with left/right symmetry

Tip

Standard academic recipe: number abstract/TOC with i,ii,iii, then run the tool again for the body with 1,2,3 starting fresh. The tool supports two-pass execution for exactly this.