Add Page Numbers to PDF (Headers & Footers)
Page numbers and header or footer text in six positions, with a live preview.
Page numbers
{n} page number · {total} last number · {date} · {filename}
Header and footer text
Tokens work here too: {n}, {total}, {date}, {filename}.
Pages
Style
Preview
Your numbered PDF is ready
About the Add Page Numbers to PDF (Headers & Footers)
Add page numbers to a PDF — and, if you like, header and footer text such as a title, “Confidential” or the date. There are six positions (top or bottom, left, centre or right) and the common formats: 1, Page 1, Page 1 of 12, 1/12, Roman numerals (i, ii, iii or I, II, III) and letters (A, B, C), or your own template.
Choose the first number, which pages to number and how many to skip (a cover or title page), mirror the positions for double-sided printing, and set the font, size, colour and margins. The preview shows each page exactly as it will be saved. The numbers are written as real text into the PDF on your device; nothing is uploaded.
How to use it
- Choose your PDF (or drag it onto the box).
- Pick where the number goes on the six-position grid and choose a format — for example Page 1 of 12.
- Optional: skip a cover with Skip the first 1 page, set the first number, or limit the pages (for example
3-20). - Optional: add header or footer text in the other positions, mirror left and right for double-sided printing, and adjust the font, size and margins.
- Check the preview (use the arrows for other pages), then press Add page numbers and download the result.
Examples
Format: Page 1 of 12 · bottom centre · skip the first 1 page · first number 1 (13-page file)
The cover has no number; page 2 shows “Page 1 of 12” and the last page shows “Page 12 of 12”
Pages: 1-4 · numbers: i, ii, iii · bottom centre
Pages 1–4 show i, ii, iii, iv; the rest of the file is unchanged (number it in a second pass with “Pages: 5-” and first number 1)
Top left: “Project Falcon — {date}” · top right: “Confidential” · bottom right: page number “{n}/{total}”Every page carries the title and today’s date, a Confidential label and 1/12, 2/12 …
Tokens: {n} is the page number, {total} the number on the last numbered page, {date} today’s date and {filename} the file name.
Common uses
- Numbering a thesis, project report or assignment before submitting it.
- Adding “Page 1 of N” to contracts and agreements so missing pages are obvious.
- Paginating a merged PDF built from several documents.
- Putting a document title and date in the header of every page.
- Numbering booklets and handouts for double-sided printing, with numbers on the outer edge.
Which number each page gets
Numbers follow the page’s position in the file, counted from the first numbered page. With first number 1 and skip the first 1 page, page 2 of the file shows 1, page 3 shows 2, and so on. If you number only some pages (for example 2-5, 8-10), pages 8–10 show 7–9, because pages 6 and 7 still take up space in the document.
{total} is the number shown on the last numbered page, so a 13-page file with a cover reads “Page 12 of 12” at the end. Roman numerals go up to 3999 (MMMCMXCIX).
Double-sided printing
When a document is printed on both sides and bound, even pages are on the left and odd pages on the right. Tick Mirror left and right on even pages and anything in a left position moves to the right on even pages (and the other way round), so numbers stay on the outer edge. Centre positions don’t change.
Fonts and characters
Helvetica, Times and Courier are the standard PDF fonts; they cover English and Western European letters. For ₹, letters such as Ł or Ş, Greek or Cyrillic, choose Noto Sans, which is embedded in the file (only the characters you use). Text that needs shaping, such as Devanagari or Tamil, isn’t supported in headers and footers yet.
Limitations
- Password-protected or restricted PDFs can’t be changed. Remove the protection first with Unlock PDF.
- Changing a digitally signed PDF makes its signatures show as invalid — number pages before signing.
- The numbers are drawn on top of the page. If a page already has a number or text in that spot, choose another position or adjust the margins.
- This adds visible numbers; it doesn’t change the page labels a PDF reader shows in its page box.
Privacy
Everything happens in your browser. What you enter or open here is not uploaded or stored by MySmartCoPilot.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start numbering from page 2?
Set Skip the first to 1. The first page stays as it is and page 2 shows 1. If page 2 should show 2 instead, also set the first number to 2.
Can I use Roman numerals or letters?
Yes. Choose i, ii, iii or I, II, III for Roman numerals, and a, b, c or A, B, C for letters (after Z come AA, BB …, the way PDF page labels count).
Can I add text without page numbers?
Yes. Untick Add page numbers and type your text in any of the six header and footer boxes.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The PDF is changed by your browser on your device, in a background thread. Nothing is sent to MySmartCoPilot or anyone else.
Will it change anything else in my PDF?
No. Only the numbers and text you add are drawn on the pages; text, images, links, bookmarks and form fields stay as they were.