Page numbers

How to add page numbers to a PDF

Number the pages of a PDF in the header or footer, pick a format such as "Page 3" or "3 / 12", and start from any number.

Published October 11, 2026 4 min read

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  1. When page numbers help
  2. How to add them
  3. Starting from a different number
  4. Avoid covering existing content

When page numbers help

Page numbers make long documents easier to discuss and review: "see page 14" is quicker than describing where something is. They also show readers that nothing is missing, which matters for contracts, applications and anything printed and stapled.

How to add them

Open the PDF in the editor, open the tools menu and choose Page Numbers. Choose the position (header or footer), the alignment (left, centre or right), the format and the font size, then apply. The numbered PDF downloads straight away and includes any other edits you made.

There are three formats: just the number (3), the word Page and the number (Page 3), or the number out of the total (3 / 12). The last one is the clearest for documents where a missing page would be a problem.

Starting from a different number

Use the start number when your PDF is one part of a larger document. If the appendix you are sending starts at page 41 of the full report, start numbering at 41 so references match.

To leave a cover page unnumbered, the simplest approach is to number the document without the cover, then merge the cover back in front.

Avoid covering existing content

Some documents already have text close to the edge, such as footers on letterhead. Check the first and last pages after numbering. If the numbers overlap something, try the other position (header instead of footer) or a smaller font size.

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