How to add page numbers to a PDF
- Add your PDF. Drag the file into the box or click to browse — the page count appears once it loads.
- Pick a position. Choose bottom center, bottom right or bottom left for where the number sits.
- Set the start number. Leave it at 1, or enter any number if your document continues from another file.
- Add numbers & download. Press the button and a numbered copy downloads instantly — your original is untouched.
Why add page numbers?
Page numbers make a document easy to navigate, cite and print. They matter for legal filings, theses and dissertations, contracts, reports and handouts, where readers need to reference "page 12" without ambiguity. If you have merged several files together, the page count often resets or gets confusing — re-numbering the whole PDF in one pass fixes that. Because you can choose the starting value, you can also continue numbering across a set of separate PDFs so a multi-part document reads as one continuous sequence.
This tool embeds the standard Helvetica font and draws each number near the bottom margin, scaled so it never overlaps your content. The number is part of the saved PDF, so it shows up correctly in any viewer and on paper.
Is it private?
Yes. Unlike most "add page numbers to PDF" websites that upload your file to a server, this tool stamps the numbers entirely on your device using a self-hosted PDF engine. Your PDF and the numbered copy are never uploaded or stored — which matters for contracts, financial statements and other sensitive documents. It even keeps working offline once the page has loaded.
Frequently asked questions
Does it upload my PDF?
No — numbering happens in your browser; the file never leaves your device.
Can I start from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set any start number and each page counts up from there.
Will it work on a password-protected PDF?
It can often open encrypted PDFs, but a file locked with an open password may fail — remove the password first.
Where do the numbers appear?
Near the bottom margin, in the position you choose: center, right or left.
Related: turn images into a PDF before numbering the pages.