How to Add Page Numbers, Headers & Footers to a PDF

Long documents look far more professional with page numbers and a consistent header or footer. You can add them to a PDF in your browser for free.

Add page numbers

1. Open your document in the PDF editor and open Tools.
2. In Page numbers, choose a format — for example Page {n} of {total}.
3. Pick a position (bottom-center is standard) and set the size and color.
4. Click Apply, then download.

The {n}, {total}, and {date} tokens are filled in automatically on every page.

Headers and footers

Use the Header & footer section to stamp text at the top or bottom of every page — a document title, your company name, a confidentiality notice, or the date. You can align it left, center, or right.

Bates numbering

For legal and business workflows, Bates numbering stamps a sequential, zero-padded identifier (like ABC-000123) on every page. Set a prefix, a starting number, and the number of digits, then apply it across the whole document.

Do it last

Apply numbering and stamps after you've finished merging and reordering pages, so the numbers match the final order. If you merge or reorder afterward, re-apply them. Learn more in how to merge PDF files.

Private by default

Like every tool in our editor, stamping happens on your device — your document isn't uploaded anywhere.

Open the editor and add page numbers free.