Edit
Add Page Numbers to PDF
Number your pages exactly the way you want.
Processed locally — your files never leave your device
How to use Page Numbers
- 1
Open the PDF that needs numbering.
- 2
Pick a format — plain "1", "1 / 12", "Page 1 of 12", or Bates numbering.
- 3
Choose the position, starting number, font and color; skip cover pages if needed.
- 4
Click Add page numbers and download.
About this tool
Page numbers are how a printed document survives being dropped, how "see page 14" stays meaningful, and how legal teams cite evidence. Many PDFs — especially merged or scanned ones — don't have them. This tool adds them properly, with the details that real documents need.
Format options cover the common conventions: a bare number, compact "3 / 12", formal "Page 3 of 12", and Bates numbering — the prefixed, zero-padded identifiers (DOC-000123) used in legal discovery, where every page across a whole production gets a unique stamped ID. The starting number is adjustable, so a chapter extracted from a larger work can continue its original numbering.
Skip-first-pages handles title pages and tables of contents: skipped pages get no stamp and don't consume a number, so content can start at 1 where it actually begins. Position, font, size, color and margin controls make sure the numbers match the document's design instead of fighting it.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bates numbering?
A legal-industry convention: every page gets a unique identifier built from a prefix and a zero-padded number, like SMITH-000412. It lets thousands of pages of discovery documents be cited unambiguously. Set your prefix and digit count and the tool does the rest.
Can I skip the cover page?
Yes — set "Skip first pages" to 1 (or more for a TOC). Skipped pages get no number, and numbering starts on the first page after them.
Will numbers overlap my page content?
They're placed in the margin area you control. If your document has unusually full pages, increase the margin setting or switch to a corner position.
Can numbering start at something other than 1?
Yes — any starting number works, which is useful when numbering continues from a previous volume or section.