How to use Add Page Numbers to PDF
Stamp page numbers onto every page of a PDF document in your browser using pdf-lib — zero uploads, zero privacy risk. Choose the position (header or footer, left, center, or right), the starting number, and the display format — plain number, "Page N of M", or Bates-style sequential IDs with a custom prefix. Ideal for legal filings, multi-volume reports, and printed manuals.
- Upload the PDF you want to number using the file picker.
- Select the position: top-left, top-center, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-center, or bottom-right.
- Choose the format: "1", "Page 1", "Page 1 of 10", or a custom prefix such as "Exhibit A-".
- Set the starting page number — useful when this document continues a series.
- Optionally skip the first page (e.g., a cover page that should not show a number).
- Click "Add Page Numbers" and download the numbered PDF.
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Page number formats and Bates numbering
Simple page numbers ("1", "2", "3") suffice for most documents. "Page N of M" format (e.g., "Page 3 of 15") is preferred for stand-alone reports where readers need context about total document length. Bates numbering is a specialized sequential numbering system used in legal, medical, and regulatory document production: each page receives a unique alphanumeric identifier with a fixed-width prefix (e.g., "SMITH00001"). Bates numbers allow attorneys, auditors, and regulators to cite individual pages unambiguously across thousands of documents in a large production set.
| Format | Example | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Plain number | 1, 2, 3 | Internal reports, drafts |
| Page N of M | Page 3 of 15 | Stand-alone documents, handouts |
| Prefixed number | Exhibit A-3 | Multi-section legal filings |
| Bates number | SMITH00042 | Legal/regulatory document production |
| Roman numerals | i, ii, iii | Front matter (table of contents, preface) |
Positioning and typography best practices
Bottom-center is the most common page number position in published documents and academic papers. Bottom-right is preferred for right-bound documents where the number must be visible when pages are flipped. Top-right mirrors the position required by many court filing rules. A font size of 9–11 pt in a neutral sans-serif (Helvetica or Arial) is standard — large enough to read but small enough not to compete with the document body. Ensure adequate margin space of at least 10–15 mm from the page edge so numbers are not clipped when the document is printed and trimmed.
Starting numbers and multi-volume documents
When a PDF is one volume in a multi-document set, the starting number should continue from where the previous volume ended — if volume 1 ends on page 40, volume 2 starts at page 41. This tool's "start at" field supports any positive integer. For documents with front matter (table of contents, preface) numbered with Roman numerals, process the body section as a separate PDF and set the starting number accordingly, then handle the Roman-numeral front matter in a separate pass.
Worked examples
Continue a volume
Inputs: 30-page PDF, start at 41
Result: Pages numbered 41–70
Skip the cover page
Inputs: 24-page PDF, skip page 1
Result: Pages 2–24 numbered 1–23
Glossary
- Bates number
- A sequential alphanumeric identifier stamped on each page of a legal or regulatory document production to enable unambiguous page-level citation across large document sets (e.g., "SMITH00001").
- Folio
- The printed page number on a document page; a running folio appears on every page, while a drop folio appears only on the first page of a chapter or section.
- Header / footer
- The top (header) and bottom (footer) margin regions of a page, conventionally used for page numbers, document titles, and chapter headings.
- Running head
- A repeated element (chapter title, document name) that appears in the header or footer of every page alongside the page number.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use Add Page Numbers to PDF?
- Stamps page numbers as rendered text so they remain searchable in any PDF reader
- Supports Bates-style alphanumeric prefixes required by legal and regulatory document filings
- Configurable starting number allows seamless continuation across multi-volume document sets
- Six placement positions — header and footer at left, center, and right — satisfy any filing rule
Common use cases
- Add bottom-center page numbers to a research report before submitting it to a journal
- Stamp Bates numbers on a large litigation document production with a custom case prefix
- Number a multi-volume technical manual starting at page 41 to continue from volume one
- Add "Page N of M" footers to a client proposal so readers can gauge overall document length
- Apply top-right page numbers to match court filing formatting requirements for a brief
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