Add Page Numbers to PDF — Header, Footer, Bates
Add page numbers, header and footer text and Bates numbers to a PDF with position, style and first number
Runs in your browser · nothing is uploaded
Drop the PDF to number here
Add one PDF (up to 100 MB). Adding another file replaces the current one. Files never leave your browser.
What it does
Merged reports and scanned documents often have no page numbers, or numbers that no longer match. This tool writes new page numbers on each page of a PDF and can add header and footer text and Bates numbers in the same pass. Choose a style such as 1, 1 / 10, - 1 - or Page 1 of 10, or make your own, and see the first selected page in the live preview before saving.
How to use
- Drop one PDF on the box or press Choose PDF.
- Keep Add page numbers on and choose the style, the position (top or bottom × left, centre or right) and the first number.
- Optionally type a header or footer and choose where it goes.
{n}and{total}are replaced on every page. - For Bates numbers, turn them on and set the prefix, digits and first number.
- Adjust text size (pt), distance from the edge (mm) and colour. To number only some pages, choose Choose pages and type the ranges.
- Press Add page numbers and download the result.
How it works
- Counting: only numbered pages count. The n-th numbered page shows
first number + n − 1, and{total}is the number on the last numbered page. - Placement: top lines hang from the chosen distance below the top edge; bottom lines stand on the chosen distance above the bottom edge. Items that share a position stack in the order header, page number, Bates, footer.
- Rotated pages: the page rotation is read so numbers sit upright at the bottom (or top) of the page as it is shown.
- Fonts: Latin text uses Helvetica; other scripts embed a subset of Noto Sans KR (SIL OFL 1.1).
- Limits: first number 0–999,999, Bates digits 1–12, text size 5–72 pt, distance 0–50 mm.
- Libraries: pdf-lib (MIT), @pdf-lib/fontkit (MIT) and PDF.js (Apache-2.0) for the preview.
Examples
| Goal | Settings |
|---|---|
3 / 12 at the bottom centre |
Style 1 / 10, bottom centre |
| Start at 1 after the cover | Choose pages 2-, first number 1 |
| Exhibit IDs for a court filing | Bates on, prefix EX-, digits 4, bottom right |
Title on top, p. 3 at the bottom |
Header Annual Plan 2026, custom style p. {n} |
To combine several PDFs first, use Merge PDF; to reorder pages, use Organize PDF.
FAQ
Can I skip the cover and start at 1 on page 2?
Yes. Switch Pages to Choose pages, type 2- and leave the first number at 1. Page 2 then shows 1, page 3 shows 2, and so on. Only the numbered pages are counted, and {total} is the last number printed.
What are Bates numbers?
Bates numbering gives every page in a set of legal or audit documents its own sequential ID. Set a prefix (for example ABC), the number of digits and the first number, and pages get ABC000001, ABC000002 and so on. Numbers longer than the digit count are printed in full, never cut.
Do headers in Korean or other scripts work?
Yes. When the header, footer or a custom number style contains non-Latin letters, the Noto Sans KR font is embedded as a subset, so every viewer shows the same text. Chinese characters and emoji are not in that font; they are left out and listed in the result.
What happens to existing page numbers?
They stay. New numbers are drawn on top of the page, so placing them where old numbers are makes both visible. Check the preview and pick an empty spot.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser. Pages with non-Latin text download the font file from this site once; the document itself is never sent.
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