Page Numbers

How to add page numbers to a PDF

1. 1

   Open your PDF Drag your PDF onto the area marked Drop your PDF here, or press Choose a file. The document card shows the page count, and Change file lets you pick another file.

2. 2

   Place the numbers Under Position, click one of the six spots in the grid, from Top left to Bottom right, then choose a Format in the list.

3. 3

   Adjust the style Type a Start number, move the Size slider (8 to 24) and the Margin slider (10 to 100), and pick a Color.

4. 4

   Leave pages out In Page selection, click each page that should carry no number. It is outlined in red with a cross, and the Excluded pages line lists it.

5. 5

   Download Press Apply and download. The numbered copy downloads, and the "File ready" panel offers to send it on to tools such as Compress, Sign or Watermark.

Number formats and custom patterns

Simple (1, 2, 3...) prints the number alone, and Page X of Y prints text such as "Page 3 of 12". The i, ii, iii and I, II, III formats write roman numerals in lowercase or uppercase, the usual choice for a preface or other front matter.

Custom lets you type your own pattern. {n} is replaced by the number and {total} by the total, so "{n} / {total}" gives 3 / 12 and "Annex B, page {n}" adds a label. Write {nn} or {nnn} to pad the number with zeros to two or three digits, as in 007.

Skipping pages and choosing the first number

Start number sets the first number printed, not the page where numbering begins. To leave a page without a number, exclude it in Page selection; click it again if you change your mind.

Excluded pages are not counted. With the cover excluded and Start number at 1, the second page of the file shows 1. For a chapter delivered as its own file, set Start number to the page it holds in the full book, such as 41.

Change file takes you back to the upload screen and puts every setting back to its default, excluded pages included, so set them again for each document.

Roman numerals for the preface, 1, 2, 3 for the body

One pass applies one format to the whole file. For a thesis or a report that needs both, run the tool twice:

1. 1. Open the PDF, choose i, ii, iii, exclude the cover and every page of the body, then press Apply and download.
2. 2. Open the downloaded _numbered file, choose Simple (1, 2, 3...), and exclude the cover and the preface pages this time.
3. 3. Apply and download again: the preface keeps its roman numerals and the body starts at 1.