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Add Page Numbers
Add page numbers to a PDF for free in seconds. Choose bottom right, bottom center, or top right and download a numbered PDF. Runs in your browser, no upload or signup.
How to use Add Page Numbers
- Drop a PDF file.
- Pick a position.
- Get a numbered PDF.
How to add page numbers to a PDF online
PaperKit paginates a PDF by printing "page / total" on every page, for example 3 / 12, in the corner you choose. Drop the file, pick a position, click Number Pages, and the numbered PDF downloads. The document never leaves your browser.
Pick where the numbers go
Bottom right is the default and works for most reports and contracts. Bottom center suits books, theses, and anything bound down the middle. Top right matches documents that already carry a header. Numbers are printed in Helvetica at 10 points, 24 points (a third of an inch) from the edge, so they stay clear of most binding and printer margins.
Paginate merged files, scans, and submissions
Merging several PDFs breaks any numbering they had, so number the file after you merge it and the count stays continuous. The same applies to scanned course packs, contracts with exhibits, portfolios, and application documents where a reviewer expects to see "page X of Y" on every sheet.
Numbers run as page X of Y
Each page shows its own number followed by the total, which tells readers how long the document is at a glance. Numbering starts at 1 on the first page. There is no custom starting number or Roman numeral option yet, so if a cover page must stay unnumbered, extract it first, number the rest, then merge the two files back together.
Replacing page numbers that are already there
The tool draws on top of the existing page and does not detect old numbers. If a document already has numbering you want to replace, run it through Crop PDF first and trim roughly 40 points from the bottom edge to remove the old footer, then add fresh numbers.
Free, private, and no watermark
The numbers are real vector text, not an image, so they print crisply and remain searchable. Nothing is re-rendered or compressed, and the output file, paperkit-numbered.pdf, is created locally in your browser with no upload, account, or watermark.
Next steps
- Merge PDFs before numbering them
- Crop an old footer before adding numbers
- Keep a cover page unnumbered
- Add page numbers and compress in one workflow
Related PDF tools
- Watermark PDF — Add a diagonal text watermark to every page of a PDF, with adjustable opacity.
- Stamp Text — Stamp text such as “CONFIDENTIAL” or “DRAFT” on selected pages of a PDF.
- Sign PDF — Add a typed or drawn signature to a PDF in the browser, then download the signed file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add page numbers to a PDF for free?
Drop your PDF on PaperKit Add Page Numbers, choose bottom right, bottom center, or top right, and click Number Pages. The numbered file downloads immediately and nothing is uploaded.
Can I choose where the page numbers appear?
Yes. You can place numbers at the bottom right, bottom center, or top right of every page. They sit 24 points from the edge in 10-point Helvetica.
What format do the page numbers use?
Numbers are printed as "current / total", for example 3 / 12, starting at 1 on the first page. A custom starting number and Roman numerals are not available yet.
Will adding page numbers change the quality or size of my PDF?
No. The tool adds a small piece of vector text to each page and leaves everything else untouched, so quality is identical and the file grows by only a few bytes per page.
How do I remove old page numbers from a PDF?
PaperKit cannot detect and erase existing numbers, but you can hide a footer by cropping the bottom of every page with Crop PDF, then add new numbers on the cropped file.