Add Page Numbers to PDF — Free & Private
Stamp clean page numbers in any corner — choose the format, start number, size, colour and exactly which pages to number.
Reading your PDF…
Click a spot on the mini page. Numbers stay upright on landscape and rotated pages.
28 pt ≈ 1 cm from the edge. N is the last number in your range.
How do I add page numbers to a PDF for free?
To add page numbers to a PDF for free, open PDFChai Add Page Numbers and drop in your file. Pick one of six positions (top or bottom; left, centre or right), a format such as Page 1 of N, the starting number, font size, margin and colour, and optionally limit numbering to a page range or leave the cover page blank. A live preview shows the result; click Add Numbers & Download and the numbered PDF is created in your browser — no upload, no signup and no watermark.
PDFChai Add Page Numbers vs Other Online Tools
| Feature | PDFChai | Typical Online Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100% free, unlimited files | Free tier with limits, then paid |
| Privacy | Numbers added in your browser — PDF never uploaded | PDF uploaded and processed on their servers |
| Signup | None required | Email or signup often requested |
| Watermark | Never added | Some add branding to free downloads |
| Number formats | 1 · Page 1 · 1 / N · Page 1 of N | Often just a plain number on free versions |
| Rotated & mixed-size pages | Numbers placed upright on each page's visible edge | Numbers may end up sideways on rotated pages |
| Live preview | Check the number on any page before saving | Often no preview until after processing |
Reflects common free online page-numbering tools as of 2026; exact features and limits differ between providers and plans.
What Does an Add Page Numbers Tool Do?
An Add Page Numbers tool stamps a number on each page of an existing PDF so readers can find their place, follow references such as “see page 12” and put printed sheets back in order if they get mixed up. It is the quickest way to paginate a document that was exported without numbers, assembled from several files or scanned from paper — reports, theses, contracts, manuals, exam papers and court bundles all benefit.
PDFChai lets you control exactly how the numbers look: six positions (top or bottom; left, centre or right), four formats (1, Page 1, 1 / N and Page 1 of N), any starting number, the font size, the distance from the edge and the colour. You can number only a range of pages and leave a cover unnumbered while still counting it. The numbers are written with pdf-lib as real PDF text in the standard Helvetica font, and a live preview drawn with pdf.js shows the result on any page before you save.
Everything happens inside your browser, so the document is never uploaded. Each page's own size and rotation are measured separately, which means landscape pages, mixed A4 and Letter sheets and pages stored with a 90° rotation all get an upright number in the right spot. Your existing content is left untouched — the numbers are layered on top — and the tool is free, with no signup and no watermark.
⚡ Quick Answer:
- Go to debugspot.com/add-page-numbers
- Drop in your PDF (or click to browse)
- Choose the position, format, start number, size, margin and colour
- Set a page range or tick Skip first page if you need to
- Click Add Numbers & Download
100% free · No signup · No watermark · Files stay on your device
Step-by-Step Guide
Everything you need to know — done in under a minute.
Load your PDF
Drag a PDF onto the drop area or click to browse. The file is read on your device, and the first page appears in the live preview straight away together with the total page count.
Choose where and how the numbers appear
Click one of the six spots on the mini page to set the position, then pick a format — 1, Page 1, 1 / N or Page 1 of N. Adjust the font size, the margin (the distance from the page edge in points; 28 pt is about 1 cm) and the colour. The preview updates as you change each setting.
Decide which pages get numbers
Use From page and To page to number only part of the document, and Start number to begin at any value — handy when the file continues an earlier chapter. Tick Skip first page to leave a cover blank while still counting it, so the second page shows 2. Step through the preview with ◀ ▶ to check any page.
Download the numbered PDF
Click Add Numbers & Download. pdf-lib writes the numbers onto each selected page and the result saves as yourfile-numbered-pdfchai.pdf. Your original PDF is not modified.
How Does It Work?
Understanding what happens behind the scenes helps you trust the tool — especially with confidential files.
📖 Reading the file locally
The PDF is read into memory through the browser's File API. pdf.js renders the page shown in the preview, and nothing is sent over the network at any point.
📏 Measuring every page
For each page the tool reads the visible area (the crop box) and the /Rotate value, so it knows which edge a reader sees as the bottom or top — even on landscape or rotated pages.
✍️ Writing real text
pdf-lib embeds the standard Helvetica font and draws the number at the calculated spot, turned to match the page so it reads upright. The result is genuine PDF text, sharp at any zoom level and findable with search.
💾 Saving a new copy
The updated document is saved as a new PDF in memory and downloaded. Existing text, images and layout are untouched; the numbers simply sit on top of each page.
Key Features & Advantages
Six positions
Top or bottom, aligned left, centre or right — pick the spot on a mini page diagram.
Four number formats
Plain 1, Page 1, 1 / N and Page 1 of N, where N is the last number in your range.
Custom start and range
Begin at any number and number only the pages you choose, for example pages 3 to 40.
Cover-page option
Leave the first page unnumbered while keeping it in the count, just like printed books and reports.
Rotation-aware placement
Numbers stay upright on the visible edge of landscape, rotated and mixed-size pages.
Live preview
See the number on any page, at your chosen size and colour, before you download.
Who Uses This Tool?
This is one of the most common document tasks in work, study and everyday life. Here are the people who use it every day.
🎓 Students and researchers
Number theses, dissertations and lab reports to meet formatting rules — often with the title page left blank so numbering effectively starts on page 2.
⚖️ Lawyers and paralegals
Paginate bundles, exhibits and evidence packs so everyone in a hearing or meeting can refer to the same page without confusion.
🏢 Business teams
Add “Page 1 of N” to proposals, tenders and board packs so readers can tell at a glance whether a page is missing.
🖨️ Anyone printing long PDFs
Numbered pages are easy to put back in order if a printed stack is dropped or the sheets get shuffled.
📚 Authors and self-publishers
Add simple folio numbers to manuscripts, workbooks and booklets before sending them to reviewers or a print shop.
🧑🏫 Teachers and exam setters
Number question papers and handouts so students can follow along and point to a specific page when they have a question.
Common Use Cases
The everyday situations that bring people to this tool.
📎 Numbering a merged document
After combining files with Merge PDF, add continuous numbers so the result reads as one document.
📘 Thesis with a title page
Skip the first page and keep counting so the introduction starts on page 2, as many university guidelines require.
📑 Continuing from an earlier part
Set the start number (for example 51) when the PDF is a second volume or a later chapter of a larger work.
🧾 Page X of Y on contracts
Show the total number of pages so the reader can confirm the document is complete and nothing has been removed.
🗂️ Numbering only the main body
Use the page range to leave front matter such as a contents page, or a set of appendices, without numbers.
🖼️ Scanned paperwork
Scans rarely carry page numbers. Add them so the pages can be cited, discussed and printed in the right order.
How to Use It on Any Device
Works on every platform, right in the browser. Here are instructions for the most common devices.
🪟 How to add page numbers to a PDF on Windows
Open Chrome, Edge or Firefox, go to debugspot.com/add-page-numbers, drop in the PDF, set the options and download. There is no desktop PDF software to install and no need to re-export from Word.
Works on: Windows 8, 10, 11 · Chrome, Edge, Firefox
🍎 How to add page numbers to a PDF on Mac
Preview on macOS has no built-in page-numbering option. Use Safari, Chrome or Firefox with this tool to stamp numbers on every page in a few clicks.
Works on: All macOS · Safari, Chrome, Firefox
🤖 How to add page numbers to a PDF on Android
In Chrome, tap the drop area, choose a PDF from Files or Google Drive, adjust the settings and download. The numbered file lands in your Downloads folder.
Works on: Android 8+ · Chrome, Samsung Internet
📱 How to add page numbers to a PDF on iPhone / iPad
Open Safari, pick a PDF from the Files app, check the live preview, then save the numbered copy back to Files or share it from the download prompt.
Works on: iOS 15+ · Safari, Chrome
💻 How to add page numbers to a PDF on Chromebook
Chrome on a Chromebook runs the tool directly, which makes it ideal for students on managed devices where new apps can't be installed.
Works on: All Chromebooks · Chrome
Tips & Best Practices
✅ Check for existing footers
If your pages already carry a footer or a printed number, step through the preview and increase the margin or move the numbers to the top so they don't overlap.
✅ Keep body numbers at 10–12 pt
Small, neutral numbers look professional on documents. Larger sizes suit slides or posters that were saved as PDF.
✅ Pick a colour with contrast
Dark grey such as #555555 is subtle on white pages, while white works on dark slides. The preview shows how it will look.
✅ Get the order right first
Numbers are stamped onto pages, so rearrange, rotate or remove pages with Organize PDF before you number the final version.
✅ Know what N means
In the 1 / N and Page 1 of N formats, N is the last number in your range, so it always matches the final numbered page — even with a custom start number.
✅ Unlock protected files first
Encrypted PDFs can't be numbered safely in the browser. If the document is yours, remove the protection with Unlock PDF and number the unlocked copy.
Full List of Benefits
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is adding page numbers free?
Yes. It is completely free with no signup and no watermark, and you can number as many PDFs as you like.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The preview and the numbering both run in your browser using JavaScript, so the file never leaves your device.
Can I put the number at the top instead of the bottom?
Yes. There are six positions: top-left, top-centre, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre and bottom-right.
How do I show "Page 1 of 10"?
Choose the Page 1 of N format. N is calculated automatically as the last number in your range.
Can I start numbering at a number other than 1?
Yes. Enter any start number, such as 0, 5 or 101. The first numbered page shows that number and each following page counts up by one.
How do I leave the cover page without a number?
Tick Skip first page. The cover is left blank but still counted, so page 2 shows 2. If you would rather page 2 showed 1, set From page to 2 and keep the start number at 1.
Can I number only some pages?
Yes. Set the From and To page range. Pages outside the range are left exactly as they were.
What happens with landscape or rotated pages?
The tool reads each page's size and rotation, then places the number on the edge you actually see as the bottom (or top), turned so it reads upright.
Will the numbers cover my content?
Numbers are added on top of the page. If they collide with an existing footer, increase the margin or move them to the top, using the preview to check.
Can I change the font?
The numbers use Helvetica, a standard PDF font that every reader displays correctly without extra font files. You can change its size and colour.
Does it work with password-protected PDFs?
Not directly. Encrypted PDFs, including ones with only permission restrictions, can't be changed safely in the browser. Remove the protection with Unlock PDF first, then add the numbers.
Is there a page limit?
There is no fixed limit. Numbering itself is quick, but very large files take longer to load and save, especially on phones, and the status line shows progress while it works.