Add Page Numbers to PDF Online Free
Number every page of your PDF — bottom left, center or right, starting from any number. Free, no upload, no login.
Quick answer: to add page numbers to a PDF online, select the file, choose bottom left, bottom center or bottom right, set the first number and download. In short, LyfPDF numbers every page inside your browser — the PDF is not uploaded — and keeps the numbers upright and readable on scanned and rotated pages.
What is the Page Numbers tool?
Page numbering (also called pagination) means printing a sequential number on every page so readers, examiners and courts can cite and find pages. The Page Numbers tool stamps a number on every page of your PDF — ideal for reports, theses, legal bundles and court filings that require numbered pages. You choose the position (bottom center, left or right) and the starting number. Numbers scale with the page size and get a subtle backing so they stay readable even over full-page scans.
Key features
- Bottom center, bottom left or bottom right placement
- Start from any number (useful when a cover page shouldn’t count)
- Numbers auto-scale with page size — visible on A4 and huge scan pages alike
- Subtle white backing keeps numbers legible over images
- Correct placement even on rotated pages
How do I use it?
- Drop the PDF that needs numbering.
- Pick the position and the starting number.
- Click Add numbers & download.
- Every page in the downloaded file now carries its number.
Is it safe to add page numbers online?
Yes. The numbers are drawn into the file by a PDF library running in your browser, following the ISO 32000 PDF standard — the document itself never leaves your device. The original content is not modified; a small text layer is simply added to each page.
Tips for the best result
- Cover page shouldn’t be numbered as 1? Split it off, number the rest starting at 1, then merge back.
- Legal bundles often need bottom-right numbering — select “Bottom right”.
- Start at 0 if your office style counts the title page as zero.
- Numbers land correctly on rotated pages too — no need to fix rotation first.
We tested it: a 12-page mixed PDF
On 6 October 2026 we numbered a 12-page test file in this tool (Chromium browser, “Bottom right”, “Start at” 3). The file mixed the page types that usually cause trouble:
| Pages | Page type | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4, 6–10 | A4 portrait text pages | Numbered 3–6 and 8–12, bottom right |
| 5 | A4 page with a full dark background (like a scan) | “7” readable on its light backing |
| 11 | US Letter, landscape | “13” bottom right of the wide page |
| 12 | A4 page stored with a 90° rotation | “14” upright, bottom right |
All 12 pages came out numbered 3 to 14 in about 0.2 seconds, and the browser’s network log showed no upload request. The same test first showed that on pages stored with a 90° or 270° rotation, “Bottom right” landed bottom left. That bug was fixed the same day and re-checked on pages rotated 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° for all three positions.
Key takeaway: number the PDF last — after you merge, delete or reorder pages — so the numbers match the final document.
Do courts require numbered pages?
Often, yes — court bundles usually must be paginated. For example, the family-court rules for England and Wales say:
“all pages in an e-bundle must be numbered by computer-generated numbering, not by hand”
Rules differ by court and country, so check the instructions of the court you are filing with. Some courts also ask for Bates numbers, which this tool does not add.
Insert page numbers in a PDF online. Number the pages of a report, thesis, legal bundle or book, start numbering from any page number, and place the numbers bottom right, centre or left. The guide to adding page numbers to a PDF covers skipping the cover page and “Page X of Y” styles.
PDF page number add — position, start number and format
Use this tool when a document needs page numbers: open the PDF here, choose a corner or the centre, set the first number and click apply — nothing is uploaded. Your text and images stay unchanged and the numbers are added to every page.
What this page-number tool does not add
This tool stamps one plain number on each page: bottom left, centre or right, starting at the number you set. It does not print a total, such as “Page 3 of 12”, and it does not print Roman numerals. Number the file after you merge, split or reorder. If you number first and then move pages, the digits stay stuck to the old pages and no longer match the order. Use Merge PDF first when you are combining files. The page-number guide explains labels and totals, which are a different job from this stamp. A light backing sits behind the digit so it stays readable on a scan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose where the page numbers appear?
Yes — bottom center, bottom left or bottom right. The number is placed with a consistent margin on every page.
Can numbering start from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set “Start at” to any value — useful when a cover or table of contents shouldn’t count.
Will the numbers be visible on scanned pages?
Yes. Each number gets a subtle semi-transparent backing, so it stays readable even over dark or busy scans.
Does this change my document’s content?
No — your text and images are untouched; only a small number is drawn onto each page.
Can I number thousands of pages?
Yes, large documents work fine; processing is quick because it happens locally on your device.
Is the file uploaded to add numbers?
No. Numbering runs completely in your browser and the PDF never leaves your device.
How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
Select the PDF, choose bottom center, bottom left or bottom right, set the starting number, and download the numbered PDF. Numbers are added to every page without changing your text or images.
How do I start page numbering on page 2?
Split off the cover page with Split PDF, number the rest starting at 1, then join the two files again with Merge PDF. Or start at 0 if your style counts the cover as page zero.
Can I add page numbers to a scanned PDF?
Yes. Numbers get a subtle white backing, so they stay readable over scanned images, and they are placed correctly on rotated pages.
Can this tool add Page X of Y?
No. It stamps one number per page, such as 1, 2 or 3, at the bottom left, centre or right. It does not write “Page 3 of 12”. The page-number guide explains labels and “Page X of Y”, and when the PDF editor fits those formats better. Set the start number here if this file should not begin at 1.
Can I use Roman numerals for page numbers?
No. This tool writes ordinary digits only. It does not print i, ii, iii or IV. Those labels are a different job, and the page-number guide explains how the PDF editor handles them. Use this page for the main run of digits, and set the start number so the count matches the pages you kept.
Should I add page numbers before merging PDFs?
Add them after the pages are in their final order. Merge, split or reorder first, then stamp the numbers. A number added earlier stays on the page you move, so page 1 can end up in the middle. Save the combined file with Merge PDF, then come back here and set the start number.
Related tools: Watermark PDF · Merge PDF · Organize / Delete
Add page numbers after arranging the PDF in its final order. Check the starting number and placement against existing footers before distributing the numbered copy.
🔒 Privacy: this tool runs entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded, stored, or shared. LyfPDF offers 33 free PDF tools, including 12 core tools localized in 7 languages, with 0 uploads — learn how it works.