Add page numbers to a PDF
Number every page in the corner or the centre, in the format you want, without sending the document anywhere.
Done
Open the network tab. It stays empty.
Add files and run the tool to see every request this tab makes.
Your files are processed on this device and never sent to a server. Reload the page to clear everything from memory.
How it works
- Drop a PDF.
- Pick where the numbers go, the format (1, Page 1, 1 of 12), the font and size, and where numbering starts.
- Add page numbers and download. The preview shows the first numbered page.
In your browser, not on a server
pdf-lib opens the document and draws each number with one of the standard PDF fonts (Helvetica, Times or Courier), which every PDF reader has built in, so no font is embedded and the file barely grows. The position is computed per page from its size and rotation so the number lands in the same corner as the reader sees it.
Compared with upload-based tools: Adding page numbers should not require uploading a 200-page report to a stranger’s server. Here the stamping happens on your device and finishes in about the time the upload alone would take.
Verify it yourself. Load this page, turn off Wi-Fi or switch to airplane mode, and run the tool. Or open your browser's developer tools (F12, or Cmd-Option-I on a Mac), pick the Network tab, and watch it while you convert. The panel above does the same count for you.
Questions
Can I skip the cover page?
Yes. Set "First page to number" to 2 and the cover stays clean. You can also choose the number printed on that first numbered page, so page 2 can be numbered 1.
Which formats are available?
A plain number, "Page 1", "1 of 12" and "Page 1 of 12", or write your own using {n} for the number and {total} for the last number. The total counts only numbered pages.
What if the PDF already has page numbers?
The new numbers are drawn on top, so pick a different corner or use the Reorder tool to remove pages before numbering. The tool never edits existing content.
Do rotated or mixed-size pages work?
Yes. The position is computed per page, so landscape and portrait pages in the same file each get their number in the same corner as the reader sees it.
Is the file uploaded?
No. Numbers are drawn with pdf-lib inside your browser using the standard PDF fonts, so the file does not grow and nothing leaves your device.
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