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How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF (and Skip the Cover Page)

By Admin Editor · October 26, 2026

A merged report, a scanned contract or a thesis exported from several files often ends up with no page numbers — or numbers that restart in every section. Reviewers can't say "see page 14", and printed copies get shuffled. Adding page numbers to the final PDF fixes both problems.

An open book with pages mid-turn

Choose a position and format

Position: top or bottom, and left, centre or right — six options. Bottom centre is the classic choice; bottom right is common for reports and printed booklets.

Format:

  • 1, 2, 3 — simple and clean.
  • 1 / 10 — shows the total, handy for exams and forms.
  • Page 1 of 10 — the clearest for contracts and legal documents, where a missing page must be obvious.
  • - 1 - — a traditional style for books and manuscripts.

How to number the pages

  1. Open Add Page Numbers to PDF and choose your file (up to 100 MB).
  2. Pick the position and format.
  3. Optionally change the first number, the font size and the distance from the edge.
  4. Tick Don't number the first page to keep a cover clean.
  5. Click Add page numbers and download the numbered PDF.

Rotated and landscape pages are numbered the way they appear on screen.

Starting at a different number

If the PDF is one chapter of a longer document, set the first number to continue the sequence — chapter 2 might start at 37.

When you skip the cover, page 2 gets the first number you choose (1 by default). If the cover should count as page 1, set the first number to 2.

Size and margins in points

PDFs measure in points: 72 points = 1 inch (2.54 cm). An 11 pt number about 28 pt (roughly 1 cm) from the edge suits most documents. Increase the distance if a printer crops the edges.

Numbering only part of a document

Every page from the first (or the second, if you skip the cover) is numbered. To number just one section:

  1. Split it out with PDF Split.
  2. Number that part.
  3. Put the files back together with PDF Merge.

Also put the pages in the right order before numbering — Reorder PDF Pages makes that quick.

FAQ

Does it work with password-protected PDFs? No — remove the password first with Unlock PDF.

Is my document uploaded? No. The PDF is numbered entirely in your browser.

Can I remove numbers later? They become part of the page, so keep your original file if you might want a different style.

Paper stacks held together with paperclips

Try it now

Number your document with the free Add Page Numbers to PDF tool.

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