About Page Numbers
PDFs without page numbers are a small daily annoyance. You open the file in a reader, the reader shows page indicators in the corner, but anyone who prints it loses that count. A reviewer who wants to mark up page 7 has to count from the start. The reader app for printers strips the indicator entirely.
Add Page Numbers stamps numbering into the pages themselves. Choose the position, the format, the starting number, and the range of pages to number, and the output PDF carries the numbers visibly in any reader and in print.
Picking a layout
Bottom centre is the most common pick and the safest default. It puts the number where readers expect it and away from text and images.
Bottom right is the academic convention; some style guides require it. Top right shows up in some legal and government documents.
Top centre is unusual but sometimes requested when the bottom of pages already carries other content like footnotes.
Format choices
Plain numbers are the default. "1", "2", "3" across the document.
Numbered with total uses the "Page X of N" format, where N is the total page count. Reassures the reader that they're not missing anything.
Section format like "Chapter 1 - 1", "Chapter 1 - 2" is available for documents that need to label sections explicitly. You set the section labels and the numbering resets per section.
Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) work for front matter. Mix-and-match is possible: lowercase Roman for the first ten pages, then Arabic numerals starting from 1 for the body. Useful for theses, manuals, and books.
Range and starting number
Default is every page numbered from 1. You can change either or both. Start at 5 if your document follows an introduction that's already numbered 1 to 4. Skip the cover page if you want page 1 to be the first content page.
Range field lets you number only a specific portion. Type "5-50" and only those pages get numbered.
Styling
Font, size, and colour are all adjustable. Black at 10 to 12 points is standard. Lighter grey at the same size works in documents where the body text has a strong style and you want the numbers to feel quiet.
Bold or regular weight is available. Most readers prefer regular weight; bold is sometimes used for legal documents where the page count needs to be unmistakable.
Privacy
Page numbers get stamped in your browser. Nothing uploads. The output PDF lands in your downloads folder a second or two after you click apply.
Conventions worth knowing if you're new to this
Books and theses traditionally use lowercase Roman numerals for front matter (the title page, copyright, contents) and Arabic numerals starting from 1 for the body. The trick is that the first body page is page 1, not page 5 or wherever it physically appears in the file. The page range and starting number options here let you do exactly that pattern.
Legal documents often use the "Page X of N" format so a reader can verify they have the complete document. Missing pages stand out immediately.
Reports and proposals usually put page numbers at the bottom right. Some style guides prefer bottom centre. Both are widely accepted; pick whichever matches the template you're working from. Consistency across the document matters more than which corner you picked.
Sizing and spacing tips
Stick with 10 to 12 point numbers for body documents. Anything smaller is hard to read; anything bigger draws attention away from the content. The default of 11 points works for most reports.
Leave at least 15 to 20 points of margin between the page edge and the number. Otherwise the numbers can collide with the binding when the document is printed and bound, especially on the inner edge of bound books.
If the document already has a footer with the document title or filename, place the page number on the opposite side. Footer text on the left, page number on the right. Reads cleanly and doesn't crowd either element.