Quick answer: open your PDF on this page, pick where the numbers go (for example bottom centre), choose a format such as 1, Page 1 or Page 1 of 10, set the first page and the start number, then press Add page numbers & download. The live preview shows every page exactly as it will be saved. Your PDF is numbered inside your browser and is never uploaded.
Everything you can control
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Position | Top or bottom of the page, left, centre or right. The number keeps the same distance from the edge on every page, including landscape and mixed-size pages. |
| Custom position (drag to place) | Drag the number with your mouse or finger to any spot on the page, for example inside a footer box of your template or next to a logo. Arrow keys fine-tune it point by point. The spot is saved as a proportion of the page, so it is the same on every page. |
| Mirror for double-sided printing | For books and booklets: on even pages the number moves to the other side, so it always sits on the outside corner when the pages are printed back to back. |
| Format | 1 · Page 1 · 1 of 10 · Page 1 of 10 · 1 / 10 · – 1 –, or your own text with {n} for the page number and {total} for the last number, such as CASE-{n} or Annex B – page {n}. |
| Number style | Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3), lower or upper case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii or I, II, III) and letters (a, b, c or A, B, C). |
| Leading zeros | Write 7 as 07, 007, 0007 or 000007. Combined with a prefix this gives Bates-style numbers like ACME-000007. |
| First page, last page, start at | Leave the cover or title page unnumbered, stop before the appendix, or continue numbering from a previous document (for example, start at 41). |
| Font, size and colour | Helvetica/Arial, Times New Roman or Courier, regular, bold or italic, 6 to 36 pt, in any colour. Numbers are written as real PDF text, so they are sharp at any zoom and can be searched. |
| White background | Puts a small white box behind each number, so it stays readable on scanned pages, photos and dark designs. |
How to add page numbers to a PDF
- Open your PDF. Click Select PDF file or drop the file on the page. The first page appears in the preview.
- Choose the position. Tap one of the six positions, or choose Custom and drag the number to exactly where you want it on the preview. Turn on Mirror for double-sided printing if the document will be printed as a book.
- Pick a format. Choose 1, Page 1, 1 of 10, Page 1 of 10 or another preset, or write your own text with {n}. Change the number style or add leading zeros if you need them.
- Set which pages to number. Enter the first and last page and the number to start from. Skip the cover page does it in one tap.
- Check and download. Use the arrows to look at a few pages, then press Add page numbers & download. Your settings stay in place, so you can change something and download again.
Page number formats, and when to use each
| Format | Looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Number only | 7 | Books, reports and most everyday documents. Clean and familiar. |
| Page + number | Page 7 | Forms, manuals and documents that are read on screen. |
| Number of total | 7 of 24 · Page 7 of 24 | Contracts, agreements, exam papers and anything where a missing page must be noticed straight away. |
| Slash | 7 / 24 | Presentations and handouts, where space is tight. |
| Roman numerals | vii · VII | Front matter of books and theses: preface, contents, acknowledgements. |
| Letters | G · g | Appendices and annexes (Appendix A, B, C). |
| Prefix with leading zeros | ACME-000007 | Legal bundles, discovery and audit files that need a unique reference on every page (Bates numbering). |
Where should page numbers go?
There is no single rule, but these conventions are widely used:
- Reports, ebooks and business documents: bottom centre or bottom right. Readers look there first.
- Printed books and booklets: the outside corner of each page, at the top or bottom. Choose bottom right or top right and turn on Mirror for double-sided printing, so even pages are numbered on the left.
- Student papers in APA style: top right, on every page including the title page.
- Papers in MLA style: top right, with your last name before the number. Use a custom format such as Khan {n}.
- Legal documents and court bundles: usually bottom right or bottom centre, often with a prefix and leading zeros. Always follow the instructions of the court or office you are filing with.
- Theses and dissertations: check your university's handbook. Many ask for Roman numerals in the front matter and Arabic numbers from the first chapter.
Skip the cover, or number front matter with Roman numerals
Most documents should not show a number on the cover. Set First page to 2 (or tap Skip the cover page) and the numbering starts on page 2. Use Start at to decide which number appears there: 1 if the cover does not count, or 2 if it does.
For a thesis or a book with front matter, run the tool twice. First number the front-matter pages, for example pages 2 to 6, with i, ii, iii, and download. Open the downloaded file, set the first page to 7, the start number to 1 and the style to 1, 2, 3, and download again. You now have Roman numerals before the main text and Arabic numbers after it, in one PDF.
Bates numbering for legal and business files
Bates numbering gives every page of a set of documents its own reference, so a page can be cited precisely and nothing can go missing unnoticed. Choose Custom, type a prefix followed by {n} (for example SMITH-{n}), set Digits to 000001 and choose bottom right. To continue numbering across several PDFs, note the last number of one file and enter the next number in Start at for the following file. You can also combine the files first with Merge PDF and number them in one go.
The numbers are added as visible text on each page. For formal legal work, check whether your court or client needs a certified e-discovery system as well.
Built for real-world PDFs
- Rotated and landscape pages: the number is placed on the page as you see it, never sideways or off the page.
- Mixed page sizes: A4, Letter, Legal and custom sizes can be mixed in one file. Each page is numbered at the same distance from its own edge.
- Cropped pages: numbers are placed inside the visible area, not in the hidden margin.
- Scanned documents: turn on the white background so the number stays readable on grey or speckled scans.
- Large files: documents with hundreds of pages are numbered in seconds, because all the work happens on your own device with no upload or download wait.
Ways to add page numbers to a PDF
| Method | Upload needed | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CleanPDF (this page) | No, works in your browser | Free | Live preview, Roman numerals, Bates-style numbers, works on phones and computers. |
| Desktop PDF editor | No | Usually a paid licence | Powerful, but needs installing and often a subscription. |
| Word processor before exporting | No | Depends on your software | Only works if you still have the original document, not for scans or PDFs from others. |
| Online tools that upload your file | Yes | Often free with limits | Your document is sent to someone else's server. Not ideal for contracts, ID documents or medical records. |
Who uses it
- Students: number assignments, theses and dissertations to meet APA, MLA or university rules.
- Lawyers and paralegals: number court bundles, exhibits and disclosure files.
- Offices and HR teams: number contracts, policies, handbooks and tender documents so every page can be referenced.
- Authors and publishers: number ebooks, manuscripts and print-ready booklets.
- Teachers: number worksheets, exam papers and course packs.
- Anyone who merges files: after combining several PDFs into one, add continuous page numbers so the result reads as one document.
Privacy and security
Your PDF is opened, numbered and saved inside your browser. It is never uploaded to a server, so contracts, medical records and ID documents stay on your device. No account is needed, there is no daily limit, and CleanPDF adds no watermark or branding. Your last settings are remembered in your own browser for next time. Documents are not stored.
Good to know
- Nothing else changes: the text, links, bookmarks, form fields and images of your PDF stay as they are. The page numbers are added on top of each page, and the original text stays selectable.
- Existing numbers are not removed. If the PDF already has page numbers, the new ones are added next to them. Choose a different position, or turn on the white background to cover small old numbers.
- File size: page numbers add very little, about a quarter of a kilobyte per page. A 100-page document grows by roughly 25 KB.
- Characters: custom text can use Latin letters, digits and common symbols. Scripts such as Urdu, Arabic or Hindi are not supported in page numbers.
- Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first with Unlock PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add page numbers to a PDF for free?
Open your PDF on this page, choose the position and format, set the first page and start number, and press Add page numbers & download. It is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no page limit.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The page numbers are added in your browser, so the file never leaves your device. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page has loaded.
How do I add “Page 1 of 10” to a PDF?
Choose the Page 1 of 10 format. The total is calculated automatically from the pages you number. Use 1 of 10 or 1 / 10 for a shorter version.
Can I put the page number anywhere on the page?
Yes. Choose Custom: drag on the preview, then drag the number to any spot with your mouse or finger, or click where it should go. Use the arrow keys for small steps. The same spot is used on every page.
How do I skip the cover page?
Tap Skip the cover page, or set First page to 2. The cover stays without a number. Set Start at to 1 if the next page should be page 1, or to 2 if the cover should count.
Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Enter any number in Start at, for example 41 to continue from a previous chapter or document.
Can I number only some of the pages?
Yes. Enter the first and last page to number. Pages before and after that range are left without numbers, which is useful for covers, blank pages and appendices.
Can I use Roman numerals?
Yes. Choose i, ii, iii or I, II, III under Numbers. To combine Roman numerals in the front matter with normal numbers in the main text, run the tool twice on the same file with different page ranges.
How do I add Bates numbers to a PDF?
Choose Custom, type a prefix followed by {n}, such as ACME-{n}, set Digits to 000001 and pick bottom right. Use Start at to continue the sequence in the next file.
Where do page numbers go in a book?
Usually on the outside corner of each page. Choose bottom right or top right and turn on Mirror for double-sided printing, so even pages are numbered on the left and odd pages on the right.
Where do page numbers go in APA and MLA papers?
Both put the page number at the top right. MLA adds your last name before it, which you can do with a custom format such as Khan {n}. Always check the latest guidance from your teacher or institution.
Will page numbers change my document's text or layout?
No. The numbers are added as a small new layer on each page. Everything else stays exactly as it was, and the original text remains selectable and searchable.
Are the page numbers searchable?
Yes. They are written as real PDF text in a standard font, so they stay sharp when you zoom and can be found with the search function of your PDF reader.
Does it work with scanned PDFs?
Yes. Turn on White background behind the number so it stays readable on a scanned page.
Does it work with landscape or rotated pages?
Yes. Each page is numbered as it is displayed, so landscape and rotated pages get their number in the right place and the right way up.
Can I add page numbers on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in any modern browser on Android and iPhone, as well as on tablets and computers. Nothing needs to be installed.
Can I remove page numbers later?
Keep a copy of your original PDF if you might need it without numbers. The numbers are part of the page once saved, and removing them needs a PDF editor.
Can I number several PDFs as one continuous document?
Yes. Combine them first with Merge PDF, then number the merged file. Or number each file separately and use Start at to continue where the last file ended.