For documents you write in Word or PowerPoint, adding page numbers in the original file before saving as PDF is the most reliable. Scans, PDFs you received and PDFs merged from several files need numbers added after they’re PDFs.
First: before or after it becomes a PDF?
In Word, before saving as PDF
Use Insert → Page Number and choose the position and style. To leave the cover unnumbered, tick “Different First Page” in the header and footer options. Then save as PDF.
In PowerPoint or Excel, before saving as PDF
In PowerPoint, use Insert → Slide Number and tick “Slide number”. “Don’t show on title slide” leaves the cover unnumbered.
In Excel, add a page number to the footer with Insert → Header & Footer (or the Page Layout settings). The numbers appear when printing or saving as PDF, not on screen.
Ways to number a file that’s already a PDF
The free Acrobat Reader and browser PDF viewers can’t add page numbers, and neither can Mac Preview.
| Method | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat Pro “Header & Footer” | Paid | You already have Acrobat Pro |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) | Free | Can’t add page numbers |
| This site’s Add Page Numbers | Free | Numbering scans or merged PDFs right away |
Numbering a PDF in your browser (no upload)
This site’s Add Page Numbers numbers any PDF with nothing to install, on Windows, Mac, iPhone or Android. Your PDF is never uploaded.
- Open Add Page Numbers and choose your PDF
- Choose a position (6 options such as bottom center) and a format (“1”, “1 / 10”, “- 1 -” or “Page 1”)
- If needed, change the start number or text size, and tick “Don’t number the first page (cover)”
- Tap “Add page numbers”, check the preview and download
Tips for covers and continuous numbering
Skip the cover and start page 2 at “1”
Tick “Don’t number the first page (cover)”. Numbering starts on page 2 at the start number, 1.
Skip the cover but number page 2 as “2”
To count the cover as page 1, tick the same option and set the start number to 2.
Number several PDFs continuously
Combine them into one PDF with Merge PDF first, then add numbers. Fix the page order and orientation with Reorder PDF Pages and Rotate PDF before numbering.
Continue from another document
Enter the next number (for example 21) as the start number.