Guide
How to add page numbers to a PDF
Open Add Page Numbers, add your PDF, choose a position such as bottom centre and a style such as "Page 1 of 12", then press Add page numbers. The numbers are written as real text, and the file is changed in your browser without being uploaded.
Open Add Page NumbersStep by step
- Open Add Page Numbers. Go to the Add Page Numbers page on PlumPDF. No account and nothing to install.
- Add your PDF. Drop the file on the box, or click to browse. You can add up to 50 files of 100 MB each.
- Choose position and style. Pick one of six spots, top or bottom and left, centre or right, and a style. The preview shows the number on your own first page.
- Number and download. Press Add page numbers, then download the numbered PDF. The file is saved with -numbered added to its name.
Where should the page numbers go?
Bottom centre is the usual choice for reports and letters. Bottom right is common for slides and handouts. If your pages already have a footer, a logo or a stamp in that spot, choose another corner or a larger margin. The numbers are added on top of what is on the page, so they do not move anything out of the way.
You can also set the font, size and colour. Keep the size modest: around the size of the body text looks tidy and does not draw the eye.
How do I skip the cover page?
A cover page usually has no number, and the first numbered page is often shown as 1. In the Pages box, type 2- and leave First number at 1: page 2 of the file then shows 1. If you want the number to match the real position in the file, set First number to 2 instead.
You can also give a list or range, such as 2-20, to number only part of a document.
How do I print on both sides?
If the document will be printed on both sides and bound like a book, tick "Swap left and right on even pages". A number placed in a corner then sits on the outside edge of every page, which is where readers expect to find it.
What should I know before I start?
Adding numbers changes the file, so keep your original. If you will combine several PDFs into one, merge them first and number the result, so the count runs through the whole document.
Page numbers are added as text in a standard PDF font, so they stay sharp when you zoom or print. Existing text, links and bookmarks are left alone.
Questions
Can I number only some of the pages?
Yes. Type the pages you want in the Pages box, for example 3-10, and only those get a number.
Can the numbers be removed later?
They are part of the page, so a PDF reader cannot simply delete them. Number a copy and keep the original, then you can start again whenever you like.
Do the numbers sit correctly on landscape pages?
Yes. Positions are worked out on the page as you see it, so a number meant for the bottom right appears there and reads upright, even on pages saved turned sideways.
What if I want my own wording around the number?
Use Header and Footer instead. There you can type any text and include the page number and the total in it.
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