Add page numbers to a PDF

How to Add page numbers to a PDF

1

Add your PDF

Click “Select file” or drag and drop a PDF. The page count appears once the file loads.

2

Choose position and format

Pick the position (top-center, top-right, bottom-center, etc.) and the format (1, 2, 3 or i, ii, iii or “Page X of Y”). Optionally skip the first page (cover) or start from a specific number.

3

Add numbers and download

Click “Add Numbers”. The page numbers are added to every page and the file saves to your Downloads.

Every step runs in your browser. No server uploads, no waiting.

Why use this tool

DukPdf’s Add Page Numbers tool numbers every page of a PDF in your browser. Choose the position (top or bottom, left/center/right), the format (1, 2, 3 or i, ii, iii), and whether to skip the first page. All numbering runs locally — your file never leaves your device. To add a header or footer with custom text, use Add Watermark with text mode. For a step-by-step guide, see our page numbers guide.

When you'd use this

Number a report

Add page numbers to a multi-page report so readers can reference specific pages in discussion.

Number a manuscript

Add sequential page numbers to a book manuscript or thesis for submission to a publisher or university.

Number a legal filing

Add page numbers in a “Page X of Y” format to a legal document for court submission.

Number a contract

Add page numbers to a contract so each page can be referenced (e.g., “see page 3, paragraph 2”) in negotiations.

Why this matters for your privacy

☁️ CLOUD PDF TOOLS
📄 your-file.pdf
↓ uploaded over the internet
☁️ their server

A copy of your document sits on someone else’s infrastructure — deleted on their schedule, not yours.

✗ OUT OF YOUR HANDS
DukPdf
📄 your-file.pdf
⟳ stays right where it is
💻 your device

Processed by your own browser, start to finish — on your machine, under your control.

✓ STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE

We send the software to your file — not your file to our servers.

Add Page Numbers — questions

Can I skip the first page (cover)?

Yes. Enable the “Skip first page” option to leave the cover page unnumbered while numbering all subsequent pages.

What number formats are available?

Arabic (1, 2, 3), Roman lowercase (i, ii, iii), Roman uppercase (I, II, III), and “Page X of Y” formats. You can also start numbering from a specific number (e.g., start at 10 for a document that’s part of a larger set).

Is the file uploaded during numbering?

No. Numbering runs entirely in your browser. Open DevTools → Network tab — zero upload requests.

Can I choose which pages get numbered?

Yes. Enter specific page numbers or ranges (e.g. 2-10) in the page selector to number only those pages. Other pages are left unnumbered.

Will the page numbers survive copying and printing?

Yes. The numbers are flattened into the PDF as part of each page’s content. They appear when viewing, printing, or copying the document.

Can I remove the page numbers later?

No. Once numbers are added and the file is saved, they are part of the page content. Keep a copy of the original if you might want to remove them later.

Tools that pair with add page numbers

→ Add WatermarkAdd a custom header or footer→ Organize PDFReorder pages before numbering→ Remove PagesDelete pages before numbering→ Merge PDFCombine numbered documents→ Rotate PDFRotate pages before numbering→ Edit MetadataSet the document title
🔒 DukPdf — YOUR FILES NEVER LEAVE YOUR DEVICE

Ready to add page numbers to a pdf? Your files stay yours.

No server uploads. No watermark. Just open a tool, drop your files, and download the result. Your original files are never modified.

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