Number your PDF pages
Add up to 20 PDFs, customize one numbering style, and process them in queue order.
PDF queue
0 files selected
Free PDF tool · No signup
Add page numbers to PDF with full control.
Number one PDF or a complete batch. Skip cover pages, choose where numbers appear, preview the selected document, and download a new copy without uploading your files.
Multiple PDFsPage count and previewReorder queuePage X of YLocal processing
How to use it
Add consistent page numbers in four steps
The numbering settings are applied separately to each selected PDF, so page counts and “Page X of Y” totals remain correct for each document.
Add your PDFs
Choose one file or a batch. The queue displays each file’s size, page count, and read status.
Arrange the queue
Use the up and down controls to set processing and ZIP order. Select a file to preview its pages.
Choose numbering
Set the start page, displayed number, format, location, font size, color, opacity, and margin.
Process and download
A single result downloads as PDF. Multiple results are packaged into a branded ZIP file.
Worked example: skip a cover page
Suppose a 12-page report has an unnumbered cover. Choose Start on PDF page: 2 and First displayed number: 1. Select Page 1 of 11 formatting.
The cover stays unchanged. The second physical PDF page displays “Page 1 of 11,” the third displays “Page 2 of 11,” and the final physical page displays “Page 11 of 11.”
The total is 11 because only pages 2 through 12 are numbered.
Detailed guide
What happens when NanyApps numbers a PDF
The tool opens each PDF in memory, adds a text object to the chosen position on eligible pages, saves a new PDF, and releases temporary preview and download objects when they are no longer needed.
Choosing the right placement
Bottom-center works well for reports, manuals, and books. Bottom-right is familiar in business documents. Top-right can suit appendices or documents whose footer already contains legal text. Keep enough margin for printers that cannot print to the edge and for pages that will be bound.
Batch behavior
The same style is applied to every file, but page totals are calculated independently. Reordering changes the order shown in the results and ZIP archive; it does not merge the PDFs. Use the Merge PDF tool when the desired output is one continuous document.
Supported PDFs and failure cases
Most standard PDF files work. Password-protected PDFs are rejected because this page has no password-entry or decryption workflow. A corrupted file may fail if its page tree, cross-reference table, streams, or objects cannot be parsed. Some specialized PDFs require desktop software.
Bookmarks, links, annotations, and forms
The tool edits pages rather than rebuilding them from screenshots, so ordinary vector text and images remain selectable and sharp. Links, annotations, and AcroForm fields generally remain. Digital signatures normally become invalid after any content change, and advanced interactive behavior is not guaranteed.
Privacy and temporary data
Processing happens in the active browser tab. Files are not posted to a NanyApps API. Preview canvases, ArrayBuffers, PDF objects, ZIP data, blobs, and object URLs are temporary. Generated download URLs are revoked when results are cleared or the page closes.
Accuracy and visual limitations
Page-number coordinates use each page’s actual dimensions. Rotated pages, unusual crop boxes, or existing content close to the edge can affect appearance. Always open the downloaded PDF and inspect several pages before printing, signing, submitting, or archiving it.
Useful for reports, submissions, and document review
Clear numbering makes a PDF easier to discuss, cite, print, and assemble into a larger workflow.
Academic and office documents
- Assignments with an unnumbered title page
- Project reports and proposals
- Policies, manuals, and handbooks
- Meeting packs and board papers
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting on page 1 when the cover should be skipped
- Using a margin too small for printing
- Placing numbers over existing footer text
- Expecting a modified PDF’s digital signature to remain valid
- Processing a huge batch on a memory-limited phone
Frequently asked questions
PDF page numbering questions
Practical answers about batch processing, privacy, file limits, preservation, and downloads.
Is this PDF page-numbering tool free?
Yes. You can number PDFs without creating an account or paying a fee.
Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?
No. The active tool reads, previews, and modifies PDFs in your browser. The page does not send selected files to NanyApps.
Can I number several PDFs at once?
Yes. Add multiple PDFs, reorder them if needed, and process the queue. A single file downloads as a PDF; multiple completed files download together in a ZIP archive.
Can I skip a cover page and begin with page 1 on the second PDF page?
Yes. Set Start on PDF page to 2 and First displayed number to 1.
Are bookmarks, links, annotations, and forms preserved?
The tool adds text to existing pages and generally keeps ordinary page content, links, annotations, and AcroForm fields. Complex signatures, advanced interactive elements, uncommon encryption, and some document-level structures may not survive every browser-side rewrite exactly.
Why does a password-protected or corrupted PDF fail?
Encrypted PDFs require decryption support and a password workflow that this page does not provide. Damaged PDFs may also have unreadable cross-reference tables or objects. Use an unlocked, valid PDF and try again.
What is the maximum PDF size?
The page recommends up to 100 MB per file, but the practical limit depends on available browser memory, PDF complexity, page count, and the number of files in the queue.
Does the tool overwrite my original PDF?
No. It creates a new file whose name begins with nanyapps-, while the original PDF remains unchanged.
Related PDF tools
Continue the workflow by combining, splitting, rotating, compressing, or converting PDF files.
Found a PDF that does not process correctly?
Report the browser, approximate file size, page count, and the error shown. Do not send confidential PDFs.