How to add page numbers to a PDF
Page numbers make long documents easy to reference and look far more professional. Slate adds them automatically to every page, in your browser.
Steps
- Open Add Page Numbers.
- Drop in your PDF.
- Choose the position (such as bottom-center) and the starting number.
- Download the numbered PDF.
Good to know
Assembling a document from several files? Merge them first, then add page numbers so the sequence runs cleanly from start to finish.
Position and starting number
Page numbers are stamped into the document and run continuously from the first page to the last, which is exactly what a file needs after several sources have been merged into one. You choose where they sit, such as a bottom corner or the center of the footer, and you can set the starting number so a cover or title page does not have to count as page one. Once saved, the numbers behave like part of the document rather than an overlay that might vanish.
Common problems and how to fix them
- Numbers overlap the text: move them to a margin position such as a bottom corner where the page is clear.
- The cover page should not be numbered: set the starting number or begin numbering after the first page.
- Numbering restarted partway through: this usually means the file was assembled from parts, so add numbers after merging rather than before.
- The numbers are hard to see: choose a position over white space so they are not lost against dense content.
What to do next
Page numbers are best added as one of the final touches. If you are still assembling the document, use Merge PDF first so the numbering runs unbroken across the whole file, then add numbers. Pairing numbers with a light watermark from Watermark PDF is a common way to finish a professional report or contract. Every step runs locally in your browser.