Add page numbers to a PDF for free

Yes, the free Adobe Acrobat tool allows you to add page numbers to headers and footers in PDFs. With it, you can:

• Add numbers at the top and bottom of pages.
• Add numbers to the left, right or centre of a page footer.
• Change page number fonts and font sizes.
• Choose from a range of page number formats. For example: a single number, 1 of n, 1/n, Page 1 or Page 1 of n for the header or footer text.
• Specify where you want your page numbers to start – e.g. if you don't want to number the first page.

If you're looking to edit your PDFs further, you can sign up to a 7-day free trial of Acrobat Pro to access the advanced toolbar.

It’s simple to insert page numbers into a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your chosen PDF in Acrobat Pro.
2. Click Add Text to open the copy editor function.
3. Head to: Tools > Edit PDF > Add Header + Footer > Add. From here, you can add page numbers to your PDF.
4. Choose whether you want to add pagination to the top or bottom of the page with header or footer options.
5. Edit the formatting of the PDF pagination. Adjust font, font size, and choose between odd/even numbering.

If you have a PDF with existing page numbers and need to amend or fix them, you can do so for free using the free online tool from Adobe. Here’s what to do:

1. Upload or open your PDF file.
2. Navigate to  Number Pages.
3. Choose Replace existing numbers to amend and update the pagination on the PDF.

If you’re working in Acrobat Pro, you can do this by navigating to  Organise pages  and Page labels, where you can specify your desired page range.

Learn how to renumber PDF pages.

Page numbers on PDFs can appear different when you look at the page thumbnail against the actual document. That’s because the thumbnail adds a number to every page in the document from the first one, regardless of whether it has any content on it. That means front matter – such as the title page, contents page, and foreword or preface – will all be given page numbers.

If you want the page numbering to begin on the actual contents of the PDF rather than the first page of the document, you can create a new numbering sequence.

Bates Numbering is a unique identifier attached to document pages to make each page easy to find and retrieve. Bates Numbers are often used in business, legal and medical industries. They are also sometimes referred to as Bates Stamps.

Each page is assigned an identifier, like:

• Important dates

• Business names

• Case numbers

• Patient names

• Patient record numbers

• ID numbers.

Then a number is typically applied as 001/Date, for ease of identification.

It’s quick and easy to add Bates Numbers to your documents using Adobe Acrobat Pro. All you need to do is:

1. Open the document in Acrobat.
2. Navigate to the ribbon and click on Tools.
3. Choose Edit PDF and then More.
4. Select Bates Numbering and then Add.
5. You can then adjust how the numbering looks on the page.
6. Once you’re finished, hit Ok.

You can add links to specific page numbers in your PDF file to help you easily navigate the document. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to the menu bar and select Edit PDF. Then Link and Add /Edit.
2. Decide on your link location. You can drag the rectangle tool in the area you’d like to create the link.
3. Create the link and adjust the appearance.
4. Choose the destination of the link. You can hyperlink in the document via Page View. Click Next to set the page number.