How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF Online — Free, Full Control

A scan of a 200-page report comes back without page numbers because the original didn't have them. A merged PDF made of five sources doesn't have continuous numbering. Adding page numbers takes twenty seconds and saves the recipient from scrolling without anchors.

When you actually need Add Page Numbers

Reports that lost their numbering during scanning, merged PDFs that need continuous numbering across the bundle, drafts that need fresh numbering after re-ordering, handouts that need labels for cross-referencing during a meeting.

How to add page numbers, step by step

Open the tool

Go to convertpdfgo.com/add-page-numbers. No account, no email, no installation.

Drop the PDF in

Drag the file onto the upload area or click to pick. Files up to 30 MB go through without a queue. Encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3), encrypted at rest, deleted within one hour.

Configure your run

Pick position, font size, colour, starting number, and page range.

Download

The output is a clean PDF — open in any reader.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Numbering overlaps the content

Move position from bottom-center to bottom-right (corner is less intrusive), or reduce font size from 12 to 9 points.

Wrong number on the first page

Set first_number — if your real document starts at page 5 (after a TOC), use first_number=5 with page_range="5-" to skip the front matter.

Numbers appear on cover too

Use page_range "2-" to skip page 1, or "3-" to skip the first two pages.

A short word on privacy

Three things to know. One: files go over TLS 1.3. Two: files are encrypted at rest while we process them, then deleted automatically within one hour. Three: we don't look at your files or train on them.

How we compare to other free tools

Feature	convertpdfgo	Smallpdf	iLovePDF
Sign-up	None	After 2/day	Optional
Watermark	None	None	None
Auto-delete	1 hour	Vague	2 hours

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the cover page?

Yes — set the page range to "2-" (or "2-N"). The cover page stays untouched, numbering starts at page 2.

Can I start numbering from a different number?

Yes — set first_number to 5 (or whatever) and pages will be labelled 5, 6, 7...

Are my files private?

Files are encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest, then auto-deleted within one hour.

Will it work on protected PDFs?

Not directly — unlock the PDF first with our Unlock PDF tool if you know the password.

Is there a usage limit?

No. Free, no daily cap, no sign-up wall, no watermark.

How long does it take?

About 1-3 seconds for most files. Larger or image-heavy PDFs can take up to 30 seconds.

What's the file size limit?

30 MB as a guest, 50 MB when signed in.

What to do next

Now you can Header & Footer, Merge PDF, or Watermark. All free.

Or browse our full list of 49 free PDF tools.