How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF
July 1, 2026 · 3 min read
A long document without page numbers is hard to navigate, awkward to cite in a meeting, and leaves readers unsure whether a page is missing. Adding page numbers — or a full header and footer, or Bates numbering for a legal file — is one of the simplest ways to make a PDF look professional and organized. You can add them in seconds without leaving your browser.
When you need more than a plain page number
A simple "3" is enough for short documents, but longer and more formal files often need more:
- "Page 3" or "3 of 12": Gives the reader an instant sense of how long the document is and where they are in it.
- Bates numbering: A fixed sequence (like ABC000001) used in legal documents to uniquely identify every page across an entire folder of files.
- A header or footer: A company name, document title, or date repeated at the top or bottom of every page.
Step-by-step: add page numbers with techyworks
- Step 1 — Open your document: Go to techyworks.online and drop your PDF onto the editor.
- Step 2 — Open the numbering tool: From the "Document" menu, choose "Page numbers & headers."
- Step 3 — Choose format and position: Pick a number format (n, Page n, n of N, or Bates numbering), and choose one of six positions — top-left, top-center, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-center, or bottom-right.
- Step 4 — Add a header or footer (optional): Type static text, and optionally include the tokens {n} (current page number), {N} (total pages), and {date} (today's date), which are replaced automatically.
- Step 5 — Set the range and start number: Choose whether to number all pages or only a specific range, set a starting number, and optionally skip the first page (handy for cover pages).
- Step 6 — Apply and download: Review the preview, then click apply. techyworks draws crisp vector text onto every page and downloads the final file — all generated locally in your browser.
Tip: skipping a cover page
It is common for formal documents (reports, theses, presentations) to open with a cover page that shouldn't carry a visible number. The "skip first page" option lets you number the rest of the document normally while leaving the cover clean.
Privacy first
Because the numbering is drawn directly onto the pages using a library that runs in your browser, your document never has to leave your device. That matters especially for contracts, internal reports, and legal documents that often require precise numbering.
Make your documents easier to navigate
Whether you're preparing a 50-page board report or a legal bundle that needs Bates numbering, adding clean, consistent page numbers takes under a minute. Try it now with the free editor at techyworks.online.