How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF (Bates, Custom Formats, Ranges)

Why Add Page Numbers?

Page numbers transform a loose stack of pages into a navigable document. Essential for:

• Legal/Contracts: Bates numbering ("EXHIBIT-0001") — court-admissible reference
• Academic: Thesis/dissertation requirements (Roman for front matter, Arabic for body)
• Business: Reports, proposals, invoices — professional polish
• Archival: Scanned document collections — find page 47 of 200 instantly
• Collaboration: "See page 12" — unambiguous reference

Our Add Page Numbers tool handles all formats, positions, ranges — client-side, free, no upload.

How to Add Page Numbers Online

Step-by-step

1. Open onlinepdfeditors.com/add-page-numbers
2. Drag your PDF in
3. Choose format (see below)
4. Choose position (6 presets + custom margin)
5. Set page range (optional: "5-20", "odd", "even")
6. Set start number (default: 1)
7. Click Add Page Numbers
8. Download

Numbering Formats

{`// Page Number Formats in Add Page Numbers

| Format          | Example Output      | Use Case                          |
|-----------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1, 2, 3...      | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5       | Standard (default)                |
| i, ii, iii...   | i, ii, iii, iv, v   | Front matter (Roman lowercase)    |
| I, II, III...   | I, II, III, IV, V   | Front matter (Roman uppercase)    |
| a, b, c...      | a, b, c, d, e       | Appendices (alpha lowercase)      |
| A, B, C...      | A, B, C, D, E       | Appendices (alpha uppercase)      |
| 001, 002...     | 001, 002, 003       | Zero-padded (3 digits)            |
| 0001, 0002...   | 0001, 0002, 0003    | Zero-padded (4 digits, Bates)     |
| Custom          | "Page {page}"       | Any template with {page}, {total} |`}

Custom Template Syntax

• {page} — current page number (formatted per format setting)
• {total} — total pages in range
• Example: "Page {page} of {total}" → "Page 5 of 23"
• Example: "EXHIBIT-{page}" → "EXHIBIT-001"

Bates Numbering (Legal/Medical Standard)

Bates numbering stamps each page with a unique, sequential identifier — prefix + zero-padded number. Required for discovery, evidence, medical records.

How to Set Up Bates

1. Format: Choose "0001, 0002..." (4-digit zero-padded) or "00001..." (5-digit)
2. Prefix: Enter "EXHIBIT-" or "PROD-" or "MED-" (your prefix)
3. Start number: Set to 1 (or continuing from previous production: 1001)
4. Position: Bottom-Center or Bottom-Right (standard)
5. Font: Helvetica 9-11 pt (standard)

Result: "EXHIBIT-0001", "EXHIBIT-0002"... on every page. Court-ready.

Positioning & Styling

Position Presets (6)

• Top-Left
• Top-Center
• Top-Right
• Bottom-Left
• Bottom-Center (most common)
• Bottom-Right

Custom Margin

Fine-tune: X offset (mm from left), Y offset (mm from bottom). For perfect alignment with existing margins.

Font & Size

• Fonts: Helvetica, Times New Roman, Courier New, Arial, Georgia, Verdana
• Size: 6–24 pt (9–11 pt standard for body)
• Color: Full picker (black/gray standard)

Page Ranges & Start Offset

Page Range Syntax

• All (default)
• 5-20 — pages 5 through 20 only
• 1, 3, 5 — specific pages
• odd / even — odd or even pages only

Start Number Offset

Default: 1. But you can start at any number:

• Continuing a series: Part 1 ended at 47 → Part 2 starts at 48
• Bates continuation: Previous production ended at 1,247 → start at 1,248
• Front matter: Roman i, ii, iii... (start at 1, format Roman) → Body: Arabic 1, 2, 3... (start at 1, format Arabic)

FAQ

How do I add page numbers to a PDF for free?

Open onlinepdfeditors.com/add-page-numbers. Drag file. Choose format/position. Apply. Download. Free, no limits, no account, no upload.

Can I add Bates numbering to a PDF?

Yes. Format: 4-digit zero-padded. Prefix: "EXHIBIT-" (or your prefix). Start: 1 (or continuation number). Position: Bottom-Center/Right.

How do I number only certain pages?

Page range field: "5-20" (only those pages get numbers), "odd" (only odd pages), "1, 3, 5" (specific pages).

Can I start page numbering at a specific number?

Yes. Start number field: enter any positive integer. Useful for continuing series across multiple PDFs.

Can I add "Page X of Y" format?

Yes. Custom template: "Page {page} of {total}". Renders as "Page 5 of 23".

Does adding page numbers reduce quality?

No. Numbers drawn as vector text on new layer. Original content untouched. Text sharp at any zoom.

Can I add page numbers to a PDF on my phone?

Yes. onlinepdfeditors.com/add-page-numbers works in mobile Safari/Chrome.

Can I add page numbers without uploading?

Yes — client-side tool. Your PDF never leaves your browser. Numbers applied locally via WebAssembly.

Ready to number your pages? Open Add Page Numbers — standard, Bates, custom formats. Free. Private. Instant.