Add Page Numbers to a PDF
Add the PDF tools to your home screen and they work with no connection — your files never leave your device either way.
- Tap the Share button in Safari
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
Add page numbers to a PDF that doesn't have them — in the corner or centre, top or bottom, with the option to skip a cover page and start counting from any number you like.
How it works
The tool opens your PDF, embeds the standard Helvetica font, then walks through the pages drawing the number in your chosen position. Because Helvetica is one of the fonts built into every PDF reader, nothing extra needs to be bundled into the file.
Position is worked out from each page's own dimensions, so a document mixing A4 and landscape pages still gets its numbers placed consistently relative to each page's edges. The text is measured before it's drawn, which is what keeps centred and right-aligned numbers properly aligned.
Existing page content is left completely untouched — the number is simply drawn over the top.
Worked example
A 40-page report has a title page that shouldn't be numbered, and the body should begin at 1. Tick "skip the first page", leave the start value at 1, and choose bottom centre: the title page stays clean and the following 39 pages read 1 to 39.
For a chapter that continues from an earlier document ending at page 82, set "start numbering at" to 83 so the two files read as one sequence.
Common questions
Can I skip numbering the cover page?
Yes. Tick "skip the first page" and numbering starts on page two, which is what most reports and dissertations need.
Can I start counting from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set "start numbering at" to whatever you need — useful when a document is one chapter of something larger and needs to continue from a previous file.
What if the page already has content where the number goes?
The number is drawn on top of whatever is there. If it collides with existing text or a footer, choose a different position or a smaller font size.
Which font is used?
Helvetica, one of the standard fonts every PDF reader is required to support. That keeps the file small and guarantees the numbers display correctly everywhere.
Can I put numbers in the margin or use Roman numerals?
Not currently. The tool offers six positions and four common formats. Roman numerals and custom placement would need a full PDF editor.
Is my document uploaded?
No. The numbering is applied in your browser and the file never leaves your device.