Why numbering is separate from page order
Two different things get called a page number: the position of a sheet in the file, and the number printed on it. They often differ. A report with a cover and a contents page usually prints "1" on the third sheet. A chapter extracted from a longer document may need to start at 47 to match the original.
That is why this tool separates the two settings. "First page to number" decides where printing begins; "start numbering at" decides what the first printed number says.
Position conventions
- Bottom centre is the safe default and the usual choice for reports and manuscripts.
- Bottom right suits documents that will be printed single-sided and read as a stack.
- Top right is common in legal and academic work, where the number needs to be visible while flicking through.
Check the margin setting against your document. If your pages already have a footer, a number placed too close to the edge can collide with it or fall inside a printer's non-printable margin.
Numbers as text, not images
The numbers are drawn as real text, so they can be selected and searched, and they stay sharp at any zoom. The rest of the document is untouched: nothing is re-rendered and no quality is lost.
Order of operations
Number last. If you plan to merge documents or remove pages, do it first — otherwise the numbers will not match the finished document, which is worse than having no numbers at all.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip a cover page?
Yes. Set 'first page to number' to 2 or higher and the earlier pages are left clean.
Can numbering start at something other than 1?
Yes. 'Start numbering at' is independent of which page numbering begins on, so an extracted chapter can start at whatever number matches the original document.
Are the numbers real text or images?
Real text. They stay sharp at any zoom and can be selected and searched, and the rest of the document is not re-rendered.
Will the numbers collide with an existing footer?
They can if the margin is too small. Increase the margin setting so the number sits clear of any existing footer content.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The document is read and rewritten entirely in your browser.