Add Page Numbers to PDF

When a document needs numbering

Page numbers stop being decorative the moment a document has to be referred to. A reviewer saying the figure on page twelve, a contract clause cited by page, an assignment where the marking scheme expects them, a printed bundle that someone will drop and have to reassemble. Documents assembled from several sources almost never carry numbering already, because each piece was numbered separately or not at all.

Where to put them and why

Bottom centre is the safest default, because it sits clear of most content and reads naturally. Bottom right suits documents that will be printed single sided and flicked through, since that corner is what your thumb exposes. Avoid the top of the page if your document has running headers, and leave enough margin that a printer or a binding does not clip the number off.

Getting it right first time

• Number after you have finished merging, splitting and deleting pages, not before.
• Decide whether a cover page should count as page one or be skipped.
• Check the last page as well as the first, since a long document can shift unexpectedly.
• Keep the unnumbered original in case you need to reorder anything later.