Filebench
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PDF · Numbering

Add page numbers to a PDF

Stamp page numbers onto an existing PDF. Pick where they sit, what they say, and which number to start from — useful when a document is one section of something larger.

How to add page numbers to a pdf

  1. Drop in a PDF. The page count appears straight away.
  2. Choose a position. Bottom centre is the conventional choice for reports; bottom right suits documents that will be bound on the left.
  3. Pick a format. Plain numbers for most things, 1 of 12 when readers need to know how much is left, Page 1 for formal documents.
  4. Set Start at if this file continues from another document, and tick Skip the first page when page one is a cover. Press Add numbers.

Why this one is different

Almost every free file tool works the same way: you upload your file to a company's server, their machine does the work, and you download the result. That means a copy of your document sat on someone else's hard drive, governed by a privacy policy you did not read.

Filebench does the work in the browser tab you are already looking at. There is no upload step because there is no server to upload to. The practical consequences: no file size limit, no queue, no account, no watermark, and it keeps working if your connection drops after the page loads.

FilebenchTypical online converter
Your file leaves your deviceNeverEvery time
File size limitNoneOften 10–100 MB free
Sign-up requiredNoUsually, past a few files
Watermark on outputNoSometimes
Works offline after loadingYesNo

Questions

Can I start numbering from something other than 1?

Yes. Set Start at to any number. This is what you want when the PDF is chapter two of a longer document and should carry on from where chapter one finished.

How do I keep the cover page unnumbered?

Tick Skip the first page. The cover is left alone and numbering begins on page two, which then shows the number you set as the start value.

Will the numbers cover up my content?

They are drawn in the page margin, and you can move them with the position control or push them further out with the margin setting. If your document has content running to the very edge, increase the margin or choose a corner that is empty.

Does it change the rest of the document?

No. The existing page content is untouched — the number is drawn on top as new content. Text stays selectable and images are not re-compressed.

Can I use Roman numerals or letters?

Not currently; the formats offered are Arabic numerals in a few arrangements. Roman numerals for front matter are a reasonable request and are on the list.

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