Number a PDF while leaving the cover blank
If the first PDF page is a cover, set First PDF page to 2 and Start numbering at to 1. The second sheet receives number 1, while the cover stays unchanged. First and last page refer to positions in the source PDF, not numbers already printed inside it.
For a document that continues an earlier volume, use a different starting number. A selected four-page range starting at 5 is labelled 5, 6, 7 and 8. With the Page X of Y style, its labels run from ‘Page 5 of 8’ to ‘Page 8 of 8’. The denominator is the final number in the chosen sequence.
Choose a margin that keeps the content readable
Numbers are drawn as new text on top of the existing page. The tool does not make space by moving body text, and it does not remove an earlier numbering sequence. Choose a blank header or footer area and inspect the downloaded result for overlap.
Font size and edge margin are measured in PDF points: 72 points equals one inch. The default uses 12-point Helvetica and a 24-point margin. Tiny page formats may need smaller settings; the tool reports an error if a label cannot fit within the selected margins.
Finish the page order before adding numbers
For a clean sequence, first use Reorder PDF Pages or Delete PDF Pages, then number the finished document. Adding numbers earlier can leave gaps or a confusing sequence if pages are moved later.
Page labels are placed using the visible page crop and the PDF’s stored rotation. This handles mixed portrait and landscape pages without intentionally rasterising their content. The preview shows the original page; the numbered result is available through Download.
This tool adds visible text, not bookmarks or the PDF viewer’s internal page-label metadata. It does not remove password protection, and editing may invalidate existing digital signatures. Your original file remains unchanged.