How do I leave the cover page unnumbered and start Page 1 on the second sheet?

Set Start Numbering On Page to 2 and keep Starting Number Value at 1. Physical page 1 (your cover) will not be stamped, and physical page 2 will be labeled as Page 1.

What is Bates numbering and how is it formatted here?

Bates numbering is the standard indexing method for legal discovery and compliance records. When you select the Bates format and enter a prefix like EXHIBIT-, the tool stamps EXHIBIT-000001, EXHIBIT-000002, and so on sequentially across every page.

How does the Facing Pages (Book Mirror) position work?

For documents that will be printed double-sided and bound on the spine, Facing Pages mode automatically alternates the horizontal alignment - placing numbers on the Bottom Right of odd-numbered recto pages and the Bottom Left of even-numbered verso pages.

Can I start Bates numbering at a specific number like 000451 for a second batch?

Yes. Set Starting Number Value to 451. The first page of your new document will be stamped as PREFIX-000451, continuing seamlessly from your previous batch.

Does adding page numbers increase the PDF file size or flatten the pages?

No pages are flattened. The tool embeds standard vector font instructions onto each page dictionary, adding only a few kilobytes to a 100-page document while keeping all existing text selectable.

How can I replace old page numbers that are already on a PDF?

Use the PDF Redactor tool in Whiteout mode (or PDF Crop to trim the bottom margin) to cover the old page numbers first, then pass the file into this tool to stamp a fresh, unified sequence.

Add Page Numbers & Bates Stamps to PDF

Once you merge several documents or assemble a long report, pages either have no numbers at all or show conflicting footers from their original files. You can add page numbers to PDF headers and footers right in your browser using templates like Page 1 of 60, Roman numerals (i, ii, iii), or 6-digit legal Bates identifiers (EXHIBIT-000001). Skip cover pages, mirror outer corners for double-sided book printing, and preview placement live on the canvas.

Where custom pagination and Bates numbering matter most

Combining a cover letter, a slide deck, and three financial statements into one PDF leaves the reader with no unified way to reference a specific sheet during a meeting. Saying "look at page 19 of the PDF" only works if "Page 19" is actually printed in the corner when someone prints the packet for a conference room table.

Academic theses and formal corporate manuals need offset numbering: the cover sheet (physical page 1) and the copyright/table-of-contents pages (physical pages 2 through 4) should either stay unnumbered or carry lowercase Roman numerals, while "Page 1" must start on physical page 5.

In legal discovery, medical records, and regulatory audits, standard page numbers are not enough. Courts and opposing counsel require Bates numbering - a fixed prefix paired with a zero-padded 6-digit sequential counter such as ACME-PROD-000142 stamped consistently in the bottom-right margin of every produced page.

How to add page numbers to PDF documents

Drop your PDF file into the upload box or click Select PDF File(s) to open the live pagination preview.
Select a Position in the left panel: Bottom Center, Bottom Right, Bottom Left, Top Right, Top Center, Top Left, or Facing Pages (Outer Margin Mirror).
Choose a Number Format: 1, Page 1, Page 1 of N, - 1 -, Roman Numerals (i, ii, iii), or Legal Bates (PREFIX-000001).
Set Start Numbering On Physical Page (e.g., 2 to skip a cover page) and Starting Number Value (e.g., 1), adjust font family, size, margin offset, and color, then click Stamp Page Numbers & Download.

Pagination formats, book mirroring, and offset controls

The stamper handles academic, publishing, and legal conventions that simple footer tools ignore.

Six numbering templates including Legal Bates: Pick plain digits, Page X, Page X of Y (which automatically calculates the total logical page count), centered dashes - X -, lowercase Roman numerals, or a custom Bates prefix with 6-digit zero padding (CASE-000001).
Independent Start Page and Starting Value: Skipping a cover sheet does not force Page 2 to be labeled "Page 2". Setting Start On Physical Page = 2 and Starting Number = 1 leaves physical Page 1 blank and stamps Page 1 onto physical Page 2.
Facing Pages (Book Mirror) mode: When printing double-sided bound booklets, numbers belong on the outside corner of each spread. Facing Mirror mode automatically stamps odd pages on the Bottom Right and even pages on the Bottom Left.
Typography and margin precision: Choose between Helvetica (Sans), Times Roman (Serif), or Courier (Monospace), adjust font size from 8 pt to 24 pt, pick any HEX ink color, and set the exact margin distance from the page edge in points.
Live canvas verification: Flip through any page in the preview stage to see the exact formatted label rendered in place before exporting.

Worked example: numbering a 64-page thesis with a 4-page front matter

Suppose you have Master-Thesis-Final.pdf (64 physical pages). Physical pages 1 through 4 are the title page, abstract, and table of contents, and Chapter 1 begins on physical page 5.

To number Chapter 1 through the end as Page 1 of 60 through Page 60 of 60:

You select Position: Bottom Center and Format: Page X of Y.
You set Start On Physical Page to 5 and Starting Number Value to 1.
The engine calculates the total logical pages as 64 - 5 + 1 = 60.
Physical pages 1, 2, 3, and 4 remain completely untouched.
Physical page 5 is stamped with Page 1 of 60, physical page 6 gets Page 2 of 60, and physical page 64 gets Page 60 of 60.

If you also want Roman numerals i, ii, iii on physical pages 2 through 4, you can run a quick second pass targeting pages 2–4 with the Roman Numeral format.

Tips for clean footers and handling existing page numbers

Check your Margin Offset (pt) slider on the live preview if your document already has a bottom border or copyright line near the edge. The default 28-point margin sits roughly 0.39 inches (10 mm) from the edge of the sheet, which clears standard printer non-printable zones while staying below body paragraphs.

What if your merged PDF already has old, conflicting page numbers printed in the bottom-right corner? Stamping new numbers directly over old ink looks messy. Either place your new Bates stamp in the Top Right or Bottom Center instead, or first run the file through PDF Crop (trimming 4% off the bottom margin) or PDF Redactor (placing a whiteout box over the old footer) before stamping fresh numbers here.

Local browser processing

All pagination math and vector text stamping execute locally inside your browser using pdf-lib and PDF.js. Your legal exhibits, theses, and financial packets are never uploaded to any server.

Typographic rules for professional document pagination

When numbering formal filings, academic dissertations, or board packets, small placement choices make the document much easier to navigate:

Skip the cover page (Start at Page 2): Formal reports, proposals, and legal briefs rarely print a Page 1 stamp on the decorative front cover or title sheet. Starting pagination on page 2 keeps the cover clean.
Use Page X of Y for contracts and compliance packets: Printing the total page count (Page 3 of 12) on every sheet proves to the recipient that no trailing pages were accidentally dropped during printing, scanning, or faxing.
Match margin offsets (24 pt to 36 pt) to printer safe zones: Office laser printers typically have an unprintable hardware border of 12 pt (~4.2 mm) along the sheet edges. Keeping your footer offset at 24 pt or 36 pt ensures page numbers never clip when printed.

PDF Page Numbers & Bates