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Add page numbers to PDF

Once several files are merged into one, their old page numbers clash. Stamp one continuous sequence across the whole document.

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Number a merged document

Merged bundles (court exhibits, grant applications, a portfolio) are easier to discuss when everyone can say “see page 14”. Merge the files first, then number the result, so the sequence runs unbroken across every part.

Numbers are added as real text in the standard Helvetica font, so they are sharp at any zoom and are included when someone searches or copies text.

SituationWhat happens here
Ordinary PDFsPages are copied as-is: text stays selectable, links on the page keep working, images are not re-compressed.
Password to openYou type the password; it is used only in this tab. The output can't carry the old encryption, so those pages are re-drawn as images (about 144 dpi) and their text is no longer selectable.
Owner password only (no-edit / no-print flags)Opens without asking, but is handled the same way as above: pages become images. We don't strip protection and hand back an editable copy.
Very large jobsEverything is held in this tab's memory. A laptop copes with a few hundred MB; phones and tablets top out sooner. If a tab crashes, merge in batches and then merge the results.
Fillable formsField appearance is kept, but fields may stop being fillable in the merged file. Fill and save forms first.
Digital signaturesAny change to a signed PDF breaks the signature's validation. Merge copies if you need the signed original intact.
Original bookmarksNot carried over. The merger can add one bookmark per file instead.

Questions

How do I add page numbers to a PDF?

Open the PDF, pick one of six positions, choose a format (1, 1 / 12, or Page 1 of 12), and save. The numbers are drawn onto every page of a new copy.

Can I skip the cover page?

Yes. Tick “Don’t number the first page”; numbering then starts on page 2 with whatever start number you set.

Can I start at a number other than 1?

Yes. Set “Start at” to continue numbering from an earlier volume, e.g. start at 101.

Will numbers cover my content?

They sit in the page margin, 28 points (about 1 cm) from the edge. If a page has content right at the edge, choose a different corner.

Do numbers work on rotated pages?

Yes. Placement follows how the page is displayed, so a landscape page gets its number at the visual bottom, reading the right way up.