Finish a report
Add the company name in the header and page numbers in the footer of an assembled report.
Add PDF headers and footers
Add recurring text with automatic page numbers. Local browser processing without modifying the original file.
- Export
PDF document
No PDF loaded
Drop a PDF here
Add recurring text with automatic page numbers. Available placeholders: {page} and {pages}.
Need more editing options?
Use multiple editing tools in one workspace, with your open file and its current edits.
Open the full editorWas this tool useful?
How does this tool work?
Adding a header and footer to a PDF automatically repeats a line of text at the top and bottom of every page: company name, document title, a “Confidential” notice, a file reference, a page number. It is the expected finish for a report, a thesis or a file assembled from several documents. The header and footer are set independently and applied in your browser.
The Header and Footer buttons each open their own settings: the text, left, centre or right alignment, a size from 6 to 24 points (9 by default) and the margin from the edge of the sheet, from 0 to 50 mm (10 by default). A header or footer left empty is not added.
Two variables are replaced automatically on each page: {page} with the page number and {pages} with the total number of pages. “Page {page} of {pages}” thus becomes “Page 5 of 12” on the fifth page of a twelve-page document.
The text is written in Helvetica, the PDF standard font; for characters it does not cover (Polish, Cyrillic, Greek…), the Liberation Sans font is embedded automatically. The header and footer apply to every page, cover page included.
How to use this tool
Import the PDF
The document opens in the editor with the Header and Footer buttons.
Write the header and footer
Type the header and footer text, insert {page} and {pages} if needed, then set alignment, size and margin.
Download the finished document
The header and footer are added to every page of the new copy.
Use cases
Mark a document as confidential
Write “Confidential – internal use” at the top of every page before sharing.
Reference the documents in a file
Add a file reference and a page number to each supporting document.
Examples
12-page report
The 10 mm margin (about 28 points) places each line 1 cm from the edge. The variables are recalculated for each page, from “Page 1 of 12” to “Page 12 of 12”.
Input
Header “Annual report 2026”, centred, 9 pt; footer “Page {page} of {pages}”, right-aligned, 10 mm marginResult
Page 5: “Annual report 2026” top centre, “Page 5 of 12” bottom rightTips and best practices
- Leave enough margin (10 mm or more) so the text is not cut off when printing.
- Check that no existing text already sits in the same place, otherwise the two will overlap.
- To number pages only, Add page numbers to a PDF offers a ready-made footer.
Frequently asked questions
Which variables can I use?
{page} for the current page number and {pages} for the total number of pages. They can be combined with any text.
Can I leave out the cover page?
No, the header and footer apply to every page. Add them before merging in the cover page, or split it off and merge again.
Which font is used?
Helvetica, with Liberation Sans embedded automatically for characters it does not cover. Asian scripts and emoji are not supported.
Can I add a header without a footer?
Yes. A header or footer with empty text is simply not added.
Is the added text selectable?
Yes. It is written as text on the page, not as an image.
Is the document sent to a server?
No. The header and footer are calculated and written in your browser.
Related tools
Keep going with these tools
Tools similar or complementary to this one.
Works well with
Automatically add page numbers to your PDF document.
PDF & documentsUse this tool
Add a text watermark to every page of a PDF locally in your browser.
PDF & documentsUse this tool
Overlay the pages of one PDF onto another locally, with adjustable opacity.
PDF & documentsUse this tool
Read next
TutorialBest practicesBeginner
How to edit a PDF online: text, images, signatures and annotations
Learn how to visually edit a PDF in your browser: add text and annotations, insert images or signatures, apply watermarks and choose when a specialized tool is better.
11 September 20264 min
GuideBest practicesBeginner
Organize a PDF workflow: chain several transformations
Plan PDF operations in the right order and discover the expanded set of reusable PDF Pipeline recipes.
29 August 20262 min
TutorialBest practicesBeginner
Fill and flatten a PDF form before sharing it
Learn how to fill interactive PDF fields and flatten them into a finalized document for sharing.
10 September 20261 min
TutorialBest practicesBeginner
How to securely redact a PDF before sharing it
Learn why covering text is not enough, how secure PDF redaction removes sensitive information and why sanitization matters before sharing.
10 September 20262 min