Add Header & Footer to PDF
Add visible page headers, footers and page numbers
About this tool
Add a single-line Latin header and footer to each visible PDF page. The {page} placeholder becomes the actual one-based page number in either field. Left, center and right alignment use the displayed page after cropping and rotation, with physical point margins and a 6β48 point font. Overlong lines and unsupported characters are rejected rather than silently clipped. Blank header and footer fields are a no-operation. Original forms and annotations remain; the output is a separate editable copy.
Scenario Recipes
Number a review copy
Goal: Place page numbers where they remain visible on cropped and rotated pages.
- Load an unsigned PDF and enter Review copy in the header.
- Set the footer to Page {page}, choose alignment and a physical margin.
- Create and download the copy; compare the first and last pages in another reader.
Result: A review copy with predictable page labels.
Failure Clinic (Common Pitfalls)
A placeholder stays unchanged
Cause: Only {page} has special meaning.
Fix: Use Page {page}; type all other labels literally.
Labels overlap existing content
Cause: This tool adds content without moving the original page text.
Fix: Use a smaller font or a margin with enough existing whitespace.
Production Snippets
Literal page replacement
text
Footer: Page {page}
Page 1: Page 1
Page 12: Page 12Frequently Asked Questions
What does {page} mean?
It is replaced by the actual one-based page number in both header and footer text. Other placeholders are ordinary text.
How are margins measured?
Margins are physical points from the visible page edges after cropping and rotation. 72 points equal one inch.
Can I add Chinese text?
No. New labels use a built-in Latin font; Chinese and emoji are rejected. Existing Chinese page content is retained.
Why did no file appear with empty fields?
Both fields are empty, so no page would change. Enter at least one header or footer.
Will a long header be cut off?
No output is created if a line cannot fit a selected visible page. Shorten the text, decrease the font or reduce the margin.
What files are unsupported?
Encrypted PDFs, XFA and digital signature fields, including empty signature fields, are rejected. Inputs are limited to 50 MiB and 200 pages, with an 80 MiB output limit.
Does processing upload the document?
PDF processing runs locally in your browser. Generate a separate result and click Download; keep and inspect the original and output before sharing.
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