Add Header and Footer to PDF
Add header and footer to PDF pages: a title, a date, a note or page numbers at the top or the bottom. Choose where it sits, how big it is, and which pages get it. Everything happens in your browser, so your file is never uploaded.
- Free, no sign-up
- Files never leave your device
- Up to 100 MB per file
Drop a PDF file here
or
Up to 100 MB per file. Your files stay on your device.
Your file stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
What next
- Look at the first and last page: a line that suits the body pages may crowd a cover or a signature page.
- Read the header once more for typos. It now appears on every page, so a mistake shows everywhere.
How to add a header and footer to a PDF
- 1
Click “Choose a PDF file” or drag your PDF into the box.
- 2
Type your header, your footer, or both. Use {page} and {total} for page numbers.
- 3
Choose the position, the text size and which pages should get it.
- 4
Press “Add to the PDF”, then download your file.
When you would use it
Putting a company or department name on every page of a report before it is circulated.
Stamping a case, invoice or project reference on each page, so loose pages can be matched later.
Adding a short "internal use" line at the foot of a document.
Labelling a scanned bundle with its source and date before filing it.
What to expect
The line is fixed: the same words on every page you choose. It does not change with the content of the page.
It can carry a simple page counter, but for a bare cover, a starting number other than one, or "page 3 of 12", use Add page numbers.
The text sits in the margin. On a page whose content runs to the edge — many scans do — it can land on top of something, so look at the busiest page in the preview.
Arabic is written joined and from the right, and a line mixing Arabic with a Latin reference or a date keeps each part where you read it.
For a large diagonal mark across the page rather than a line in the margin, use Add watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a footer to PDF free, with no sign-up?
Yes. No sign-up, no daily limit, and no watermark on your file.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The text is written into your PDF inside your browser, on your device. Your file is never sent to us or anyone else.
How do I add page numbers?
Write {page} where the number should go. {total} becomes the number of pages, so “Page {page} of {total}” comes out as “Page 3 of 12”.
Does it work in Arabic?
Yes. Arabic is written with its letters joined, and a line that mixes Arabic with English words or numbers is put in the right order: the numbers stay the right way round, which is where most tools get it wrong.
Is the text real text?
Yes. It is written as text, not drawn as a picture, so it can be selected, searched and printed at full sharpness. Only the letters you actually used are added to the file, so it barely grows.
Will it cover something on my page?
It is placed in the margin, about a centimetre from the edge. If your pages are already full to the edge, make the text smaller or crop the page first.
Can I change the header afterwards?
Adding another one writes it on top of the first, so go back to your original file and add the new wording to that instead.
Why can’t I open my password-protected PDF?
Protected files are encrypted, so nothing can be written into them. Remove the password first, then open the file again.