A header or footer carries the information that should appear on every page without becoming part of the body: a document title, a page number, a classification or a client name. The placement matters as much as the text.
Step by step
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1
Upload your PDF
Drag your PDF onto the box or click Choose file. It is sent over an encrypted connection and only used for this task.
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2
Set the options
Adjust header/footer line, location on page, font and font size. Every field has a sensible default, so you can usually run the tool straight away.
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3
Run it and download
Press Header & Footer and the page shows progress while it works. When it finishes you get a download link — nothing is emailed and nothing is stored longer than it needs to be.
What belongs in the line
The pattern supports surrounding text plus page tokens. Use “Page [PAGE_ARABIC] of [TOTAL_PAGES]” for a reader-facing footer, or a short title and a date for an internal report. Keep it brief; the header is not a second title page. Use a separate Page Numbers pass if you only need numbers.
Position and margins
Choose one of the six header/footer positions. If the line overlaps existing content or sits too close to the paper edge, turn on “increase margins” rather than pushing it outside the printable area. The same position on every page is usually right; a cover page can be excluded with the page range.
Check the first and last page
Open the output and inspect the first page, the last page and a page with a large table. Confirm the line is present where expected, the starting number is correct and the font matches the document. Print one sheet to check the footer is inside the printer’s safe area.
Good habits for Header & Footer
- The preview updates as you type, so you can judge spacing before running it.
- Leave a page range blank to apply to every page.
- Colours accept a hex value, so you can match an existing brand colour exactly.
Common questions
Is this tool free?
Yes. Every tool on this site is free to use, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily task limit.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The tools run in your browser and are processed by this server.
What happens to my files?
They are stored under an unguessable id and swept automatically after a couple of hours. Nothing is shared or indexed.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The page pickers and editors are built for touch, so dragging, rotating and selecting pages all work without a mouse.
What does Header & Footer do exactly?
Apply page numbers or text labels to PDF files.
What is the difference from Page Numbers?
Header & Footer adds any text plus page tokens in a header or footer. Page Numbers focuses on numbering style and placement.
Can I start numbering at a different number?
Yes. Set the starting number in the header/footer options and check the first page after saving.
Can I skip the cover page?
Use the Pages field to apply the header or footer only to the pages that need it.