Last updated: October 2026
How to add a header and footer to a PDF
Short answer: drop your PDF above, type your header and footer text with {page} and {total} tokens if you want page numbers, choose alignment, and click Add header & footer.
- Choose the PDF you want to stamp — it stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
- Type the header text, the footer text, or both. Use {page} for the page number and {total} for the total page count.
- Pick the alignment for the header and footer, plus font size and margin.
- Click “Add header & footer” and download the stamped PDF.
Why add headers and footers to a PDF?
Give every page context — a document title in the header and “Page 3 of 20” in the footer means no page is ever orphaned when printed or shared. Brand your documents — put your company name, report title or confidentiality notice on every page at once. Stay consistent — one pass stamps the whole file identically, instead of editing page by page. If you only need numbers, Add Page Numbers to PDF is the quicker tool; for a draft stamp, add a watermark too.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The entire stamping runs in your browser with JavaScript — your PDF never leaves your device, which makes this safe for sensitive documents.
How do the {page} and {total} tokens work?
Type {page} where you want the current page number and {total} where you want the total page count. For example, “Page {page} of {total}” becomes “Page 3 of 20” on page 3.
Can I have only a header, or only a footer?
Yes. Leave either field blank and only the other one is stamped.
Can the header and footer have different alignments?
Yes — alignment is set separately for the header and the footer, so you can center the header and right-align the footer.
Can I apply the header and footer to only some pages?
Yes. Choose a page range — for example, skip the cover page and start stamping from page 2.
What happens on pages of different sizes?
Each page gets the header and footer positioned from its own edges, so mixed-size documents (for example a landscape chart inside a portrait report) are stamped correctly on every page.
Will the header overlap my content?
It sits in the margin you choose (36 pt by default). If a page is already full to the edge, increase the margin or use a smaller font size.
Can I change the header later?
The text is drawn into the page content, so it can't be edited as a field afterward. Keep your original file and re-run the tool with the corrected text if you need a change.