Add Header and Footer to PDF
Upload a PDF and add fully customizable headers and footers to every page. Use {{page}} and {{total}} tokens for automatic page numbering, set alignment, font size, and margins - all processed locally in your browser.
Upload a PDF above to get started.
Why Use Our Add Header and Footer Tool?
Header & Footer Together
Configure header and footer text independently in one pass - add both simultaneously or enable just one, each with its own alignment and margin.
Automatic Page Numbering
Use the built-in {{page}} and {{total}} tokens to insert "Page 1 of 10"-style numbering that auto-updates for every page.
Full Style Control
Choose font size, text color, alignment (left / center / right), and side margins so your header and footer always look on-brand.
Private Browser Processing
All processing runs locally in your browser - your PDF never leaves your device and no server upload is required.
Common Use Cases for Add Header and Footer
Legal Document Pagination
Add "Page X of Y" footers to contracts, briefs, and court filings so reviewers can quickly verify completeness and reference specific pages.
Report Branding
Insert a company name or report title in the header of every page so printed reports remain clearly attributed even when pages are separated.
Internal Policy Documents
Stamp "CONFIDENTIAL" or "DRAFT" in the header and add a revision date in the footer to keep internal documents clearly versioned and controlled.
Academic Papers & Theses
Follow submission guidelines by adding running title headers and page-number footers that match the required formatting style.
E-Books & Manuals
Add chapter title headers and sequential page number footers to PDF manuals so readers can navigate large documents with ease.
Meeting Agendas & Handouts
Insert a date and event name in the footer of multi-page handouts so attendees can always identify which meeting the document belongs to.
Understanding How to Add Header and Footer to PDF
What is a PDF Header and Footer?
A PDF header is a line of text drawn at the top of every page - typically containing a document title, company name, or confidentiality label. A PDF footer is a corresponding line at the bottom - most commonly used for page numbers, dates, or copyright notices. Adding headers and footers to a PDF is a non-destructive overlay: the tool places a new text layer on top of the existing page canvas without altering any original content. Our add header and footer to PDF tool uses pdf-lib to render these overlays entirely in your browser.
How Our Add Header and Footer Tool Works
- Upload your PDF - drag and drop or click to browse. The file loads locally; no server upload occurs.
- Configure header and footer - enable each zone independently. Enter your text and use the
{{page}}and{{total}}tokens for automatic page numbering. Set alignment and margins to position text precisely. - Set shared style - pick a font size (8-20 pt), text color, and side margin that applies to both header and footer uniformly.
- Download instantly- click Add Header & Footer. The tool processes every page in milliseconds and triggers a download of the updated PDF.
Page Numbering Tokens & Positioning Reference
Two tokens are available in any text field:
{{page}}- replaced with the current page number (1-based){{total}}- replaced with the total number of pages in the document- Top margin - distance in points from the top edge of the page to the header text baseline (default 20 pt). Increase for pages with a thick top margin.
- Bottom margin - distance in points from the bottom edge to the footer text baseline (default 20 pt).
- Side margin - minimum horizontal inset from both edges, used to prevent text from touching the left or right edge (default 40 pt).
Privacy, Security & Availability
Our add header and footer to PDF tool processes your files entirely inside your browser using the pdf-lib library. Your PDF is never uploaded to any server, shared with third parties, or stored anywhere. The tool is 100% free, requires no account or sign-up, and works on all modern browsers across desktop and mobile devices.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Add Header and Footer
Yes. Both zones are independent - enable or disable each with a checkbox. When both are enabled, the tool applies header and footer to every page in a single pass and produces one output PDF.
Type {{page}} anywhere in your header or footer text and it will be replaced with the current page number. Use {{total}} for the total page count. For example "Page {{page}} of {{total}}" becomes "Page 3 of 10" on the third page.
Each zone has its own alignment selector: Left, Center, or Right. The tool calculates the X position based on the page width, the side margin you set, and an estimate of the rendered text width. Center and right alignment adjust automatically per page.
Top Margin is the distance in points from the top edge of the page down to the header text baseline. Bottom Margin is from the bottom edge up to the footer baseline. Side Margin is the minimum horizontal inset from both left and right edges, preventing text from touching the page border.
Yes. The header and footer text fields are fully independent. Enter any text in each field. Both support the {{page}} and {{total}} tokens.
No. All processing happens locally in your browser using the pdf-lib library. Your PDF never leaves your device, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive documents.
Yes, completely free with no registration, email sign-up, or usage limits. You can add headers and footers to as many PDFs as you need.
No. The tool adds a new text layer on top of the existing page canvas. All original text, images, links, and formatting in your PDF remain completely unchanged.