What You Can Add to Headers and Footers
Our header/footer tool supports free-text labels, auto-incrementing page numbers, the total page count (for '1 of 10' style numbering), and the current date. You can position content on the left, centre, or right of both the header and footer zones independently — for example, a document title on the left and a page number on the right.
Common Use Cases
The most frequent use cases are: adding page numbers to a report before sharing, adding a 'CONFIDENTIAL' label to the header of a sensitive document, inserting a company name and date in the footer of a contract, and adding 'Draft — Not for Distribution' to every page of a working document.
- Use 'Page {n} of {total}' format so readers know the document length
- Keep header/footer text short — long strings may overflow on narrow pages
- Add a date to working drafts so recipients know which version they have
Font and Styling Options
You can adjust font size (8 pt to 16 pt covers most needs) and choose from a small set of standard PDF fonts (Helvetica, Times, Courier) which are always available without embedding. For most documents, 9–10 pt Helvetica in a neutral grey (#666666) looks clean and unobtrusive.
Step-by-Step: Add Header & Footer
1. Open the Header & Footer tool and upload your PDF. 2. Type your header text in the left, centre, or right field (or leave any blank). 3. Type your footer text the same way — use {page} for auto page numbers and {total} for total pages. 4. Adjust font size and colour if needed. 5. Click Apply and download your updated PDF.