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Add Header & Footer
Add running header and footer text to every page of a PDF.
Place custom text in the left, center, or right slot of the header and footer on every page. Use dynamic placeholders: {page} for the current page number, {total} for the total page count, and {date} for today's date. Set font size, margin distance from the edge, and text colour. Headers and footers are embedded as real vector text.
- Files never leave your device
- Runs entirely in your browser
- Free, no account needed
How to use Add Header & Footer
Two steps, and nothing to install.
Fill the slots you need
Type text into any of the left, centre and right slots for the header and footer, using {page}, {total} and {date} where you want them substituted.
Set the styling and save
Choose font size, colour and margin distance from the edge, then download the finished document.
More free tools
Free, private, and no sign-up on any of them.
How this works in your browser
Each of the six slots is an independent piece of text positioned against the page edges using the margin you set, drawn into the content stream by pdf-lib as real vector text. Placeholders are resolved per page at generation time: {page} becomes that page's own number, {total} the document length, and {date} the date on your device, all substituted as literal text rather than left as live fields. Using the standard PDF base fonts means nothing needs embedding, so the file barely grows and the text renders identically in every reader while staying selectable and searchable.
Add Header & Footer vs. upload-based online tools
| Feature | Add Header & Footer (in-browser) | Upload-based online tools |
|---|---|---|
| File upload required | No - never leaves your device | Yes - file is sent to a server |
| Processing queue | None - starts instantly | Often, especially at peak times |
| Watermark on output | Never | Common on free plans |
| Usage limits | None - free, unlimited use | Often capped per day or file size |
| Works offline once loaded | Yes, for most tools | No - requires a live connection |
| Account required | No | Often, for anything beyond a trial |
Common ways to use Add Header & Footer
Branding a report
Put a company or project name in the header and a page count in the footer across an entire document.
Dating an issued document
Stamp the issue date on every page so a printed copy can always be traced to a version.
Labelling document status
Carry a reference number, revision or classification on every page for filing and review.
Frequently asked questions
What it can and cannot do, and what happens to your files.
What placeholders can I use?
{page} inserts the current page number, {total} inserts the total page count, and {date} inserts today's date. Combine them freely, for example "Page {page} of {total} - {date}".
Can I have different headers on odd and even pages?
The current tool applies the same header and footer to all pages. For alternating headers, use the tool twice: once for odd pages (extract, add header, reinsert) though this requires manual page management.
Can I skip the header on the first page?
Yes. A "Skip first page" option is available for documents where the first page is a title or cover that should not have a running header.
How is this different from Add Page Numbers?
Page Numbers does one job well: a clean sequence in a corner. Header and Footer gives you six positioned slots for arbitrary text, with placeholders for numbering. If all you want is numbers, the dedicated tool is quicker; if you need a document title, a date and numbering together, use this.
What date does {date} insert?
The date at the moment you generate the file, taken from your own device. It is stamped as fixed text rather than a live field, so it will not update later, which is what you want on an issued document.
Will the header collide with my content?
It can if your pages already use the margin area. The margin setting controls distance from the page edge, so increase it to sit further into the whitespace, and check a page with dense content before saving.
Is my document uploaded anywhere?
No. Headers and footers are stamped in inside your browser tab.
Add professional headers and footers to your PDF - free.
Files never leave your device. No upload, no account, and free for unlimited use.