Add Header & Footer

What is Add Header & Footer?

Add Header & Footer places custom text at the top or bottom of every page in a PDF. You can add a document title, a confidentiality notice, a date, or automatic page numbers, and control where each piece sits using left, center, and right positions in both the header and footer areas. It is the quick way to make a stack of pages look finished and consistent without redoing the source document. The text is drawn onto each page in your browser with pdf-lib, so the file is never uploaded. Dynamic fields such as page numbers are calculated as the tool writes the output, so numbering stays correct across the whole document. Your existing content is left untouched beneath the added text, and the page count, layout, and selectable text are all preserved, giving you a clean PDF with headers and footers layered cleanly on top.

Why use this tool?

Headers and footers are added locally in your browser, so the document never leaves your device and there is no upload or queue. Dynamic page numbers and dates are generated as part of the export, so they are always accurate. The tool layers text over your existing pages without altering the underlying content, preserving layout, fonts, images, selectable text, and the page count. There are no watermarks, sign-ups, or page limits, and because it runs offline once loaded, you can finalize professional-looking documents anywhere while keeping their contents private.

Common use cases

Use this when you need consistent page numbers across a report, a recurring title or chapter name on every page, or a notice like Confidential or Draft on each sheet. It is useful for assembling printed handouts, legal bundles, manuals, and submissions where pages must be clearly numbered and labeled. It also helps when you merge several documents and need unified numbering across the combined file. Choose specific positions to keep headers and footers from colliding with existing margins or content. For documents that already carry their own headers, target an empty corner so the new text does not overlap the original.

How to use Add Header & Footer

1. 1Open the Add Header & Footer tool and load your PDF.
2. 2Type the header and footer text into the position slots you want to use.
3. 3Insert dynamic fields like page number or date where needed.
4. 4Preview placement and adjust positions so text clears existing content.
5. 5Download the PDF with headers and footers applied.

Frequently asked questions

Is my PDF uploaded to add headers?

No. The header and footer text is drawn onto your pages in the browser using pdf-lib, and the file never leaves your device. Nothing is uploaded, stored, or logged, so confidential reports and legal documents stay private. After the page loads, you can add headers and footers offline and download the result locally.

What exactly is added to the file?

Only the header and footer text you specify is drawn onto each page in the positions you choose. Your original content, layout, fonts, images, and page count are untouched and the text underneath remains selectable. The added text sits as a layer on top, so the rest of the document looks exactly as before with your headers and footers in place.

How do page numbers stay correct?

Page numbers are dynamic fields calculated as the output is written, so each page receives its correct number automatically, even across long or merged documents. You do not type numbers manually. If you change the page range or re-run the document, the numbering recalculates to match the pages being exported.

Can I remove the headers and footers later?

The added text becomes part of the exported PDF, so it is not toggled off in a viewer. However, your original file is never overwritten, so you always keep a clean copy. To change wording or position, re-run the original through the tool; you are not stuck with a single version.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. You can add headers and footers in a modern mobile browser on iOS or Android, entering text and inserting dynamic fields with touch. Processing happens on your device, so larger files take a little longer on a phone, and the finished PDF saves directly to your device's reader.

How do I stop the text overlapping existing content?

Use the left, center, and right position slots to place text in margins that are free, and preview the result before downloading. If your pages already have content near the edges, choose an empty corner or shorten the text. Adjusting position rather than overwriting keeps both your original content and the new labels legible.

1. 1Use the left, center, and right slots to balance a title, page number, and date across one line.
2. 2Insert the page-number field rather than typing numbers so they stay correct after edits.
3. 3Preview before exporting to confirm the text clears your document's existing margins.
4. 4Keep header and footer text short so it does not crowd the page corners.

How does it compare?

Adobe Acrobat offers rich header and footer controls including saved presets and Bates numbering, but needs the paid application. Smallpdf and iLovePDF provide page numbering and some header options, though they generally upload your file and limit free use. This tool adds positioned headers, footers, and dynamic page numbers entirely in your browser with no upload and no watermark. For advanced legal numbering schemes Acrobat leads; for fast, private header and footer labeling, the in-browser tool is the simpler choice.

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