Add Headers and Footers to a PDF
Stamp consistent headers and footers on every page: a document title, a confidentiality line, the date, 'Page 3 of 12', or sequential Bates numbers. Set the text, position and style once, check the live preview, and PDFSpark applies it in your browser.
Your file is processed by your own browser and never uploaded. Most online tools send your document to their servers and delete it later — this one never receives it at all.
Why use Header & Footer
- Left, centre and right header and footer slots
- Placeholders for page number, total pages, date and file name
- Bates numbering with a prefix, start number, zero padding and suffix
- Skip cover pages and start numbering from any number
- Stamped the right way up on rotated and cropped pages, with a live preview
- Processed locally, never uploaded
Popular uses
- Add a 'Confidential — do not distribute' line to every page of a report
- Number exhibits for a legal filing with Bates numbers
- Put the document title and date on meeting packs
Header & Footer: frequently asked questions
How do I add a header or footer to a PDF?
Open the PDF in Header & Footer, type the text for the header, footer or both in the left, centre or right boxes, and choose the font, size and margins. Insert placeholders such as {page} or {date} where needed, check the preview, then click Apply. The text is written onto every page you don't skip, in your browser, and the file isn't uploaded.
What is Bates numbering?
Bates numbering stamps each page with a unique sequential identifier, usually a prefix plus a zero-padded number like ABC000123, so pages can be referenced precisely across a large set of documents. It's common in legal discovery and litigation. Header & Footer adds Bates numbers with your own prefix, starting value, number of digits and suffix, in any of the six header and footer positions.
Can I add 'Page X of Y' to a PDF?
Yes. Type 'Page {page} of {total}' and PDFSpark fills in the right numbers on every page. You can also start counting from a different number, for example when a document continues another one, or skip a cover page.
What's the difference between this and Add Page Numbers?
Add Page Numbers places a simple number in one of six positions. Header & Footer is more flexible, with six text slots, custom wording, dates, file names, totals and Bates numbering. Use Add Page Numbers for a quick numbered document, and Header & Footer for formal or legal documents.
Is it safe to add headers and footers to confidential files?
Yes. PDFSpark stamps the pages in your browser, so the document is processed on your device and never uploaded. That's important for the kinds of files that need confidentiality notices and Bates numbers, such as legal discovery sets, HR records and financial reports.