Add a header and footer to a PDF

Add custom headers and footers to every PDF page

Headers and footers give a document context on every page. A file name at the top tells readers what they are looking at when a page is printed on its own. A date in the footer shows which version they hold. A page count keeps long documents easy to navigate. This tool lets you write that text once and stamps it onto each page of your PDF.

You get a header line, a footer line, a shared alignment and a font size. Dynamic tokens fill in values like the page number and today's date automatically.

Where headers and footers make a difference

• Version control. Stamp the date on drafts so reviewers can tell which revision they are commenting on.
• Client deliverables. Put the project or client name in the header of every page before sending a report.
• Printed packets. When pages are separated, the file name in the header shows where each one came from.
• Legal and compliance. Add a matter reference or a confidentiality notice to the footer of every page.
• Internal documents. Mark pages with a department name or a document code for filing.

Using tokens effectively

Four tokens are listed in the hint below the 'Header' field. They insert the current page number, the total number of pages, the processing date and the source file name. You can combine them with regular words, punctuation and spacing in either field.

A few ideas that work well: put the file name token in the header and a page-of-total footer at the bottom. Or use a company name on the left in the header and the date token in the footer. Keep headers short, since long lines at a large font size can run into page content or off the edge.

The file name token uses the name of the PDF exactly as you added it, including the extension. Rename the file before adding it if you want a cleaner label.

Stamped locally, never uploaded

All the stamping happens in your browser. The page ships with a JavaScript PDF engine that opens your file in local memory, draws the header and footer onto each page and hands you a new document. There is no server step, so your contract, invoice or internal memo never leaves the device you are working on.

When the page is loaded, you can disconnect and still use the tool. It is free and requires no account.

Limitations

The same header and footer are applied to all pages, with no option to skip a cover or vary text between odd and even pages. Alignment is shared by both lines. Text is added on top of existing content, so check that it does not overlap anything important near the top and bottom edges. Images and logos cannot be placed in headers or footers here.

Related tools

If all you need is numbering, Add page numbers offers more format options, a custom start and a cover-page skip. For a diagonal stamp across the page, use Watermark PDF. To place text anywhere on a page, try Add text to PDF. To assemble several files before stamping them, start with Merge PDF.