Add a Header and Footer to a PDF Online — Free & Secure
Put custom text in the top and bottom margins of every page. Left, centre and right slots, with {page}, {pages} and {date} placeholders.
What Is This Tool?
Add Header and Footer stamps short lines of text into the top and bottom margins of every page of a PDF. There are three slots at the top and three at the bottom — left, centre and right — so you can put a company name on the left, a title in the centre and a date on the right, for example. The text is drawn on top of the existing page without moving or resizing your content.
Three placeholders are filled in automatically as the file is processed: {page} becomes the current page number, {pages} becomes the total page count, and {date} becomes today's date. This is a step beyond Add Page Numbers, which only writes a number.
Why Add a Header or Footer?
Headers and footers make a document look finished and make individual printed pages traceable back to the source. A "Confidential" footer, a version number, a matter reference or a "Page 3 of 12" line all help readers and reduce mix-ups.
Common uses
- Add "Confidential" or "Draft" to every page
- Stamp a date, version, or document reference
- Show "Page X of Y" in the footer
- Put a company or project name in the header
Who Uses It
- Businesses finalising reports, proposals and statements
- Legal teams adding matter references and dates
- Students and academics adding titles and page counts
- Anyone circulating a versioned draft
A few real-world examples
- A consultant adds "Acme Ltd — Confidential" to the footer of a 30-page proposal before sending it.
- A law firm stamps a matter number on the left and
{date}on the right of every page of a bundle. - A student adds "Thesis draft — Page {page} of {pages}" to the footer before a supervisor review.
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload your PDF.
Type text into any header or footer slot; use placeholders if you want.
Pick a font size and click "Add Header & Footer".
Download the stamped PDF.
What You'll Get
A new PDF with your text drawn into the top and/or bottom margin of every page. Empty slots are skipped. Your original file is never changed. If a slot's text is wider than the page it may overlap the centre slot — keep each line short.
Features
- Free, no registration, no watermark
- Six slots: header + footer, left / centre / right
{page},{pages}and{date}placeholders- Small, normal or large text
- Existing page content is left in place
Supported Formats
Tips
- Keep each slot short — long lines can run into the centre slot
- Put "Page {page} of {pages}" in the footer centre for a classic look
- If your pages already have content near the edges, use the Small size
- Only Latin-script characters are supported; other scripts are replaced with spaces
Troubleshooting
Problem: "Enter text for at least one header or footer slot"
Solution: All six slots were empty. Type something into at least one of them before submitting.
Problem: My header overlaps the page content
Solution: The text sits in the margin area. If your PDF has very small margins there is not much room — use the Small size, or crop a little space first with Crop PDF (add margin, not remove).
Problem: The left and centre text run together
Solution: One of the slots is too long. Shorten it, or move that text to a slot on its own line (for example, use the header left slot and leave the footer left empty).
Problem: My file won't upload
Solution: Confirm it is a real PDF under 50 MB. If it is password-protected, remove the password first with Unlock PDF.
Add Header and Footer FAQ
Is this tool free?
Yes. Adding a header and footer is completely free, with no sign-up, watermark or hidden limits beyond the 50 MB file size.
How is this different from Add Page Numbers?
Add Page Numbers writes a number in one position. This tool writes any text in up to six positions, with page, total and date placeholders.
What does {date} show?
Today's date, in the form "Month D, YYYY", taken from the server clock at the moment the file is processed.
Can I put a header on some pages only?
Not yet — the text is applied to every page. To vary it, split the PDF, stamp each part, then merge.
Does it change my existing content?
No. The text is drawn on top of the page in the margin area. Nothing is moved or resized.
Are my files kept?
No. Your upload and the result are both deleted automatically a short time after processing.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, in any modern mobile or desktop browser — no app required.
Privacy & Security
Your files are handled securely
All uploads are transferred over an encrypted SSL/TLS connection and processed in an isolated job folder. No one at PDFCherry views, shares, or uses the content of your documents for anything other than stamping the header and footer you entered.
- Uploaded files are automatically deleted within 30 minutes.
- The stamped PDF is automatically deleted within 1 hour after completion.
- Your original file is never modified — the result is always a new, separate file.
Read our full Privacy Policy or Contact Us if you have any questions about how your files are handled.
Why Trust PDFCherry?
PDFCherry is built and maintained by a small, dedicated team and runs on established, industry-standard PDF libraries — not an anonymous "free tool" that resells your files or data. The privacy practices above apply across the whole site. More about PDFCherry.
Having issues or need help? Contact Us — we're here to help.
Ready to Add a Header and Footer?
It's free, secure, and takes just a few seconds. Upload your file and stamp every page.
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