PDF tool for Mac

Add page numbers to a PDF in any corner.

“Page 3 of 12” on a contract, chapter numbers on a thesis, exhibit labels on a legal bundle. Preview can’t do it; Sheaf does it in one drag.

Download for Mac

Free 7-day trial · then one purchase, no subscription · macOS 14+

In short: To add page numbers to a PDF on a Mac, drag it, pause and choose Number pages in Sheaf, pick a style like “Page 1 of 9” and a corner, and save. You can skip the first page and add the file name or date. Preview has no page-numbering feature.Updated 13 November 2026

Sheaf's action circle open around a dragged PDF
Numbered 24 pages“Page 1 of 24” · bottom right
Stays on your MacNo upload, works offline
No accountNothing to sign up for
Originals untouchedEvery result is a new file
One-time purchaseNo subscription
How it works

Page numbers in three moves.

No app to open, no window to find. It happens where the file already is.

  1. Drag

    Start dragging the file from Finder, Mail, Photos or your desktop.

  2. Pause

    Hold still for a moment. Sheaf’s actions open in a circle around your cursor.

  3. Choose More › Number pages

    Pick the style and corner; skip the cover if you like.

Your options on a Mac

Three ways to do it, honestly compared.

Preview (built in)

No page numbering in Preview.

  • Free
  • Can’t add page numbers
  • Text boxes per page are the only workaround

Online PDF sites

Upload the file to a website, wait, download the result.

  • Your document goes to someone else’s server
  • Free plans limit files, size or tasks per day
  • Needs an internet connection

SheafFastest

Drag the file, pause, let go.

  • “1”, “Page 1”, “Page 1 of 9” or Bates
  • Any corner, header or footer
  • Skip the cover page

Styles

  • Page numbers: 1, Page 1, or Page 1 of 9.
  • Header or footer text: the file name, today’s date, or your own words like “Exhibit A”.
  • Bates numbers for legal productions: a prefix and a running number across many PDFs, like ACME000001. See Bates numbering on Mac.

Text stays text

Numbers are drawn onto the page, and the existing text and links keep working.

Questions

Can Preview add page numbers to a PDF?

No. Preview has no page-numbering tool; you’d have to add a text box to every page.

Can I start numbering on page 2?

Yes. Choose Skip first page, so the cover stays clean.

Can I number several PDFs as one sequence?

Yes, with Bates numbering, which continues the count across files.

Keep going

Related tools and guides

Reorder & delete pages

Across several PDFs, then save one.

Watermark PDF

Draft, Confidential or your own words.

Merge PDFs

PDFs and images into one file, with bookmarks.

For law firms

Bates, redaction, court-ready PDFs.

For students

Assignments, scans and forms.

Word to PDF

Word, RTF, text and web pages to PDF.

Your next PDF takes one second.

Drag it, pause, let go. Free for 7 days, then yours with one purchase. Family Sharing included.

Download for Mac

Mac App Store · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon and Intel