PDF Header & Footer Tool
Add custom headers and footers to PDFs online free — insert page titles, dates and custom text. 100% private — runs in your browser, no server.
All header and footer text injection executes locally in your browser session. Your documents, corporate branding notes, and case papers never leave your device.
Add Professional Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers to PDFs
Formal reports, business proposals, contracts, and academic drafts require consistent header and footer branding. ToolJiffy’s PDF Header & Footer Tool allows you to append running titles, confidentiality disclaimers, and dynamic page counters to any existing PDF without needing source files or desktop editing suites.
Because all processing occurs in-browser via pdf-lib, your underlying document resolution and vector typography are 100% preserved.
Supported Settings & Dynamic Numbering Tokens
Configure running headers and footers to suit your publication:
- Header Text: Placed at the top margin, horizontally centered.
- Footer Text: Placed at the bottom margin, horizontally centered.
- Dynamic Tokens: Use
{page}for current page and{total}for total pages. - Automatic Numbering Style: Toggle the style option to append
Page X of Yautomatically to the footer. - Font Size: Adjustable between 7pt and 18pt (default 10pt) using standard Helvetica typography.
Related PDF Formatting Tools
Explore other utilities in our client-side document toolkit:
- PDF Bates Numbering — Stamp sequential alphanumeric trial exhibit identifiers.
- PDF Metadata Remover — Clean document author and creation timestamps.
- PDF Merge — Combine multiple PDF documents into a single file.
- PDF Splitter — Separate documents into individual page files.
How to Add Headers and Footers to a PDF
- Select PDF File: Drop or browse to load your PDF document into browser memory.
- Enter Header & Footer Text: Type your running header and footer text. Use {page} and {total} tokens or enable automatic page numbering.
- Apply and Download: Click Add Header & Footer to stamp vector text across all pages and save your stamped PDF.
Supported Inputs & Output Formats
| Type | Format | Details & Handling |
|---|---|---|
| Input | PDF Document (.pdf) | Any single or multi-page PDF document requiring running headers or footers. |
| Output | Stamped PDF (.pdf) | PDF with crisp vector headers and footers centered at top and bottom margins. |
Common Practical Use Cases
- Document Pagination: Add consistent "Page X of Y" counters across multi-page proposals and contracts.
- Confidentiality Classification: Stamp running notices like "CONFIDENTIAL - DRAFT" or company project codes on all pages.
- Academic & Professional Submissions: Include document titles and chapter identifiers in running margins for formal review.
Important Limitations & Technical Boundaries
- Centered Alignment: Header and footer text blocks are horizontally centered across the page width at top and bottom margins.
- Permanent Text Embedding: Vector text is added directly to page streams; preserve your original PDF prior to stamping.
- Margin Space Required: Positioned 18pt inside page boundaries. Ensure source documents have sufficient header and footer margin clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the PDF Header & Footer Tool work?
It uses client-side pdf-lib to insert vector Helvetica text directly into the page stream at top and bottom margins, supporting centered titles, custom notes, and dynamic page numbering without rasterizing pages.
What dynamic page numbering tokens are supported?
You can use {page} for the current page number and {total} for the total document page count (e.g. "Page {page} of {total}"). You can also choose the automatic page number footer style.
Does adding headers and footers reduce document print or display quality?
No. The tool embeds vector text directly into the PDF coordinate space. The underlying vector artwork, typography, and images in your document remain completely unaffected.
Is my document uploaded to a server?
No. The entire process executes locally in your web browser using JavaScript. No files or document pages are ever uploaded or transmitted over the network.
Can I customize the font size of the header and footer?
Yes. You can adjust the font size in points (between 7pt and 18pt, defaulting to 10pt) to fit your document style.