Add Header & Footer to PDF
Place a professional header or footer on every page of your PDF. Add your company name, document title, or any text – all in your browser, nothing uploaded.
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How to Add a Header and Footer to a PDF – The Complete Guide
When you send a multi‑page document, a small header or footer that reminds the reader whose document it is or what section they're in adds a layer of professionalism that's hard to overstate. The Header & Footer tool on eazypdftools.com lets you place custom text at the top and bottom of every page in your PDF in a single click, entirely inside your browser. In this guide, I'll walk you through the process, share tips for effective headers and footers, and answer common questions about branding your PDFs.
How to Use the Header & Footer Tool
The tool places text at the top center (header) and bottom center (footer) of every page. Here are the five steps:
Step‑by‑step process
- Upload your PDF. Drag it onto the upload area or click to browse. A small preview of the first page appears, confirming you've selected the correct file.
- Enter your header and/or footer text. Type the text you want to appear at the top (e.g., "Company Name – Q3 Report") and/or at the bottom (e.g., "Confidential"). You can fill in both, just one, or leave one empty — the tool will skip the blank field.
- Choose the font size. The default is 10 points, which fits comfortably in most document margins. You can increase or decrease this depending on how prominent you want the text to be. For longer header texts, a smaller font (8–9) works better.
- Click Apply & Download. The button activates once a file is loaded and at least one text field is filled. Press it, and the tool draws the header and footer on every page using a clean, bold Helvetica font in a semi‑transparent dark gray color, so the text is visible but doesn't overpower your main content.
- Open the downloaded PDF to verify. Scroll through the pages to ensure the header and footer appear correctly and at the expected positions. Your original file remains untouched on your device.
Tips & Tricks for Better Headers and Footers
Here are some practical tips to make your headers and footers look professional and serve their purpose well.
1. Keep the text short and purposeful
A header that says "Quarterly Financial Review – Fiscal Year 2026 – Prepared by the Finance Department – All Rights Reserved" will wrap, crowd the margins, and look messy. Stick to a single, concise phrase like "Q3 2026 Financial Review" or just your company name. The header should support the document, not compete with it.
2. Use footers for confidentiality or version labels
The footer is a natural place for metadata that shouldn't distract from the main content: "Confidential," "Draft – Do Not Distribute," or "Version 2.3." It's also ideal for document IDs, dates, or project codes. Because the footer sits at the very bottom, it's less intrusive than a header.
3. Add page numbers separately using the dedicated tool
This tool adds static text only. If you need automatic page numbering (1, 2, 3…), use our Add Page Numbers tool after you've applied the header and footer. The two tools complement each other: you can add your brand text first, then insert numbers in a second pass.
4. Watch your document's margin space
The header and footer are placed about 30 points from the top and bottom edges respectively. If your PDF has very tight margins (e.g., less than 0.5 inches), the text may overlap with your content. Before applying, check the margins in your source document. Most standard documents (1‑inch margins) have plenty of room.
5. Check the output in a PDF reader that supports overprinting
The tool draws text on top of existing content. In rare cases, certain PDF viewers may render the header/footer behind background images or colored blocks. Open the result in at least two different PDF viewers (e.g., Chrome and Adobe Acrobat) to confirm the text is visible and positioned correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Header & Footer tool free?
Yes, completely free with no watermark, no page limit, and no account required. The site is supported by non‑intrusive ads, but you’ll never be asked to pay.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. All processing happens inside your browser (client‑side). Your PDF never leaves your device, and we never see, store, or upload it.
Can I add both a header and a footer at the same time?
Yes. The tool lets you enter text for the header, footer, or both. You can also choose different positions and font sizes for each.
Will the header/footer overlap with my existing content?
The text is drawn near the edge of the page with a small margin. If your document has very narrow margins, it may overlap. Check the result and adjust margins in the source document if needed.
Can I include page numbers in the header or footer?
Not automatically, but you can type static text. For automatic page numbering, use our dedicated Add Page Numbers tool.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, the entire EazyPDFTools website is responsive. You can add headers/footers on iPhone, Android, or iPad using any modern browser.
Conclusion
Adding a header and footer is one of the easiest ways to make a PDF look polished and intentional. The Header & Footer tool on eazypdftools.com lets you place that professional touch in seconds, entirely within your browser, with no uploads. Because everything runs locally, your documents stay private. No sign‑ups, no costs.
Next time you need to brand or label a PDF, skip the downloads and the complicated desktop software. Just visit this page, drop your file, type your text, and get a perfectly annotated PDF in seconds. We'll keep the tool fast, free, and reliable.