The fastest way to add page numbers in InDesign

Open your document in InDesign. Go to the menu bar and select Type, then Insert Special Character, then Markers, then Current Page Number. This inserts a marker that automatically updates to show whichever page it lands on. You do this once per page location — usually in a header or footer area — and InDesign handles the rest.

If you want page numbers on every page without repeating this step dozens of times, use a master page instead. Master pages are templates that explore formatting to multiple pages at once. Add the page number marker to the master page, and it appears automatically on every page that uses that master.

The page number marker is not the same as typing "1, 2, 3" by hand. If you rearrange pages or delete a page in the middle, the numbers update themselves. If you type numbers manually, you have to fix them all by hand.

Key Takeaways

  • Page number markers in InDesign update automatically when you move or delete pages, while typed numbers do not.
  • Master pages let you add page numbers to every page at once instead of inserting them individually on each page.
  • The page number marker lives in Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number.
  • You can format page numbers with different fonts, sizes, and positions just like any other text in your document.

Using master pages to add page numbers to the whole document

Open the Pages panel on the right side of your screen. If you do not see it, go to Window > Pages. You will see your document pages listed, and above them a section called Master Pages. Double-click the master page you want to edit — usually called [Default] or A-Master.

You are now editing the master page itself, not a regular page. Any text or object you add here will appear on every page that uses this master. Click where you want the page number to go — typically the bottom corner or center of the page. Then go to Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. The marker appears as a small symbol, usually a # or ^.

When you return to your regular pages, the page number now appears in that location on every page. The number changes automatically based on which page you are viewing. If you want page numbers only on certain pages — for example, not on the title page — you can assign different master pages to different sections of your document.

Formatting and positioning page numbers

The page number marker behaves like regular text. You can change its font, size, color, and alignment just as you would any other text in InDesign. Select the text frame containing the page number, then use the Character panel or the top toolbar to adjust the appearance.

If you want page numbers to appear in a specific location on every page — such as the outer edge of a two-page spread — place the marker in a text frame positioned exactly where you need it. On a master page, you can position this frame precisely, and it will stay in that location on every page that uses the master.

You can also add text before or after the page number marker. For example, type "Page " before the marker and " of 50" after it to create "Page 1 of 50". The marker updates automatically, but the surrounding text stays the same.

Different page number styles for different sections

Some documents need different numbering styles in different sections. A book might use Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for the introduction and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) for the main chapters. InDesign handles this through page numbering sections.

Go to the page where you want the numbering style to change. Right-click on that page in the Pages panel and select Numbering & Section Options. Check the box for Start Section. Then choose your numbering style from the Style dropdown — you will see options like "1, 2, 3" or "a, b, c" or "i, ii, iii". You can also set the starting number if you do not want to begin at 1.

The page number marker you inserted earlier will now display in the new style on pages in that section. Earlier pages keep their original style. This is useful for documents with front matter, main content, and appendices that each need their own numbering system.

Troubleshooting page numbers that do not appear

If you inserted a page number marker but it does not show up on your pages, check whether you are editing the master page or a regular page. If you added the marker to a regular page instead of the master, it will only appear on that one page. Delete it and add it to the master page instead.

Another common issue is that the text frame containing the page number is positioned outside the visible page area. On the master page, make sure the text frame sits within the page boundaries. You can see the page edge as a black outline on the master page.

If the page number shows as a symbol instead of a number, you may have inserted a different special character by mistake. Delete it and use Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number again. Make sure you are selecting Current Page Number specifically, not Next Page Number or another marker.

Adding page numbers only to certain pages

If you want page numbers on most pages but not on a few — such as a title page or chapter opener — you can assign different master pages to different pages in your document. Create a second master page without page numbers, then explore it to the pages where you do not want them to appear.

Right-click on a page in the Pages panel and select explore Master to Pages. Choose the master page without page numbers. That page will now use the new master and will not display page numbers, while the rest of your document keeps the original master with numbers.

This approach is cleaner than deleting the page number from individual pages, because if you later change the master page design, the pages without numbers will update along with the rest of the document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start page numbering from a number other than 1?

Yes. Right-click the page where you want numbering to start in the Pages panel, select Numbering & Section Options, check Start Section, and enter your starting number in the Start Page # field. This is useful if your document is part of a larger book or if you want the first page to be numbered 0 instead of 1.

What is the difference between Current Page Number and Next Page Number?

Current Page Number shows the number of the page the marker is on. Next Page Number shows the number of the following page. Use Current Page Number in almost all cases. Next Page Number is rarely needed and can cause confusion if pages are rearranged.

Do I have to add page numbers to a master page, or can I add them to regular pages?

You can add them to regular pages, but you will have to insert the marker on every single page individually. Using a master page is much faster because you add the marker once and it appears on dozens of pages automatically. Master pages also make it easier to change the position or style of all page numbers at once.

Can page numbers appear in different positions on left and right pages?

Yes, if you use a two-page master that treats left and right pages separately. When you create or edit a master page, you can set it to show both the left and right page layout. Add page numbers to different positions on each side, and they will appear in those positions throughout your document.

What happens to page numbers if I delete a page from the middle of my document?

All page numbers after the deleted page update automatically. If you delete page 5, what was page 6 becomes page 5, and the page number marker updates to show the new number. This is why using the marker is better than typing numbers by hand.