The fastest way to add page numbers

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Go to the Insert tab at the top of the screen. Click Page Numbers — it's in the Header & Footer group. Choose where you want the numbers to appear: top of page, bottom of page, or in the margin. Word will add the number to every page automatically.

That's the whole process. Word handles the counting for you. If you delete a page, the numbers adjust on their own. If you add pages in the middle, the numbering stays correct.

The page number appears in what Word calls a header or footer — a space at the top or bottom of every page that's separate from your main text. You can click on it to edit it, but for basic numbering, you don't need to touch anything after you insert it.

Key Takeaways

  • Click Insert, then Page Numbers, then choose top or bottom of page — Word adds numbers to all pages at once.
  • Page numbers update automatically when you add, delete, or rearrange pages.
  • You can start numbering from a page other than 1 by right-clicking the page number and selecting Format Page Numbers.
  • Different sections of a document can have different numbering styles if you use section breaks, though this requires a few extra steps.
  • Page numbers in headers and footers do not count toward your document's word count.

Choosing where the page number goes

After you click Insert > Page Numbers, Word shows you four placement options. Top of Page puts the number in the header, centered or aligned left or right. Bottom of Page puts it in the footer. Page Margins places it in the outer edge of the page, in the margin area. Current Position inserts the number wherever your cursor is right now — useful if you want the number in the middle of text, though this is uncommon.

Most documents use either top or bottom. Bottom is more standard for reports and formal papers. Top is common in academic work. Choose whichever matches what your reader expects or what your organization requires.

Starting numbering from a number other than 1

By default, Word starts numbering at page 1. If your document is part of a larger project, or if you have a cover page you don't want numbered, you can change where the numbering begins.

Right-click on any page number in your document. Select Format Page Numbers. In the dialog box, find the field that says Start at and enter the number you want. If you want page 1 to show as page 5, enter 5. Click OK.

This change applies to the entire document unless you've created section breaks. If you have section breaks, you can set different starting numbers for each section.

Hiding the page number on the first page

Many documents — especially reports with a title page — don't show a page number on the first page. Word has a built-in option for this.

Go to Insert > Header & Footer > Header (or Footer, depending on where you put your numbers). At the bottom of the menu, check the box that says Different First Page. Word will remove the page number from page 1 only. Pages 2 and onward will still show numbers.

If you've already inserted page numbers and want to use this feature, the page number on page 1 will disappear automatically once you check the box.

Using different numbering styles

By default, Word uses Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3. You can change this to Roman numerals (i, ii, iii or I, II, III), letters (a, b, c or A, B, C), or other formats.

Right-click on any page number. Select Format Page Numbers. In the dialog, find the Number format dropdown and choose the style you want. Select OK.

This is useful if you want the introduction of your document numbered with Roman numerals and the main content with Arabic numerals. To do that, you need to insert a section break between the two parts, then set different numbering for each section — a more advanced step covered in Word's help documentation.

What happens when you edit or move pages

One of Word's strengths is that page numbers stay accurate as you work. If you delete three pages from the middle of your document, the remaining pages renumber themselves when ready. If you cut and paste pages around, the numbers follow the content and adjust automatically.

This is different from manually typing page numbers, which would require you to fix every number after the change. With Word's automatic numbering, you never have to think about it again.

Removing page numbers

If you decide you don't want page numbers, go to Insert > Page Numbers and select Remove Page Numbers. Word deletes them from the entire document at once.

Alternatively, you can click on any page number, select it, and press Delete. This removes just that one instance, but Word will usually add it back on the next page because the header or footer still contains the page number field. Using Remove Page Numbers is cleaner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different page numbers in different sections of my document?

Yes, but you need to insert section breaks first. Go to Layout > Breaks > Section Breaks and choose the type you want. Then right-click the page number in the second section and uncheck Link to Previous. After that, you can set different numbering for each section.

Why is my page number showing on the first page when I don't want it to?

You haven't checked the Different First Page option yet. Go to Insert > Header & Footer > Header (or Footer) and check that box. The number will disappear from page 1 only.

Can I put the page number in the middle of the page instead of the header or footer?

Yes, but it's not recommended because it will appear in the same spot on every page and may overlap your text. Click where you want the number, go to Insert > Page Numbers, and select Current Position. Word inserts the number at your cursor.

Do page numbers count toward my word count?

No. Page numbers in headers and footers are separate from your document's main text and do not appear in the word count. Word counts only the words in the body of your document.

What if I want to restart numbering at 1 on a new page?

Insert a section break at the page where you want numbering to restart. Right-click the page number in that section, select Format Page Numbers, and set Start at to 1. Make sure Link to Previous is unchecked for that section.