Editing & Signing
How to Add a Header and Footer to a PDF
Stamp a document title, reference number, date or confidentiality notice across every page — without covering the content underneath.
Headers and footers carry the information that has to be on every page: what the document is, which version, which matter, who it belongs to. On a merged pack they are often the only thing tying the pages together.
What to put there
| Position | Typical content |
|---|---|
| Header left | Document title or matter name |
| Header right | Version, date or reference number |
| Footer left | Confidentiality notice |
| Footer centre | Page numbers |
| Footer right | Filename or document ID |
Resist filling all five. Two or three pieces of information read as professional; five read as clutter and get ignored.
Adding them
- 1Open the Add Watermark tool and add your PDF — header and footer text is placed the same way.
- 2Position the text at the top or bottom margin.
- 3Set the size small — 8 to 9pt, smaller than the body text.
- 4Apply, then check pages with content close to the edge.
Documents that already have them
A merged pack from several sources usually arrives with several different headers already in place. Adding another produces a stack. Either place yours where the existing ones are not, or accept the originals and add only a page number — on a bundle, continuous numbering is what actually gets used.
Confidentiality notices
A footer saying "Confidential — not for distribution" sets expectations and supports a later argument that the recipient knew. It does not restrict anything technically. Pair it with actual controls — encryption, a per-recipient watermark — if the content warrants them.
Get the document final first
Headers and footers become part of the page. Reordering or deleting pages afterwards leaves them saying the wrong things, particularly where they carry section names. Finalise the document, then stamp it.
Keeping it consistent across a pack
On a merged bundle assembled from several sources, consistency is the point. One header format, one footer format, applied to the whole document after merging, is what makes a pack read as a single document rather than as a stack of other people's files.
Apply it last, after the pages are in final order, and use the same wording throughout — including on the pages that already had their own headers, where yours will simply sit in a different position.
Legal and formal bundles
Court bundles and tender submissions usually specify exactly what must appear and where: a bundle reference, continuous pagination, sometimes a tab number. Where a specification exists, follow it precisely rather than applying house style — non-compliant pagination is a common reason for a bundle to be sent back.
Do it now
Add Watermark
Add text or image watermarks. It runs in this browser tab — your file is not uploaded anywhere.
Open Add WatermarkFrequently asked questions
Can I add different headers to different pages?+
Yes, by applying to page ranges — useful when appendices need their own label.
What size should header text be?+
8–9pt. Smaller than the body text, so it reads as furniture rather than content.
Will it overlap my content?+
It can, on pages with narrow margins. Check the whole document, not just the first page.
Is a confidentiality footer legally meaningful?+
It evidences that the recipient was told. It does not prevent anything on its own.