How to Add Header and Footer to a PDF: Free (2026)
Learn how to add custom headers and footers to any PDF. Free browser tool, supports page numbers and dates.
Why add headers and footers to a PDF?
Headers and footers are the unsung heroes of professional documents. They hold contextual information — chapter titles, dates, company names, confidentiality notices — that frames the entire document. Without them, even a great PDF can feel unfinished.
You typically need headers and footers when you are:
- Branding company reports: Logo on every page, document title in the corner
- Adding legal disclaimers: "Confidential" or "Internal use only" notice on every page
- Including document version info: Version number, revision date, author initials
- Stamping academic submissions: University name, paper title, candidate name
- Distributing manuals: Chapter name at the top, page numbers at the bottom
Headers and footers ensure consistency, save readers from confusion, and elevate the perceived quality of your document.
Method 1: Use UtilBoxx's Free Header & Footer Tool (Recommended)
Our Add Header and Footer to PDF tool gives you full control over what appears on each page. Here's how:
- Go to utilboxx.com/en/tools/pdf/header-footer
- Upload your PDF
- Add a header: text, position, font size, alignment
- Add a footer: text, position, font size, alignment
- Optionally add page numbers, dates, or the file name automatically
- Click "Process" and download the updated PDF
Why this method works:
- Custom text, position, and formatting
- Works on every page automatically
- No installation, no signup
- 100% free
Method 2: Microsoft Word (Limited)
Word's Insert > Header & Footer works for documents created in Word. Once you export to PDF, the header/footer stays. But you cannot add headers/footers to an existing PDF this way — Word has no concept of editing a pre-existing PDF.
Method 3: Adobe Acrobat (Paid)
Adobe Acrobat's Edit PDF > Header & Footer tool is the most powerful, supporting dynamic variables, Bates numbering, and conditional content. It costs $19.99/month and is only worth it for enterprise workflows.
Common questions
Can I use different headers on different pages?
Yes. Most tools let you apply different headers/footers to specific page ranges, such as a "Draft" stamp on the first three pages only.
Will adding a header cover the original content?
No. The tool inserts the header/footer in the page margin. If your PDF already has content right at the edge, you may need to crop or add margins first.
Can I include the date or file name automatically?
Yes. UtilBoxx supports auto-variables like {date}, {filename}, and {page} that update based on the document.
Does this work on scanned PDFs?
If the scanned PDF contains searchable text (OCR'd), yes. For image-only scans, you would need to OCR the PDF first.
Conclusion
For most users, UtilBoxx's Header and Footer tool is the simplest way to brand, label, or annotate PDFs. It is fast, free, and produces clean results without any subscription.