How To Add Page Numbers In Google Docs

Dianna Russini

3 min read

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Apr 06, 2025

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How to Add Page Numbers in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding page numbers to your Google Docs is a simple process that significantly enhances the professionalism and readability of your documents, especially for longer pieces. This guide will walk you through different methods and options to ensure your page numbers are perfectly formatted to your needs.

Understanding Page Number Placement Options

Before we begin, it's important to understand where you want your page numbers to appear. Google Docs offers flexibility in placement:

• Top of the page: This is the most common location, usually aligned to the right or center.
• Bottom of the page: Suitable for formal documents or those with a footer already in place.
• Inside margin (for books or booklets): Useful for documents that will be bound or printed as booklets.
• Outside margin (for books or booklets): The opposite of inside margin, also for bound documents.

Method 1: Adding Page Numbers to Your Entire Document

This is the most straightforward method for adding page numbers to all pages of your Google Doc.

1. Open your Google Doc: Start by opening the document you want to add page numbers to.

2. Navigate to Insert: In the top menu bar, click on "Insert".

3. Select Header & Footer: A dropdown menu will appear. Choose "Header & Footer". This will open a small editing area at either the top or bottom of your document. You'll see options to edit the header or footer on specific pages (First page different, etc.).

4. Click "Page Number": Within the header or footer editing area, you'll see a numbered list of options for page numbering. Select the option that best suits your chosen placement and formatting.

5. Customize (Optional): Once you've inserted the page numbers, you can further customize them:

   • Format: Change the font, size, style, and color.
   • Position: Adjust the horizontal and vertical alignment within the header or footer.
   • Start Page Number: If you don't want page 1 to be the first numbered page, adjust this setting.

6. Close the Header & Footer Editor: Once you're satisfied, close the editor. Your page numbers will now appear throughout your document.

Method 2: Adding Page Numbers to Specific Sections

For more complex documents with different sections, you might need more control over page numbering. This involves using section breaks.

1. Insert Section Breaks: To control page numbering independently in different sections, you must insert section breaks where you want the numbering to reset or change. You find this option in the Insert menu under Breaks. Choose Section break (next page).

2. Add Page Numbers to Each Section: Follow steps 3-6 from Method 1 for each section, ensuring the settings are appropriate for each section. You can choose different page number formats or starting numbers for each section.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Page numbers don't appear: Double-check that you've added the page numbers within the header or footer, and not directly in the body of your text. Also, ensure the header/footer is enabled for the pages you expect to see the numbers.
• Page numbers are misaligned: Adjust the margins, alignment, and spacing within the header or footer to ensure proper alignment.
• Numbers don't start where you expect: Ensure you've used section breaks correctly to control page numbering across different sections.

By following these steps, you can confidently add page numbers to your Google Docs, making your documents more organized and professional. Remember to save your work regularly!