What should a legal document header or footer contain?

Common entries are a confidentiality notice such as "Privileged & Confidential", the case or matter number, the party, the document date and a draft or version mark. Keep them short so they don't cover the body text.

Does a header or footer change the document text?

It adds text to the margins of each page and leaves the existing content untouched. The added text is part of the page, so it prints and appears in every viewer.

What dynamic fields are available?

You can insert page number, total page count, current date (various formats), file name, and custom text. These fields update automatically for each page. For example, 'Page {n} of {total}' produces 'Page 1 of 25' on the first page.

Can I have different headers on odd and even pages?

Yes. This is common in book-style layouts where the author name appears on even pages and the chapter title on odd pages. You can configure completely independent headers and footers for odd versus even pages.

Can I skip the header on the first page?

Yes. You can exclude specific pages from header/footer insertion. This is commonly used to skip the cover page or title page while applying headers to all remaining pages.

Will this work with documents that already have headers?

The tool adds new headers and footers as overlays. If the document already has headers in the page content, you may want to position your new headers to avoid overlap, or use margins to push content down.

Header & Footer

Powerful Header & Footer Features

Dynamic Content

Page numbers, dates, document title, and custom text with automatic per-page updates.

Full Customization

Font, size, color, position, and odd/even page variations for professional output.

Private Processing

Documents processed locally. No files uploaded to any server.

How To Header & Footer Online for Free

Upload Your PDF

Drop your PDF into the tool. Pages are loaded locally on your device.

Configure Headers and Footers

Set text, dynamic fields, fonts, and positioning for headers and footers.

Download Updated PDF

Download the PDF with headers and footers applied to all specified pages.

Add custom headers and footers to PDF documents directly in your browser. Insert text, page numbers, dates, document titles, and other dynamic content in the header and footer areas of every page. Essential for creating professional reports, academic papers, legal documents, and any publication that needs consistent running headers or footers. Processing runs locally via WebAssembly.

Everything You Need in a Header & Footer

Dynamic Fields

Page number, total pages, date, filename inserted automatically per page.

6-Position Layout

Left, center, right positions for both header and footer areas.

Font Styling

Customizable font, size, color, and opacity for professional appearance.

Odd/Even Pages

Different headers for odd and even pages for book-style layouts.

Page Exclusions

Skip header/footer on cover pages or other specified pages.

Local Processing

WebAssembly adds headers on your device. Documents stay private.

How it works locally

The header and footer are drawn onto every page by code in this browser tab, centred in the top and bottom margins, and saved into the PDF so they print with the document. The file never leaves your device.

Legal & compliance toolkit

More tools for preparing confidential and legal PDFs, all running in your browser.

View Metadata
Check what a PDF reveals: properties, XMP, forms and restrictions.
Remove Metadata
Delete author, software, dates and XMP history from a PDF.
Sanitize PDF
Strip metadata, scripts, attachments, comments and form data before sharing.
Redact PDF
Permanently remove confidential text, not just cover it.
Edit Metadata
Set a clean title, author and subject on a PDF.
Flatten PDF
Turn form fields and comments into fixed page content.
Bates Numbering
Number every page for discovery, e.g. ACME000001.
Add Stamps
Mark pages CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, APPROVED or your own text.
Sign PDF
Add a visible signature to a contract or form.
Protect PDF
Encrypt with AES-256 and an open password.
Change Permissions
Allow or block printing, copying, editing and comments.
Remove Restrictions
Lift printing, copying and editing restrictions you're entitled to.
Validate Signature
Check the digital signatures in a signed PDF.

All secure PDF tools for legal work

Frequently Asked Questions

Document Work Made Easy

Process your PDFs with our collection of free, privacy-first tools. No uploads to servers, no registration required. Everything runs directly in your browser.