How to Add Page Numbers to a Google Doc

If you are writing an essay, a legal contract, or a lengthy business report, page numbers are an absolute necessity. Without them, anyone printing the document risks dropping the papers and permanently ruining the order of the document. Fortunately, Google Docs makes it incredibly easy to automatically insert and format page numbers.

How to Insert Standard Page Numbers

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on Insert in the top menu bar.
3. Hover over Page numbers.
4. A small visual menu will pop up showing four different layout options:
   • Top right corner (starting on page 1).
   • Top right corner (starting on page 2, skipping the title page).
   • Bottom right corner (starting on page 1).
   • Bottom right corner (starting on page 2).
5. Click on the layout that best fits your needs. The numbers will instantly appear on every page of your document.

How to Skip the Title Page

Professional documents usually have a title page or a cover letter. You generally do not want a giant “1” sitting at the top of your pristine cover page.

1. When selecting your layout from the Insert > Page numbers menu, choose one of the options on the right side of the visual menu (the ones that show a blank first page).
2. This will leave your title page blank, and the page immediately following it will automatically be labeled as page 1.

How to Format the Numbers (Font and Size)

When you insert a page number, Google Docs uses its default font (usually Arial, size 11). If the rest of your document is written in Times New Roman, size 12, the page numbers will look completely out of place.

1. Double-click directly on the page number at the top or bottom of the page. This opens the “Header” or “Footer” section.
2. Highlight the number using your mouse.
3. Use the normal font toolbar at the top of the screen to change the font style, size, color, or make it bold/italic.
4. The change you make to this single number will automatically apply to every other page number in the entire document.

How to Add “Page X of Y”

In legal and formal documents, it is standard practice to indicate the total length of the document (e.g., “Page 1 of 5”).

1. Double-click near your existing page number to open the header/footer.
2. Place your cursor just before the number and type the word “Page “.
3. Place your cursor just after the number and type ” of “.
4. Now, go to Insert > Page numbers > Page count.

Your header will now dynamically display “Page 1 of 5”, “Page 2 of 5”, and so on, automatically updating if you add more pages.