Whether you are submitting an academic essay in APA format or preparing a multi-page business contract, numbered pages are a mandatory requirement for professional documents. If you simply type a number at the bottom of a page, it will shift out of place the moment you add a new paragraph. Learning how to add page numbers in Google Docs using the native formatting tools ensures your pagination remains perfect, no matter how much you edit the text.
In this formatting guide, we will show you how to automatically generate page numbers, place them in the correct margins, and crucially, how to hide the number on your title page.
How to Insert Basic Page Numbers
Google Docs makes it incredibly easy to apply sequential numbering to an entire document in just three clicks.
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Navigate to the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
- Hover your mouse over Page numbers.
- A small visual grid will appear showing four layout options. Click the option that best suits your needs:
- Top right corner (every page)
- Top right corner (skipping the first page)
- Bottom right corner (every page)
- Bottom right corner (skipping the first page)
Once selected, Google Docs will automatically insert the correct sequential number into the header or footer of every page in your document.
How to Hide the Number on the Title Page
In almost all academic and professional formatting styles, the cover page should never display a page number. If you did not select the “skip first page” option in the previous step, you can still remove it manually without affecting the rest of the document.
- Scroll to the very first page of your document.
- Double-click on the number itself (either in the header or the footer). This will open the Header & Footer editing mode.
- Look for a small checkbox labelled Different first page and ensure it is ticked.
- Delete the number from the first page.
Because you selected “Different first page”, deleting the number here will not delete the number “2” on your second page.
How to Move and Format the Numbers
By default, Google Docs places numbers on the right side. If your university requires them to be centred, you can easily change the alignment.
- Double-click on any page number to open the editing mode.
- Highlight the number with your mouse.
- Use the standard alignment buttons in the top toolbar (Left, Centre, or Right align) to move the number.
- While the number is highlighted, you can also change the font, size, and colour just as you would with normal text. Any change you make to one number will automatically apply to all numbers throughout the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add the total page count (e.g., Page 1 of 5)?
Yes. Double-click your page number to edit it. Type the word “of” followed by a space. Then go to Insert > Page numbers > Page count. Google Docs will automatically calculate the total number of pages and update it if you add more content.
By using the automated pagination tools instead of manual typing, you can ensure your document meets professional submission standards and remains neatly formatted during revisions.
