How to Add a Header and Footer to a PDF — Free & No Upload Required
Stamp a company name, date, confidentiality note, or any custom text into the header or footer of every page — right in your browser.
A consistent header or footer — a company name, confidentiality notice, or date — gives a document a professional, finished look and provides context no matter which page a reader lands on. Adding one to an existing PDF doesn't require going back to the original source file.
Step-by-Step: Add a Header/Footer Using iCreatePDF
- Open iCreatePDF Header & Footer.
- Upload the PDF you want to stamp.
- Enter your header and/or footer text, and choose the alignment.
- Apply to all pages and download the finished PDF.
Privacy Guarantee: Header and footer text is stamped directly onto the PDF in your browser. Your document is never uploaded to a server.
6 Reasons to Add a Header or Footer
Company Branding
Add your company name and logo text to the header of every page in an outgoing document.
Document Dating
Stamp a footer with the print or export date so recipients know how current the version is.
Confidentiality Notices
Add a "Confidential — Do Not Distribute" footer to sensitive internal documents.
Report Series Labels
Add a running header identifying which report or chapter a page belongs to.
Client Deliverables
Add a client name and project reference to the header of a delivered document.
Legal Document Formatting
Add required running headers or footers for court filing formatting standards.
Headers/Footers vs. Page Numbers vs. Bates Numbering
If all you need is sequential page numbers, use the dedicated Add Page Numbers tool for a simpler workflow. If you need legal-style sequential document identifiers (common in litigation), use Bates Numberinginstead. Header & Footer is best for custom text — names, dates, notices — that isn't a simple counter.
iCreatePDF vs Other Header/Footer Tools
| Feature | iCreatePDF | Typical Online Tools |
|---|---|---|
| File uploads to server | Never | Always |
| Custom alignment | Yes | Varies |
| Account required | No | Often yes |
| Cost | Free | Freemium / paywalled |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add different text to the header and footer at the same time?
Yes — set independent header and footer text, and both are applied together across every page in one pass.
Will the header/footer overlap my existing content?
No, text is placed in the page margin area, which keeps it clear of your document's main content.
Can I include the current date automatically?
Yes — insert a date placeholder that's filled in automatically when the PDF is generated.
Can I apply this to only some pages instead of all?
The tool is designed for consistent headers/footers across the whole document; for page-specific text, use Edit PDF to add custom overlays to individual pages.