How To Add Page Numbers in Word

Inserting page numbers

  1. On the Insert tab, select page number.Screen Shot of Insert Ribbon
  2. Select top of page, or bottom of page.
  3. Select page number design.

Controlling Number formats

You can use different number formats for different sections of your document, such as lowercase Roman numerals for the Table of Contents and Arabic numerals for the rest of the document.

Word uses sections to control page formatting in a document.
Graph showing sections of a document

  1. First start out by turning hidden characters on. This will allow you to see your section breaks. Click on the paragraph symbol under the Paragraph group. Hidden Characters Button
  2. Identify each section of the document that will need a different numbering scheme. (For example: table of contents, body of document, index, appendices, etc)
  3. Starting at the beginning of the document, place the cursor on the last page of the first section.
  4. On the Page Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click BreaksScreen Shot of Page Layout Menu
  5. Under Section Breaks, Select Next PageScreen Shot of Section Break Options
  6. Continue until all sections are marked
  7. Move the cursor back to the beginning of the first section you want page numbers on
  8. Select Insert Tab, Page NumberScreen Shot if Insert Ribbon
  9. Select location of page number.
  10. Go to Design Tab, Page Number, Format Page Number, select number formatScreen shot of Design tab
  11. Select the numbering system you want to use for that section of the documentScreen shot of Page Number Format dialog box
  12. Move to the next section. Repeat steps 7-10

If the format of the numbers changes, but the numbering continues, do the following:

  1. Click into the header of footer on the first page where numbering should restart
  2. Click on Link to Previous in the Design tabScreen shot of Link to Previous button