How to Insert Page Numbers in MS Excel

In MS excel, you can easily insert page numbers in the header or footer section of the worksheet pages.

Please note that Excel will not display page numbers on the worksheet in Normal view. You can see them only in Page Layout views and on printed pages.

There are four ways to insert page numbers in MS Excel:

  • Add page numbers in the header on a single worksheet
  • Add page numbers in the footer on a single worksheet
  • Add page numbers in the header on multiple worksheets
  • Add page numbers in the footer on multiple worksheets

Let us begin.


Method #1: Add Page Numbers in the Header on a Single Worksheet

Step #1: Open an Excel Worksheet

Open MS Excel.

Sep #2: Insert Header and Footer

Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Text, click on the Header & Footer icon.

Excel will display the header on the worksheet in Page Layout view.

Note: By default, the page number placeholder is in the center section of the header box. If you want the page number to appear in the left section or the right section, click within the respective section of the header box.

The top menu bar will show the Design tab.

Step #3: Insert Page Number

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Page Number icon.

The text &[Page] will appear in the selected placeholder.

Step #4: Insert Page Number of Total Pages

After the text, &[Page], type a space, type the word Of, and add another space.

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Number of Pages icon.

The text &[Page] of &[Pages] will appear in the selected placeholder.

Click anywhere outside the header to display the actual page number and the total number of pages.

Step #5: Return to Normal View

Click the View tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Workbook Views, click the Normal icon.

The Excel sheet will no longer show the Header, placeholder, and page number.

To see page numbers again, click the Page Layout icon in the section Workbook Views under the View tab in the main menu.


Method #2: Add Page Numbers in the Footer on a Single Worksheet

Step #1: Open an Excel Worksheet

Sep #2: Insert Header and Footer

Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Text, click on the Header & Footer icon.

Excel will display the header on the worksheet in Page Layout view.

The top menu bar will show the Design tab.

Under the Design tab, in the section Navigation, click on the Go to Footer icon.

Excel will display the footer on the worksheet in Page Layout view.

Note: By default, the page number placeholder is in the center section of the footer box. If you want the page number to appear in the left section or the right section, click within the respective section of the footer box.

Step #3: Insert Page Number

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Page Number icon.

The text &[Page] will appear in the selected placeholder.

  1. Step #4: Insert Page Number of Total Pages

After the text, &[Page], type a space, the word Of, and another space.

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Number of Pages icon.

The text &[Page] of &[Pages] will appear in the selected placeholder.

Click anywhere outside the footer to display the actual page number and the total number of pages.

Step #5: Return to Normal View

Click the View tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Workbook Views, click the Normal icon.

The Excel sheet will no longer show the Footer, placeholder, and page number.

To see page numbers again, click the Page Layout icon in the section Workbook Views under the View tab in the main menu.


Method #3: Add Page Numbers in the Header On Multiple Worksheets

Step #1: Open an Excel Worksheet

Sep #2: Select Multiple Worksheets

Select the worksheets to which you want to add page numbers:

To SelectDo This
Any worksheetClick on the tab of the worksheet
Two or more adjacent worksheetsClick on the tab of the first worksheet. Then hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, while you click on the tab of the last worksheet you want to select.
Two or more non-adjacent worksheetsClick on the tab of the first worksheet. Then hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard, while you click on the tab of the other worksheets you want to select.
All worksheets in a workbookRight-click on the tab of any worksheet. In the menu that opens, click on Select All Sheets.

Sep #3: Insert Header and Footer

Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Text, click on the Header & Footer icon.

Excel will display the header on the worksheet in Page Layout view.

Note: By default, the page number placeholder is in the center section of the header box. If you want the page number to appear in the left section or the right section, click within the respective section of the header box.

The top menu bar will show the Design tab.

Step #4: Insert Page Number

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Page Number icon.

The text &[Page] will appear in the selected placeholder.

Step #5: Insert Page Number of Total Pages

After the text, &[Page], type a space, the word Of, and another space.

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Number of Pages icon.

The text &[Page] of &[Pages] will appear in the selected placeholder.

Click anywhere outside the header to display the actual page number and the total number of pages.

Step #6: Return to Normal View

Click the View tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Workbook Views, click the Normal icon.

The Excel sheet will no longer show the Header, placeholder, and page number.

To see page numbers again, click the Page Layout icon in the section Workbook Views under the View tab in the main menu.


Method #4: Add Page Numbers in the Footer On Multiple Worksheets

Step #1: Open an Excel Worksheet

Sep #2: Select Multiple Workheets

Select the worksheets to which you want to add page numbers:

To SelectDo This
Any worksheetClick on the tab of the worksheet
Two or more adjacent worksheetsClick on the tab of the first worksheet. Then hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, while you click on the tab of the last worksheet you want to select.
Two or more non-adjacent worksheetsClick on the tab of the first worksheet. Then hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard, while you click on the tab of the other worksheets you want to select.
All worksheets in a workbookRight-click on the tab of any worksheet. In the menu that opens, click on Select All Sheets.

Sep #3: Insert Header and Footer

Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Text, click on the Header & Footer icon.

Excel will display the header on the worksheet in Page Layout view.

The top menu bar will show the Design tab.

Under the Design tab, in the section Navigation, click on the Go to Footer icon.

Excel will display the footer on the worksheet in Page Layout view.

Note: By default, the page number placeholder is in the center section of the footer box. If you want the page number to appear in the left section or the right section, click within the respective section of the footer box.

Step #4: Insert Page Number

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Page Number icon.

The text &[Page] will appear in the selected placeholder.

  1. Step #4: Insert Page Number of Total Pages

After the text, &[Page], type a space, the word Of, and another space.

Under the Design tab, in the section Header & Footer Elements, click on the Number of Pages icon.

The text &[Page] of &[Pages] will appear in the selected placeholder.

Click anywhere outside the footer to display the actual page number and the total number of pages.

Step #5: Return to Normal View

Click the View tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Workbook Views, click the Normal icon.

The Excel sheet will no longer show the Footer, placeholder, and page number.

To see page numbers again, click the Page Layout icon in the section Workbook Views under the View tab in the main menu.


Conclusion

We have shown you four methods to insert page numbers in MS Excel worksheets—in headers and footers, in single worksheets, and multiple. Use the method that suits your application best. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments section below.

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