How to Add Page Numbers on Both Sides in Microsoft Word

To put page numbers on alternating sides in Word, turn on Different Odd & Even Pages, then place the number at the right of an odd-page footer and at the left of an even-page footer. This layout is useful for double-sided documents: the numbers sit near the outside edges of facing pages. The steps below are for Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; the Mac commands are noted where they differ.

Here, “both sides” means alternating left and right across facing pages, not printing two numbers on every page. You can use the same approach for headers instead of footers, or for a different top or bottom position, but the examples use the bottom of the page.

What You’ll Need

A document open in the desktop version of Microsoft Word. The instructions apply to Microsoft 365 on Windows; Word for Mac has a slightly different page-number menu.
At least two pages, or enough text to make Word create a second page. Odd/even footers are easiest to set up when you can see both an odd page and an even page.
Optional: a printer or print-preview settings that support two-sided printing, if the finished document will be printed as a booklet or bound copy. Word can position the numbers, but duplex printing is a separate setting.

Step-by-Step

Save a copy and check for existing page numbers. Save the document before changing its layout. If it already has page numbers, decide whether to keep them or replace them. Multiple number fields in the same footer can create duplicate numbers. To remove an existing set, choose Insert > Page Number > Remove Page Numbers before starting. If the command is unavailable or the existing numbers are part of a custom header or footer, open that area and remove the number field there instead. Be aware that removing numbers can also remove existing formatting or other page-number settings.
Open the footer on a page. Go to page 1 and double-click in the bottom margin, below the main text. Word opens the header and footer editing area and displays the Header & Footer tab. You can also use Insert > Header > Edit Footer. If you prefer numbers at the top, open the header instead; the odd/even setup works the same way.
Turn on separate odd- and even-page footers. On the Header & Footer tab, find the Options group and select Different Odd & Even Pages. Word now treats the odd-page footer and the even-page footer as separate areas. This setting is the key to putting the numbers on opposite sides; aligning a single footer to the right or left by itself would put every number on that same side.
Check whether the first page has a special footer. On the same tab, look at Different First Page. Leave it unchecked if you want the first page numbered like other odd pages. If it is already checked, Word gives page 1 its own footer, separate from the regular odd-page footer. You can keep that option for a cover page, but you will need to add a number to the first-page footer separately if page 1 should display one.
Put the number on the right of an odd page. Stay on page 1, or another odd-numbered page, and make sure the footer label identifies it as an odd-page footer. Choose Insert > Page Number > Bottom of Page, then select a right-aligned style such as Plain Number 3. The page-number field appears at the right. If you already typed footer text, choose a style carefully or use a right-aligned tab stop so you do not overwrite that text.
Put the number on the left of an even page. Scroll to page 2 and double-click its footer. Confirm that Word identifies this as the even-page footer. Choose Insert > Page Number > Bottom of Page and select a left-aligned style such as Plain Number 1. The number on page 2 should now sit on the left, while the number on page 1 remains on the right. If the document begins with a cover page, use the first numbered even page to check the alignment rather than assuming the cover follows the usual pattern.
Confirm the pattern on later pages. Scroll through at least four pages. The intended result is an odd page number on the right, an even page number on the left, and the pattern repeating. If you only have a few pages, add temporary text or use Print Preview to generate enough pages to inspect; remove any temporary text before finishing.
Set the numbering sequence if needed. If page 1 should display a different starting number, or the document is part of a larger report, choose Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers. In the dialog, choose a number format and, if appropriate, set Start at to the desired value. Use Continue from previous section when the numbering should carry on from an earlier section. Do not type a number manually in the footer: a page-number field updates automatically when pages are added or removed.
Close the footer and review the result. Select Close Header and Footer on the ribbon, or double-click in the document body. Open File > Print to inspect the pages in print preview. Check that the numbers are on the outside edges and that no text, rules, or other footer content has shifted into an awkward position.

For Word for Mac, open the footer by double-clicking its bottom margin, then use the Header & Footer tab to enable Different Odd & Even Pages. The page-number command may appear as Insert > Page Number and open a dialog where you choose the location and alignment, rather than showing the same Windows gallery. Choose bottom-of-page placement and right alignment for odd pages, then left alignment for even pages. Menu wording can vary slightly by Mac version, so use the alignment choices in the page-number dialog if the gallery names differ.

Common Mistakes

Changing alignment without enabling odd/even pages: If you right-align the footer before turning on the separate odd/even option, every page may show its number on the right. Enable the option first, then edit each type of footer independently.

Editing the wrong page type: A footer marked “Odd Page Footer” is not the same area as “Even Page Footer.” If you insert the left-aligned number while editing an odd page, you may move the odd-page number rather than set up the even-page side. Check the footer label and verify both page 1 and page 2.

Forgetting the first-page setting: With Different First Page selected, page 1 has a separate footer. It may look blank even though the regular odd-page footer contains a number. Add a number to the first-page footer if required, or clear the option if page 1 should match other odd pages.

Typing the number instead of inserting a field: A manually typed “1” stays “1” on every page and does not recalculate. Use Word’s page-number command so the footer contains an automatic page-number field.

Expecting the printer to flip sheets correctly automatically: Alternating footer positions are a document layout choice. To print on both sides, also select a duplex option in File > Print if your printer supports it. Check whether the printer setting says to flip on the long edge or short edge; the correct choice depends on the document’s orientation and binding.

Tips

For a bound report, put the number at the outside edge: right on odd pages and left on even pages. That keeps numbers away from the binding. If you want them closer to the inner edge instead, reverse the alignments. Always check a two-page spread in print preview because the best position depends on the document’s margins and how it will be bound.

Use the built-in page-number styles as a starting point, not a requirement. You can adjust the footer’s font, size, or position after inserting the field. Select the number and format it like ordinary text. To move it horizontally while keeping other footer content, use the alignment controls or the footer’s tab stops instead of adding repeated spaces, which may shift unpredictably when the document is edited.

If the document has multiple sections, check the footer in each one. Sections can have independent headers and footers, and the Link to Previous setting controls whether a section shares them with the preceding section. Different odd/even pages is a document-level layout choice, but section breaks can still affect whether a number appears or whether numbering continues. Make changes in the appropriate section and confirm its page-number format.

When preparing a file for someone else, save it as a Word document if they may need to edit the layout. If the page positions must remain fixed for viewing or printing, also export a PDF and inspect the PDF pages before sending it. A PDF preserves the layout, but it does not make the page numbers easier to edit later.

Troubleshooting

Numbers appear on the same side on every page. Reopen a footer, confirm Different Odd & Even Pages is selected, and check that you inserted a number separately in both the odd and even footers. Then inspect page 1 and page 2. Do not rely on a single footer alignment setting to alternate sides.

Page 2 has no number. Open page 2’s footer and check whether it is an even-page footer. Insert a number there if it is blank. If you see “First Page Footer,” check whether page 1 has a special footer; that setting affects the first page only, not the ordinary even-page footer.

Every page shows the same number. Remove the manually typed digits and insert an automatic page number through Insert > Page Number. If a field appears stuck, select it and press F9 to update it on Windows. On some laptops, you may need Fn+F9. Updating fields does not correct a number that was typed as plain text.

The numbers restart unexpectedly. Look for a section break near the point where numbering changes. Open the footer in that section, choose Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and select Continue from previous section if the sequence should carry on. If a section is meant to begin a new chapter, use Start at with the intended number instead.

The footer changes in another section too. Open the footer where the change occurred and inspect Link to Previous on the Header & Footer tab. If you need a different footer in that section, turn off the link before editing it. Remember that odd and even footers can each have their own links, so check the relevant page type.

The number is too close to the paper edge or disappears in print. Adjust the footer position or bottom margin using Layout > Margins and the position controls on the Header & Footer tab. Print preview can reveal clipping, but the printer’s nonprintable area also matters. If the number is clipped, move it inward and print a test page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put the page numbers at the top instead of the bottom?
Yes. Open the header instead of the footer and choose a top-of-page number style. Keep Different Odd & Even Pages selected, then align the odd and even headers on opposite sides.

Can I put odd pages on the left and even pages on the right?
Yes. Use the same setup but reverse the alignments: left-align the odd-page number and right-align the even-page number. The common outside-edge arrangement is right on odd pages and left on even pages.

Can I leave the cover page unnumbered?
Yes. Select Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab and leave the first-page footer empty. You can still show numbers on later pages. If the first content page should display “1,” use Format Page Numbers to set the numbering start appropriately.

Will this work if the document has only one page?
You can set up the odd-page footer on a one-page document, but you cannot confirm the even-page side until there is a second page. Add enough content to create page 2, check the alternating layout, and remove any temporary content afterward.

Does this automatically print on both sides of the paper?
No. The odd/even setting changes where page numbers appear in the document. Choose a two-sided or duplex option separately in the print settings, if your printer supports it.

Why do my page numbers disappear after I add a section break?
Each section can have its own footer settings. Open a footer in the new section and check whether it is linked to the previous section and whether a page-number field is present. Add the field or adjust the link and numbering format to match the surrounding pages.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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