When working with spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel, it may be helpful to include page numbers, especially if the spreadsheet is many pages long. You can insert a page number in either the header or footer of a spreadsheet, depending on your preference.

To insert page numbers in your spreadsheet, view them, or edit previously-added page number details, select a link below and follow the instructions.

Insert a page number

  • In the Excel spreadsheet, click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.

  • In the Text section, click the Header & Footer option.

  • The spreadsheet changes to the Page Layout view if it hasn’t already. The text cursor is placed in the header by default. To insert a page number in the footer, press Esc, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click in the Add footer area.

  • Insert a page number.

  • View page numbers.

  • Edit page number details.

  • In the Ribbon, if not already selected, click the Header & Footer tab.

  • With the text cursor in the header or footer, click the Page Number option in the Header & Footer Elements section on the Ribbon. The &[Page] text is added to the header or footer, which is the Excel function for the page number.

  • To display the total number of pages after the page number, add a space after &[Page], type the word of, add another space, then click the Number of Pages option in the Ribbon. The &[Pages] text is added and is the Excel function for displaying the total number of pages in the spreadsheet.

  • Input any additional text to the header or footer, as desired. For example, you could add Page in front of the page number, resulting in a display of “Page 1 of 4.”

View page numbers

  • In the Excel Ribbon, click the View tab.
  • In the Workbook Views section, click the Page Layout option.
  • The page numbers are only displayed in the Page Layout view.

Edit page number details

  • In the Excel Ribbon, click the View tab.
  • In the Workbook Views section, click the Page Layout option.
  • Click in the header or footer, depending on where the page number details are set. Enter or change the text, as desired.
  • How to use page breaks in Excel or OpenOffice Calc.
  • How to format a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
  • Microsoft Excel help and support.