Change page and chapter number formatting

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to customize page and chapter numbering styles in Adobe InDesign to control how numbers appear across documents and books.

InDesign lets each document control its own numbering while the Book panel keeps everything synchronized. To correct numbering issues, adjust the settings in the numbering options or preferences.

Add page or chapter numbers

Open the Pages panel and select the page whose numbering style you want to change.

Choose Layout > Numbering & Section Options.

Select a new number format from Style, under Page Numbering or Document Chapter Numbering

Select OK.

Configure numbering options for a book

Select the document in the Book panel.

Choose Document Numbering Options. If you set a starting page number instead of using Automatic Page Numbering, the book starts at that number and renumbers all following documents.

Select OK.

Start numbering on odd or even pages

Select the panel menu icon and then select Book Page Numbering Options.

Select Continue On Next Odd Page or Continue On Next Even Page.

Select Insert Blank Page to have InDesign automatically add a blank page when needed to maintain odd- or even-page starts.

Select OK.

Change page numbering style

Open the Pages panel by selecting Window > Pages.

Select the page thumbnail where you want the new numbering style to begin.

Select Layout > Numbering & Section Options.

Specify numbering options.

Select OK.

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Add auto-update page numbers and section markers

Switch between absolute and section numbering

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