How can I count total pages in a Google Document using Apps Script?

Other Questions Google docs
1

I need help figuring out how to determine the total page count of a Google Document when it gets exported as PDF using Google Apps Script.

I wrote some code to try this but it keeps giving me 0 as the result instead of showing the actual number of pages. Here’s what I attempted:

function countDocumentPages() {
  var pdfBlob = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getAs("application/pdf");
  var blobData = pdfBlob.getDataAsString();
  var pagePattern = /Pages\/Count (\d+)/g;
  var regexMatch;
  var totalPages = 0;

  while(regexMatch = pagePattern.exec(blobData)) {
    Logger.log("FOUND MATCH = " + regexMatch[1]);
    
    var pageNum = parseInt(regexMatch[1]);
    
    if (pageNum > totalPages) {
      totalPages = pageNum;
    }
  }

  Logger.log("total pages = " + totalPages);
  
  return totalPages;
}

What am I doing wrong here? Is there a better way to get the page count from a Google Doc?

2

PDF parsing is a nightmare because Google’s conversion doesn’t keep consistent structure. I found a workaround that actually works - use the Document service API directly instead of fighting with binary PDF data. Just estimate pages by calculating the document’s content height against standard page dimensions. Build a function that grabs total character count, applies average characters-per-line ratios, then divides by estimated lines per page. It handles different font sizes and spacing pretty well. Won’t be pixel-perfect, but you’ll get way more accurate page counts than trying to regex parse PDF internals, especially with mixed formatting or embedded stuff.

3

Your regex won’t work because PDF binary data usually doesn’t have that /Pages/Count pattern, especially with Google’s PDF conversion. I’ve hit this same wall before.

Here’s what actually works - convert to PDF first, then count the page objects directly:

function getPageCount() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var pdfBlob = doc.getAs('application/pdf');
  var tempFile = DriveApp.createFile(pdfBlob);
  
  // Use a different regex pattern for PDF structure
  var content = pdfBlob.getDataAsString();
  var matches = content.match(/\/Type\s*\/Page[^s]/g);
  
  DriveApp.getFileById(tempFile.getId()).setTrashed(true);
  
  return matches ? matches.length : 1;
}

This counts actual page objects in the PDF instead of hunting for a count header. Way more reliable since those page type declarations are almost always there.

4

the pdf parsing is kinda hacky. better to just use the doc body - check paragraph count or estimate from content length. try DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getBody().getParagraphs().length and divide by average paragraphs per page. not perfect, but way simpler than messy pdf data.