Use of total page count in footer I am writing my bachelors thesis and I'm unsure whether to put the total page count into the footer.
The options I consider are:


  page # of ##
  
  page #
  
  #


where # is the page's number and ## is the total page count. 

While I find the first option nice for small documents where a page might get lost, I think it's unnecessary for a large and bound document. 

The second alternative might be pretty but the reader should be able to infer the additional information compared to option three. 

The last option is common in books and journals. Is there a significant difference to a thesis that justifies different styles?

I am pretty much free in the layout of my document and don't have to follow any styleguides.

Which style of page numbering should I use?
You basically answered yourself.


Option 1: not necessary for bound documents.
Option 2: doesn't add much with respect to 3.


So keep the standard approach 3. There are not sufficient motivations to justify putting more ink on those pages.

As the quote says, a designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.