Bates Number a PDF

How it works

What is Bates numbering?

It's a sequential control number (e.g. ABC0000001) stamped on every page of a document set — the standard way legal and records teams keep pages uniquely identifiable across a production.

Can I set my own starting number and prefix?

Yes — choose any prefix (like your case or batch code) and the number the count should start from; numbers are zero-padded to 6 digits.

Where does the Bates number appear on the page?

In the corner of each page, positioned to stay clear of the page's normal content, consistent with standard legal production formatting.

Can I run this again on an already-numbered PDF to continue the sequence?

Yes — set the starting number to continue where the last batch left off, useful when numbering a document set across multiple upload sessions.

Is Bates numbering the same as page numbers?

Similar idea, but Bates numbers usually include a fixed prefix (like a case ID) and stay constant across an entire document production, not just one file — use Add Page Numbers instead for plain sequential numbers without a prefix.

Why do legal teams use Bates numbers instead of regular page numbers?

Because a normal page number resets with every file, and Bates numbers don't. In litigation, e-discovery, and depositions, every page across an entire document production needs one identifier that's never repeated, so anyone on the case can cite an exact page — like ABC0000042 — instead of describing which file and which page inside it. That's also why it's sometimes called “Bates stamping.”

Can I add a suffix after the number, not just a prefix?

Not currently — this tool adds your prefix before the number (like CASE-0000001), with no separate suffix field after it. If your production needs text after the number too, you'll need to add that separately for now.