How to add Bates numbering to a PDF
Last updated: 2 min readEdit PDF
Bates numbering stamps a unique, sequential identifier on every page — the standard for legal discovery, exhibits, and audited records. Open the Bates Numbering tool, set a prefix, starting number, and position, and PDFER stamps each page in order, all in your browser.
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Quick steps
- 1Open Bates Numbering and add your PDF (or the merged set).
- 2Set the prefix, starting number, digit padding, and position.
- 3Apply the numbering and download the stamped file.
What Bates numbering is and who uses it
Bates numbering gives every page a unique, consecutive identifier so documents can be referenced precisely — “see ABC000142.” It's named after the Bates automatic numbering machine.
It's routine in legal discovery, litigation exhibits, medical records, and anywhere a tamper-evident page reference is needed.
Set the prefix, start number, and position
Choose a prefix (often a party or matter code), a starting number, and how many digits to pad to (e.g. 000001), then pick a corner for the stamp.
PDFER applies the label to every page in sequence and downloads the stamped file.
Numbering a set continuously
Bates numbers usually run unbroken across an entire production. To number several documents as one continuous series, merge them into a single PDF first, then apply Bates numbering to the combined file.
Bates numbers vs. page numbers
Page numbers restart per document and are for readers. Bates numbers are globally unique identifiers for referencing and are never meant to repeat across a production — use Add Page Numbers for ordinary pagination and Bates Numbering for legal/record identifiers.
Tools mentioned in this guide
Frequently asked
- What is Bates numbering used for?
- Assigning a unique, sequential identifier to every page so documents can be referenced exactly — standard in legal discovery, exhibits, and audited records.
- How is it different from page numbers?
- Page numbers are per-document pagination for readers. Bates numbers are globally unique IDs that run continuously across a whole production and never repeat.
- Can I number several files as one series?
- Yes — merge them into a single PDF first, then apply Bates numbering so the sequence runs unbroken across all the documents.
- Are my case files uploaded?
- No. Stamping happens in your browser, so confidential documents never leave your device.
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