Bates Numbering

When a document set needs to be reviewed, produced, or cited, every page should be easy to find again. Bates numbering adds a unique, sequential reference to each selected PDF page - for example, ACME-000001. It gives legal teams, investigators, and reviewers a shared way to point to the exact same page without relying on a viewer's changing page count.

Use a consistent sequence from the start. A clear prefix and fixed digit length make a production easier to search, cite, and reconcile later.

What is Bates numbering?

A Bates number is a page-level identifier, usually made from a prefix and a padded number. It is widely used for legal discovery, exhibits, investigations, regulatory submissions, and any workflow where documents move between several people. The number is visible on the PDF copy you download, while your original upload remains unchanged.

How to add Bates numbers to a PDF

1. Upload your PDF. Add the document you want to label.
2. Choose the sequence. Set a prefix, starting number, and digit length that fit your matter or production.
3. Set the placement. Pick a page corner, font size, margin, colour, and opacity that stay readable without covering important content.
4. Limit the range when needed. Use a page range to number only the pages that belong in the set.
5. Download the numbered copy. Review the first and last stamp before sharing the new PDF.

Build a numbering sequence that holds up

Small choices at the start prevent confusion when a document set grows. A short, matter-specific prefix keeps separate productions distinct; zero padding keeps labels aligned and easy to scan.

When Bates numbering is useful

• Preparing a document production for legal discovery or disclosure.
• Organising exhibits for a hearing, deposition, mediation, or internal review.
• Tracking pages in an investigation, audit, or regulatory response.
• Creating stable page references for correspondence, notes, and review comments.

Final checks before you share the PDF

• Confirm that the prefix follows the naming convention for the matter or production.
• Check the first and last Bates number against the expected page count.
• Spot-check portrait, landscape, and rotated pages to confirm the stamp is clear.
• Verify that the selected page range includes every page you intend to produce.

Important: This tool creates a newly numbered PDF and does not alter your original file. If the document is being used in a legal matter, follow the applicable court rules, party agreement, and supervising professional's instructions.