Number legal documents

Add Bates numbers to a PDF

Stamp every page with a unique number like ABC000001 for legal, audit and discovery files.

Drop your PDF here or click to browse
  • Processed on your device, never uploaded
  • Free, no sign-up, no watermark

About Bates numbering

Bates numbering stamps a unique number, like ABC000001, on every page of a PDF so each page can be referenced precisely. This tool lets you add Bates numbering to a PDF online free, with your own prefix, start number and digit count. The numbers are searchable text, not images.

It is made for legal, audit and discovery work: paralegals preparing exhibits, auditors labelling evidence, or small firms producing documents to the other side. For example, a law office sending a second batch of records can set "Start at" to the number after the last page of the first batch, so the sequence carries on without gaps.

You choose where the number sits, top or bottom and left, centre or right, plus the text size and margin. Numbering happens in your browser and your PDF is never uploaded. It is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily cap.

How to use Bates numbering

  1. Click Choose file or drop your PDF on the page.
  2. Set the Prefix, Start at and Digits.
  3. Choose the Position (Bottom or Top, and Left, Centre or Right), plus Size and Margin (mm). Use Pages (optional) to limit numbering to certain pages.
  4. Click Add Bates numbers. Each page gets the next number in order.
  5. Download the numbered PDF. Click New file to number another one.

Your format

Any prefix, start number and number of digits.

Real text

Numbers are searchable, not images.

Private by design

Done in your browser; your PDF is never uploaded.

Free, no limits

No sign-up, no watermark and no daily cap.

Example

Input: a 150-page set of client emails for production.

You click: Prefix "SMITH", Start at "1", Digits "6", Position Bottom and Right, then Add Bates numbers.

Result: the pages are stamped SMITH000001 to SMITH000150 in the bottom-right corner.

FAQ

Bates numbering: questions people ask

What is Bates numbering?

It is a unique number stamped on each page of legal or business documents so pages can be referenced precisely.

Is my file uploaded?

No. Everything runs in your browser.

Is there a file size limit?

There's no set file size or page limit. Very large files work best on a computer, because your own device does the work.

Can I continue from a previous file?

Yes. Set "Start at" to the next number after your last file.