Add Bates Numbers to a PDF
Stamp professional Bates numbers across a document — the sequential, zero-padded page identifiers used in legal document production (like CASE-000001). Set a prefix, suffix, starting number, and fixed width, then choose exactly which pages are numbered.
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Bates numbering options
Add a valid PDF on the left to see real page previews.
Add a valid PDF above to turn this on.
Before processing
- File must be a valid PDF
- Starting number must be zero or greater
- Increment must be greater than zero
- Numeric width must be within its supported range
- A formatted number must never exceed its configured width — this is rejected rather than truncated
- The final prefix/suffix/number combination must only contain characters the built-in font supports
- The resolved page range must include at least one page
How to use Add Bates Numbers to PDF
- 1Upload your PDF
- 2Set your starting number, prefix, suffix, and width
- 3Choose which pages are numbered and whether skipped pages count
- 4Pick a position
- 5Download your PDF
Real use cases
Numbering a document production set for litigation with a case-specific prefix
Continuing a Bates sequence from a previous batch by setting a custom starting number
Numbering only the pages actually produced, while skipping a cover sheet
Applying a consistent CASE-000001-style identifier across a large exhibit set
Benefits
Custom prefix, suffix, starting number, increment, and zero-padded width
A clear, explicit policy for whether skipped pages still consume the sequence
Live preview shows the exact resolved value for every page — stamped, skipped, or not selected
Numbers are validated up front, never silently truncated
Nothing about your document is uploaded
How browser-based processing works here
Your PDF opens locally in your browser, and each Bates number is computed and drawn directly onto the page using your device's own processing. The resulting file is generated on your device — no file content is sent anywhere.
- No file upload endpoint exists on this page
- No database or server-side file storage
- Output is generated locally as a browser Blob file
Supported files: Standard, non-encrypted PDF files. Encrypted or password-protected PDFs aren't currently supported.
Honest limitations
- Only a standard Helvetica font is used — a prefix or suffix with Arabic, CJK, Cyrillic, or emoji characters isn't supported.
- Numbers are never truncated to fit — if a value would exceed your configured width, the conversion is rejected with a clear error instead of producing a misleading number.
- Only 6 fixed corner/edge positions are available — no free-form or centered placement.
- Page count, order, dimensions, rotation, and existing content carry over unchanged.
No artificial daily task limits. Processing capacity depends on your device, browser, file size, and page count.
Troubleshooting
"Number exceeds width" error
Your sequence has grown past what your configured numeric width can display (e.g. reaching 1,000,000 with a width of 6). Increase the width, or lower the starting number.
The sequence doesn't match what I expected on skipped pages
Check the "count skipped pages in sequence" setting — by default, only stamped pages advance the counter, but you can turn this on so every page in the document advances it, stamped or not.
My prefix or suffix contains characters that won't convert
The built-in font only supports Latin/Western-European characters. Remove or replace the unsupported characters shown in the warning.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
What is Bates numbering?
A sequential, fixed-width numbering scheme (often with a prefix like a case name) used to uniquely identify every page in a legal document production, e.g. CASE-000001.
Can I continue numbering from a previous document?
Yes — set the starting number to continue right where your last batch left off.
What happens to skipped pages — do they still count?
By default, no — only stamped pages advance the sequence. Turn on "count skipped pages" if you want every page in the document to advance the counter, whether it's stamped or not.
Will a number ever get cut off if it's too long for the width?
No — that's rejected up front with a clear error rather than producing a truncated, misleading number.