Bates Numbering for PDF

Bates numbering gives every page of a document production a unique, sequential identifier such as SMITH000001, so lawyers, courts and auditors can cite any page precisely. The numbers run continuously across all the files of a production. This tool stamps them in the corner of each page in your browser, so confidential case documents never leave your computer.

How to use this tool

1. Select the PDFs in the order they belong to the production.
2. Enter the prefix (often a party or matter code), the start number and the number of digits.
3. Choose where the stamp goes and its size; keep the white box for scanned pages.
4. Download the numbered files — by default each is named after its first and last Bates number — and note the next start number for the following batch.

Formula

Bates number = prefix + start number + page offset, padded with zeros to the chosen digits, + suffix

The page offset counts every page of every earlier file, so numbering never restarts between files. With 6 digits, page 1 is 000001 and page 1,000,000 needs a seventh digit — choose enough digits for your largest production. The stamp is placed relative to the page as it is displayed, so rotated pages are numbered upright in the chosen corner.

Example

Producing three files of 12, 5 and 30 pages with prefix SMITH and start number 1 gives SMITH000001–SMITH000012, SMITH000013–SMITH000017 and SMITH000018–SMITH000047. The next production would start at 48.