Bates numbering for PDF
Legal and audit teams number every page with a prefix and a zero-padded number. Set your prefix and first number, and every page gets its own stamp.
Nothing is uploaded. Your files stay private.
Popular uses
Opens the tool with the right settings already chosen.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
Three steps, about ten seconds.
- 01
Add your PDF
Drop it in the box, or tap to choose it.
- 02
Pick a style and position
Choose how numbers look and which corner they go in. The preview updates as you go.
- 03
Download
Press Add numbers to save the numbered copy.
Bates numbering explained
Bates numbers give every page in a set of documents its own reference, like DOC000001, so anyone can point to an exact page. They're standard in legal discovery and audits.
Set your prefix and the first number. Numbers are padded to six digits and added as real text in the corner you choose, the right way up even on sideways scans.
Numbering a set that continues from an earlier batch? Set the first number to carry on where it ended.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bates number?
A unique stamp on each page, usually a prefix and a sequential number like ABC000123, used to reference pages in legal and audit documents.
How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
Drop the PDF in, choose the corner and style, and download. The preview shows exactly where each number lands.
Can I skip the first page?
Yes. Set Number from to page 2 and the cover is left blank, while the next page gets number 1 (or whatever you set as the start).
Can I start at a number other than 1?
Yes. Set Start at to any number, which is handy when a document continues from another one.