Bates Numbering for PDF
Stamp a unique, sequential number on every page of a PDF. Free, and it runs in your browser, so your file is not uploaded.
TL;DR
Bates numbering gives every page of a PDF its own sequential number, such as ABC-000001, so any page can be cited and found exactly. This free tool adds Bates numbers in your browser. Choose a prefix, a start number and a position, then download the numbered PDF. Your file is not uploaded.
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How to Add Bates Numbers to a PDF
1
Choose a PDF
Drop one PDF on the tool, choose it from your files or paste it.
2
Set the number
Type a prefix if you want one, set the start number and digits, and tap a spot on the preview.
3
Download
Press the button and save the numbered PDF, or use the link under it to carry on with the next file.
What Is Bates Numbering
Bates numbering, also called Bates stamping, gives every page in a set of documents its own unique, sequential identifier. Any page can then be cited and found exactly. It is common in legal work, especially when parties exchange documents in discovery, and it is also used for medical and business records.
The name comes from Edwin G. Bates, who invented the Bates Automatic Numbering Machine in the late 1800s. It was a hand stamp that advanced its number by one with every press.
Bates Numbering Format
A Bates number usually has a short prefix, followed by a number padded with zeros to a fixed length. The prefix identifies the case or the party that produced the document. Examples are ABC-000001 and SMITH000123. Padding keeps every number the same length, so files and lists sort in order.
Numbers normally run on across all the documents of a production. If the first document ends on page 000045, the next one starts at 000046. In this tool, the start number and the number of digits set that sequence.
What This Bates Stamp Tool Does
The tool puts a number on every page of one PDF, counting up by one per page. The number is black Helvetica text, about 0.4 inches from the page edges, in the corner or middle spot you pick. It lands in the right place on rotated and cropped pages too.
It adds the number on top of each page and changes nothing else. Text stays selectable and searchable, scans are not compressed again, and links and form fields stay. The file grows only slightly. Your original is not changed. The result is a new file with -bates added to its name.
- Up to 100 MB and 1,000 pages on a computer. Up to 30 MB and 300 pages on a phone.
- A password-protected PDF has to be unlocked first. Save it without its password, then add the numbers.
- One PDF at a time. The number is black text in one of six fixed spots.
- If a page already has text in that spot, the number sits on top of it. The preview shows your first page, so pick an empty spot.
- The number becomes part of the new PDF. Keep your original, because this tool does not remove Bates numbers from a page.
- The tool places the numbers you choose. Courts and agencies set their own rules for numbering documents, so check the rules that apply to you.
Bates Numbering a Set of Documents
To number several PDFs in one unbroken sequence, work through them one after another. When a file is done, the link under the result starts the next one where this one ended. After ABC-000012, it offers ABC-000013. Your prefix and settings stay the same.
Before you number, get the pages ready. Crop the PDF if a margin is in the way, or watermark it if it needs a DRAFT mark. Use the metadata remover afterward if the file should not carry hidden author details.
On-device OCR. Secure, built for iOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bates numbering?
Bates numbering gives every page of a set of documents its own unique, sequential number, so any page can be cited and found exactly. It is common in legal work, especially in discovery, and is also used for medical and business records. A number looks like ABC-000001.
How do I Bates stamp a PDF?
Drop your PDF on the tool, then set a prefix, a start number, the digits and a position on the page. Press Add Bates numbers and download the result. Every page gets the next number, counting up by one. The tool runs in your browser, so your file is not uploaded.
What does a Bates number look like?
A Bates number is usually a short prefix followed by a number padded with zeros to a fixed length, such as ABC-000001 or SMITH000123. The prefix identifies the case or the party that produced the document. The padding keeps every number the same length, so files sort in order.
Can I Bates stamp more than one PDF?
Yes, one PDF at a time. When a file is done, a link under the result starts the next file where this one ended, for example at ABC-000013. That gives a set of documents one unbroken sequence. Keep the same prefix and digits for each file.
Does Bates numbering change my PDF?
The tool only adds the number on top of each page. Existing text stays selectable and searchable, scans are not compressed again, and links and form fields stay. The file grows only slightly. Your original file is not changed, because the result is saved as a new file.
How big can the PDF be?
On a computer, a PDF can be up to 100 MB and 1,000 pages. On a phone, the limit is 30 MB and 300 pages, because a phone browser has less memory. A password-protected PDF has to be unlocked first, by saving it without its password.
Is this Bates stamp accepted by courts?
The tool places the prefix and numbers you choose, in black text in one of six spots. Courts and agencies set their own rules for numbering documents, and the tool cannot confirm that a scheme meets them. Check the rules that apply to your case before you rely on it.
Sources
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