How to Add Bates Numbers to a PDF
Follow these three steps to add consistent Bates numbers to one PDF or a set of PDF files. No software installation required.
Add Your PDF Files
Select one or multiple PDFs from your device. Add the files in the order they should be numbered.
Set the Bates Number Format
Build a label such as CASE-000001-CONF, then choose where and how it should appear. You can also leave cover pages unnumbered.
Add the Numbers and Download
Click “Add Bates numbers.” Download one completed PDF, or download multiple numbered PDFs individually or together in a ZIP file.
How Does Bates Numbering Work?
Bates numbering gives each stamped page a unique sequential identifier, making documents easier to cite, track, and review. A Bates number can combine a prefix, a zero-padded number, and an optional suffix—for example, CASE-000001-CONF. When continuous numbering is enabled, the first numbered page of the next PDF follows the last numbered page of the previous file. Turn it off when each PDF should begin with the same starting number. Pages before the selected start page remain unnumbered and do not use a number in the sequence. Your PDFs are processed locally in your browser, including password-protected files after you enter the correct password.
What "processed locally" means
- Your PDF files are not uploaded to a server
- Bates numbers are added on your device
- PDF passwords are used only in your browser
- The numbered PDFs and ZIP file are created locally
Continuous Numbering vs. Restarting Each File
Choose whether several PDFs belong to one numbered document set or should each use the same starting number.
| Numbering option | What happens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Continue across files | The next PDF starts after the last numbered page of the previous file | PDFs that belong to one document production |
| Restart for each file | Every PDF begins with the selected starting number | Files that need independent numbering sequences |
Files are numbered in the order they were added. Pages before the selected start page are not stamped and do not use a number.
Why Use This PDF Bates Numbering Tool?
Easy to Use
Prepare a numbered document collection without learning a full PDF production application. The focused workspace keeps the task easier to manage.
Consistent Page References
Bates labels give reviewers a common way to identify pages across related files. A shared reference is easier to follow than separate page numbers that restart in every document.
Less Manual Numbering
Large document sets are time-consuming to label by hand. Automatic numbering handles the repeated work and helps avoid mistakes from typing labels individually.
Separate Records Stay Separate
Related PDFs can share a numbering sequence without becoming one large document. This keeps the collection organized around the individual records you started with.
Free Browser Access
Prepare the numbered files without installing specialist software or buying a subscription. You do not need an account to use the tool.
Confidential Files Stay Local
Document collections can include material that should remain private. PDFs and passwords are handled on your device rather than uploaded to a processing server.
Bates Numbering FAQ
How do I add Bates numbers to PDF files online?
Add Bates numbers in three steps: 1. Select one or multiple PDFs in the order they should be numbered. 2. Set the number format, starting number, placement, and appearance. 3. Click “Add Bates numbers,” then download each completed PDF or the ZIP file.
What is Bates numbering?
Bates numbering assigns a unique sequential identifier to each stamped page in a document set. The identifier can include a prefix, a zero-padded number, and a suffix, such as CASE-000001-CONF.
What is the difference between Bates numbers and regular page numbers?
Regular page numbers usually show a page’s position within one document. Bates numbers provide stable sequential identifiers across a larger document set. If you only need standard page numbering, use the Add Page Numbers tool.
Can I add continuous Bates numbers to multiple PDFs?
Yes. Keep continuous numbering enabled and the next PDF will begin after the final numbered page of the previous file. The sequence follows the order in which you added the files.
Can each PDF restart with the same Bates number?
Yes. Turn off continuous numbering and every PDF will begin with the starting number you selected.
Is the PDF Bates numbering tool free?
Yes. You can add Bates numbers without registration, software installation, or credit card details.