Bates Numbering Across a Batch of PDFs
Legal, medical and insurance files are cited by one number that must not repeat or skip. Bates numbering is that number, applied in bulk.
What this tool does
Applies Bates stamps across one document or a batch of up to 50, with a fixed digit count and separate counters for the file and the page. The sequence continues across files, which is what makes it usable for discovery sets.
How it works
Write the style line with [BATES_NUMBER], [FILE_NUMBER], [PAGE_ARABIC] and [PAGE_ROMAN], set the digits and both starting numbers, then process the batch. Check the first and last file in the download: the counters should climb without a gap. For a single court-ready copy, Page Numbers is lighter.
- Add the PDFs in the order you want them handled.
- Set style line and location on page — the settings below explain what each one changes.
- Run the tool and download the result.
Settings that decide the result
- Location on page — Header left, Header center, Header right, Footer left, Footer center, Footer right
- Font — Times New Roman, Helvetica, Courier
- Document margins — Leave unchanged, Increase margins
- Style line — Compose with [BATES_NUMBER], [FILE_NUMBER], [PAGE_ARABIC] and [PAGE_ROMAN].
The remaining 4 controls stay on the tool page, where each one sits next to the live preview.
When to reach for it
- A production set must be numbered continuously. The sequence carries across files, not just pages.
- Each file also needs its own counter. File and page counters increment separately.
Questions we get
What is Bates numbering for?
Legal, medical and insurance filing: a unique sequential stamp (often with a case prefix) on every page, so any page can be cited exactly. Styles and result names are customizable.
Where it fits
The tools people usually open next to Bates Numbering:
- Header & Footer — Apply page numbers or text labels to PDF files.
- Deskew — Automatically straighten and deskew scanned PDF pages.
- Watermark — Add an image or text watermark to PDF documents.
Every tool works on a copy, so the original file is never modified. Uploads are stored under an unguessable id and deleted automatically two hours after you last open them; nothing is listed, shared or indexed. More on the security page.