How to Apply Bates Numbering to a PDF Online
Free, step-by-step guide. No signup needed — everything runs in your browser.
1
Open the PDF Bates Numbering tool
Navigate to the tool. No signup, no upload to a server.
2
Upload your PDF
Drop the document you need to Bates-stamp — typically a discovery production, evidence binder, or deposition exhibit.
3
Configure the Bates label
Set the prefix (e.g., SMITH or CASE2024), starting number, padding (how many digits, usually 6), and any suffix. Pick a corner position. Live preview shows exactly what each page will look like.
4
Apply and download
Hit Apply — every page gets a unique sequential Bates label. Download the stamped PDF, ready for production.
Tips for best results
- Standard legal padding is 6 digits (000001). Some firms use 5 or 7 — match what opposing counsel or your firm’s style guide specifies.
- For complex productions, use a project-specific prefix (e.g., ‘PLNT2024-’) to keep documents from different cases distinct.
- Bottom-right is the standard Bates position. Top-right is sometimes preferred to avoid conflict with footer page numbers.
- If you’re re-Bating a previously-stamped PDF, crop or re-bates with the same dimensions to avoid overlap.
- After stamping, follow up with our PDF Compressor if the document is large — helps for e-filing systems with size limits.
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Bates stamp PDFs for legal discovery. Free, no signup, 100% private.
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