Bates Numbers
Home → Bates Numbering Guides → Add Bates Numbers to PDF

How to Add Bates Numbers to a PDF (Fast & Correct Format)

Upload PDFs, supported Word documents, images, or ZIP document sets and apply clean, sequential Bates numbers with customizable formatting for legal, discovery, and production workflows.

See the Bates Numbering Workflow Start a Free Test Job
See how BatesNumbers turns this guidance into a repeatable workflow with controlled numbering, placement, sequencing, and production-ready output.
Need an urgent one-time job? One-time access is available.
Files deleted per retention policy • No software install • Pricing shown before checkout • Built for legal document workflows
Quick notes
Tip: Many PDF tools can stamp page numbers, but legal and production workflows often need consistent Bates prefixes, padding, placement, and sequence control.

Step-by-step

Step 1
Upload PDFs, supported Word documents, images, or an entire ZIP document set while preserving the original folder structure.
Step 2
Choose numbering format (prefix, padding, starting number).
Step 3
Select placement (header, footer, corners).
Step 4
Preview numbering to confirm alignment and formatting.
Step 5
Generate production-ready numbered PDFs along with optional Bates indexes for easier review and document tracking.

See the workflow in action

Prefer to see how this works in practice? Here’s a quick walkthrough showing how Bates numbering is applied across real PDF files, including setup, preview, and final output.

Watch full demo

This walkthrough demonstrates a real workflow with multiple PDFs, ZIP uploads, continuous numbering, and production-ready output.

You can apply the same workflow to your own documents in just a few steps.

Try this workflow on your own files

Create Free Account & Upload One-Time / Urgent Job (No Account)

Files deleted per retention policy • No software install • Pricing shown before checkout • Built for legal document workflows

View pricing Learn more about BatesNumbers.com for legal document workflows →

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping preview
Incorrect placement or formatting can require reprocessing entire document sets.
Inconsistent prefixes
Mixing formats across documents breaks production consistency.
Wrong starting number
This can cause conflicts with previously produced files.

FAQ

What is a Bates number?
A sequential identifier applied to each page of a document set for tracking and reference.
Can I add prefixes?
Yes, prefixes like case IDs or client names are commonly used.
Do all pages get numbered?
Typically yes, unless specific pages are intentionally excluded.