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Bates Numbering

Stamp sequential legal reference numbers across a document set.

  • Free
  • No signup
  • Nothing uploaded
  • No watermark

Drop a file here

PDF file · read on your device, never uploaded

Numbers every page in order, for legal and evidence bundles. Each number has the same prefix and the same number of digits.

Processed entirely on your device. Nothing was uploaded.

How to Use the Bates Numbering Online

Bates Numbering: before and after PDF A BEFORE BATESNUMBERING PDF A AFTER

Stamps sequential legal reference numbers across a document set. Bates numbering is what makes discovery workable: every page in a production carries a unique identifier, so a document can be cited precisely and both sides know they are looking at the same page.

No software to install Free Works on any device

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Bates Numbering

  1. 1. Drop in your PDF

  2. 2. Set a prefix, a starting number and how many digits to pad to

  3. 3. Press Add Bates numbers

No .pdf file to hand? Download a sample PDF file (6.3 KB) and try it.

Try it now

What is the Bates Numbering?

Stamps sequential legal reference numbers across a document set. Bates numbering is what makes discovery workable: every page in a production carries a unique identifier, so a document can be cited precisely and both sides know they are looking at the same page.

PDF file

.PDF

Stamp sequential legal reference numbers across a document set.

Why Edit PDF Pages Directly?

Going back to the original Word file is not always possible, and sometimes it never existed. Adding text, page numbers, a watermark, a stamp or a header straight onto the PDF finishes the job in minutes.

“The quickest fix is the one made on the file you already have.”
  • No need for the source file
  • Clear ownership with watermarks
  • Margins for binding
  • Crooked or mirrored pages fixed
  • Page numbers on every sheet
  • Headers and footers added
  • Forms you can fill in
  • Correct title and author details

Popular Uses for PDF Editing Tools

Small finishing touches are what most people come to edit a PDF for.

  • Numbering a report Add page numbers to a thesis or report that was saved without them.
  • Marking drafts Put a DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL watermark across pages before sharing them for review.
  • Legal bundles Apply Bates numbers so every page in a case file has its own reference.
  • Filling a form Type into a PDF application form instead of printing, writing and scanning it.
  • Assignment borders Put the border a teacher asked for around each page of a project.
  • Room for binding Widen the margins so text is not lost in the spine when printed and bound.
  • Trimming white space Crop away wide empty edges so the page reads better on a phone.
  • Approval stamps Stamp APPROVED, PAID or RECEIVED on invoices and letters as they are processed.

What You Can Do with the Bates Numbering

Additions are written into the existing page content rather than flattening it to an image

What you place stays sharp at any zoom, because it is drawn as vector rather than pasted as pixels

Why Use ToolXkit for Bates Numbering?

Your files stay with you

Everything runs inside your browser. Nothing you open or type is uploaded to a server.

PDF Editor for Different Users

Students

Number pages, add borders and put your name in the header of assignments.

Lawyers

Add Bates numbers, stamps and headers to documents going into a court bundle.

Accounts teams

Stamp invoices as paid and add a reference number in the footer.

Teachers

Put a school watermark and page numbers on worksheets before printing them.

Office administrators

Fill forms and correct document properties before files are sent onward.

Designers

Change a page background or overlay a letterhead on a plain PDF.

Best Times to Edit a PDF

Editing the PDF itself makes sense when you are:

  • Missing the original Word file
  • Finishing a thesis for binding
  • Sending a draft for review
  • Preparing papers for court
  • Filling a form on screen
  • Branding pages before sharing
  • Fixing a page scanned upside down
  • Marking invoices as paid

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about this tool.

Do I need to install anything to use the Bates Numbering?

No. Bates Numbering runs entirely in your browser — there is nothing to download, no extension and no desktop program. It works the same on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone.

Is it safe to use the Bates Numbering online?

Safer than the usual alternative, yes. Most online tools upload your file to a server you know nothing about, where it sits until someone deletes it. Here the file never leaves your device — the processing happens in the page itself, so there is no server copy to leak, retain or sell.

Can I change words that are already in the PDF?

These tools add to the page: text, numbers, stamps, borders, headers or watermarks. Rewording what is already printed on a PDF is not their job, so for heavy rewriting, edit the original document if you still have it.

Does Bates Numbering leave a watermark of its own?

No. It is completely free, and the site adds no logo or mark of its own. The only marks on your pages are the ones you choose to put there.

Will Bates Numbering work on a scanned PDF?

Yes. Additions such as page numbers, stamps, borders and watermarks are placed on top of each page, so they work on scans just as they do on typed documents.

Can I undo a change after downloading?

The download is a new file, and your original is left exactly as it was. If you want a different result, open the original again and repeat the steps with new settings.

Further reading

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