PDF Page Numbers

Add page numbers to your PDF document

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Number Legal PDFs with Bates Numbers — Court-Ready Format

Stamp Bates numbers (DEF-000001 style) or court-acceptable page numbering on legal documents. Custom prefix, zero-padded sequence, side-margin placement, and optional exhibit-friendly formats. Browser-side processing keeps client documents confidential. Free, no upload, no sign-up.

100% FreeNo UploadNo Sign-upBates-Style Numbering

How to Use

Upload Legal PDF: Drag the legal document in. Multi-page court filings, contracts, exhibits, discovery materials — all supported. Each page is treated identically per your chosen format.
Set Bates Format: Enter prefix (case number, exhibit letter, client code, or empty for plain numbers). Choose starting number, zero-padding (e.g. 6-digit: 000001), separator (hyphen, underscore, dot, or space).
Set Position: Sidebar style (right margin, vertical orientation) is the standard for Bates. Choose position: bottom-right, bottom-center, right-margin vertical, or custom. Set font, size, color (typically small black for legal).
Generate Bates Numbers: Click 'Apply'. pdf-lib stamps the chosen Bates sequence on every page in your browser. Bates numbers are visible from any angle when the document is printed — they don't get cropped by printers.

Why Choose This Tool

100% Local Processing: Files are processed entirely in your browser using JavaScript — never uploaded to any server.
No Limits: No file count or file size restrictions. Process as many files as your device can handle.
No Sign-up: Free forever, no account needed, no email required. Open the page and start.
Private by Design: Nothing is sent to any server. Close the tab and your files are gone forever.

Common Questions

What is Bates numbering?

Bates numbering (also called Bates stamping) is a sequential numbering system used in legal documents, discovery materials, and exhibits. Each page gets a unique identifier like 'SMITH-000001', 'SMITH-000002', etc. — useful for tracking evidence, citing specific pages in motions, and preventing page substitution.

Can I add Bates numbers without uploading?

Yes — our PDF Page Numbers tool runs in your browser. Set your Bates prefix (case number, client code, or simple sequential), starting number, padding, and position, then click 'Apply'. The legal PDF is processed locally — confidential client documents never leave your device.

What's the difference between legal page numbers and regular page numbers?

Regular numbering typically uses 'Page X of Y' for readability. Bates numbering uses 'PREFIX-NNNNNN' (zero-padded sequential) for legal traceability — each page is uniquely identifiable and referenceable. Sidebar placement (right margin) is common for legal, while bottom center is common for academic.

Will my legal documents be uploaded?

No. Processing is entirely in your browser via pdf-lib. Client confidentiality is critical in legal work — privileged documents, sealed filings, and attorney work product never leave your device. The output PDF is created locally.

Can I stamp Bates numbers on a 500-page filing?

Yes — we handle 1000+ page documents. The stamp applies the same template per page, so processing time scales linearly. A 500-page document completes in 30-60 seconds on a modern device.

How do I customize the prefix?

Set the prefix to anything: case number (e.g. 'CV-2026-12345'), client code (e.g. 'ACME-'), exhibit letter (e.g. 'EX-A'), or empty for plain numbers. Padding is configurable (1-10 digits, e.g. '000001' is 6-padded). Separators: hyphen, underscore, period, or space.