How to Bates number PDFs without Adobe Acrobat Pro
Bates numbering gives every page of a document production a unique, sequential number so it can be cited and tracked. Acrobat's Bates tool comes with its Pro plan; here is how to do it in your browser instead.
What a Bates number looks like
A prefix, often a case or party code, followed by a zero-padded number: ABC000001, ABC000002 and so on. Numbering runs through the whole set, so the first page of the second document follows the last page of the first.
Steps
- Open Bates numbering and drop your PDFs.
- Put them in production order with the arrows.
- Set the prefix, the first number and the number of digits. To continue an earlier production, start after its last number. Add a suffix if your protocol uses one.
- Choose the position; bottom right is common. The preview shows the first page's number.
- Press Run and download the numbered PDFs together with bates-log.csv.
Before you produce
- Check your agreed protocol or local rules for the prefix, the digits and where the number goes.
- Numbers are drawn on the page, like printed text.
- Keep the CSV log with your production records: one row per file with its first and last number.
- If you also need to redact, black out first and number afterwards, so no number is covered.
Questions and answers
Can I continue from an earlier production?
Yes. Set the first number to the one after your last Bates number.
Are my documents uploaded?
No. Numbering happens in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Is this a Pro feature?
Yes. You can try it once for free, then with a 7-day pass, a lifetime key or an office licence.
Last updated: 2026-09-14