In the legal and business world, organizing thousands of pages of documents is a critical task. Bates numbering (also known as Bates stamping) is the standard method for labeling these documents with unique, sequential identifiers. While traditional software for Bates stamping can be expensive and complicated, you can now add Bates numbers to your PDFs for free, directly in your browser.

What is Bates Numbering?

Bates numbering is a system used primarily in the legal, medical, and business fields to place identifying numbers and/or date/time-marks on images and documents as they are scanned or processed. A typical Bates number consists of a prefix (like "EXHIBIT" or "CASE") followed by a sequential number (e.g., "0001", "0002").

This ensures that every page in a massive stack of documents has a unique address, making it easy to reference "Exhibit A, Page 45" without confusion.

Why Use an Online Bates Stamp Tool?

Historically, adding Bates stamps required expensive PDF editing software or specialized hardware. Today, web-based tools offer a faster, more accessible alternative:

  • No Software Installation: Works instantly on any computer with a web browser.
  • Cost-Effective: Our tool is completely free to use.
  • Privacy-Focused: Unlike many online tools, Fileverter processes your files locally in your browser. Your sensitive legal documents are never uploaded to a server.

How to Add Bates Numbers with Fileverter

Our PDF Bates Stamp tool is designed to be powerful yet simple to use. Here is a step-by-step guide to stamping your documents:

1. Upload Your PDFs

Navigate to the PDF Bates Stamp tool. Drag and drop your PDF files into the upload area. You can process multiple files at once, and the numbering will continue sequentially from one file to the next.

2. Choose Your Stamp Format

Select a preset template or customize your own.

  • Prefix: Add identifying text like "CONFIDENTIAL-" or "CASE-123-".
  • Padding: Choose how many digits to display (e.g., 000001 vs 01).
  • Start Number: If you are continuing from a previous batch, you can set the starting number (e.g., start at 501).

3. Customize Position and Style

Use the visual preview to place the stamp exactly where you need it:

  • Position: Choose from standard locations (Header/Footer, Left/Right/Center) or drag the stamp to a custom spot on the page.
  • Style: Match your document's look by selecting fonts like Courier, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. You can also adjust the font size and color.

4. Apply and Download

Once you are happy with the preview, click "Apply Bates Stamps". The tool will process your files in seconds. You can then download the stamped PDFs individually or as a ZIP file.

Advanced Features for Power Users

  • Margin Management: If your document text goes all the way to the edge, use the "Increase Margins" option to shrink the page content slightly, ensuring the Bates stamp doesn't overlap important text.
  • Custom Starting Pages: Need to skip the cover page? You can configure the tool to start numbering from a specific page.
  • Batch Continuity: When processing multiple files, the tool automatically maintains the number sequence across all documents in the list.

Start Organizing Your Documents Today

Don't let document management slow you down. Whether you are preparing for discovery, organizing medical records, or archiving business contracts, our free PDF Bates Stamp tool makes it easy to apply professional Bates numbering in seconds.

Click here to try the PDF Bates Stamp tool now