What is Bates numbering?
Bates numbering is a way of giving every page in a set of legal documents its own unique, sequential number. It lets lawyers, courts and opposing parties point to any single page — "see SMITH-000214" — without confusion.
How the format works
A Bates number usually has two parts:
- Prefix — letters that identify the case, client or party, like SMITH- or ACME_.
- Number — a sequential number padded with zeros to a fixed width, like 000001.
A production of three documents with 4, 2 and 5 pages would run SMITH-000001 to SMITH-000011, with the second document starting at SMITH-000005.
When it is used
Bates numbers are used in discovery productions, court exhibits, medical and insurance records, and any large document set where every page must be tracked. Once stamped, the numbers make it easy to prove what was produced and to cite exact pages in depositions and briefs.
Common questions
What does a Bates number look like?
Usually a short prefix followed by a zero-padded number, such as SMITH-000001. The prefix often identifies the case, client or producing party.
Why is it called Bates numbering?
It is named after the Bates Automatic Numbering Machine, a hand-held stamp patented in the late 1800s that printed a new number on each page.
Does every page get its own number?
Yes. Each page gets a unique number, and numbering continues across documents in a production, so no two pages share a label.
Where does the Bates number go on the page?
Most often the bottom-right corner, placed so it does not cover any content. Courts and opposing counsel may specify a position.
How to add Bates numbers
You can add Bates numbers to PDFs right in your browser with OmniBates — your files are never uploaded. See the step-by-step guide, or try it on a sample document now.
See Bates numbering in action.