Bates numbering for PDFs online, without desktop software
Upload the documents you are producing, set a prefix such as SMITH- and a start number, and get one PDF with a Bates number on every page (SMITH-000001, SMITH-000002 …), an index of every document with its Bates range, and bookmarks. Check the index and first pages free; the whole set is $5, one payment, no subscription.
- Your prefix, start number and number of digits; numbers run across every page of every document
- Bottom-right stamp on a white strip, with the page shrunk to fit so nothing is covered
- Index PDF and CSV with the first and last Bates number of each document
- PDFs, scans, photos, chat exports and emails in one numbered set
- Up to 1,000 pages for one payment of $5; Unlimited up to 3,000
- PDF Tenancy agreement.pdf 14 pages
- PDF Deposit receipt scan.pdf 1 page, scanned
- HEIC IMG_2041.HEIC photo of the ceiling
- ZIP WhatsApp Chat - Landlord.zip 412 messages
- MBOX Tenancy dispute.mbox 23 emails
- PDF Repair request letter.pdf 2 pages
Index
Ali v Landlord Ltd
Deposit and repairs claim · hearing bundle
| No. | Document | Date | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Tenancy documents | 2–17 | |
| 1 | Tenancy agreement | 1 Sep 2023 | 2–15 |
| 2 | Deposit receipt | 1 Sep 2023 | 16 |
| 3 | Letter requesting repairs | 15 Jan 2024 | 17 |
| B | Correspondence | 18–41 | |
| 4 | Emails with the landlord | 8 Jan 2024 | 18–41 |
| C | Messages | 42–63 | |
| 5 | WhatsApp chat with landlord | 3 Dec 2023 | 42–63 |
| D | Photographs | 64 | |
| 6 | Photograph of bathroom ceiling | 20 Jan 2024 | 64 |
Page 1 of 64ALI-000001
Demo documents from a made-up tenancy dispute. WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, Gmail and Outlook are trademarks of their owners; NoCutoff is not affiliated with them. NoCutoff formats bundles and does not give legal advice.
What a Bates number is
A Bates number is a unique identifier stamped on each page of a set of documents: usually a short prefix for the party or case followed by a number padded with zeros, such as SMITH-000123. Once pages are numbered, anyone can refer to an exact page in a letter, a deposition or a brief, and nobody can quietly add or remove a page.
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not require Bates numbers by name. Rule 34(b)(2)(E)(i) says a party must produce documents "as they are kept in the usual course of business" or "organize and label them to correspond to the categories in the request". Bates numbering is the usual way of labeling, and ESI agreements and court orders often require it. The Western District of Washington's model ESI agreement, for example, says each document image file "shall be named with a unique number (Bates Number)".
How the numbering works here
- Choose Bates numbering, or Both to print "Page 12 of 340" on the left and the Bates number on the right
- Set the prefix (letters, numbers, dashes, dots, spaces), the first number and the digits; the screen shows the first stamp
- Decide whether the index pages carry numbers too; for a production you will usually switch this off so the first document starts at your first number
- Download the numbered PDF, the index PDF and a CSV with each document's Bates range and the SHA-256 of the original file
What it does not do
This is a numbering and assembly tool, not an e-discovery platform. It does not produce load files (DAT, OPT) or single-page TIFF images, it does not add confidentiality legends or redactions, and it does not make scanned pages searchable. Check the ESI agreement or order in your case for the format you must produce in. NoCutoff does not give legal advice.
How the tool works, what it costs and how your files are handled is on the Court Bundle Builder page; prices for every tool are on the pricing page.
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Questions and answers
Can I choose where the numbers start?
Yes. Set any start number and between 1 and 10 digits. A second production can continue where the first ended, for example from SMITH-000341.
Will the stamp cover text on my pages?
No. Each page is shrunk slightly to leave a strip at the foot, and the number is printed in that strip on a white background, so the original page is never covered or cropped.
Can I put page numbers and Bates numbers on the same page?
Yes. The Both option prints "Page 12 of 340" on the left and the Bates number on the right of every page.
How much does Bates numbering cost?
The index and the first pages are free to check without an account. The whole numbered set is $5, paid once, up to 1,000 pages. There is no subscription; Unlimited is optional.