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How to add Bates numbers without Adobe Acrobat

Stamp Bates or exhibit-style prefixes on every page without Acrobat Pro. Continuous numbering across files and drag-to-place—what smaller firms ask for when Relativity is overkill.

Open Add Bates numbers to PDF ↗

What people are asking

r/paralegal (exhibit stickers, Bates labeling help), r/LawFirm (PDF Bates numbering), solos tired of Acrobat seats.

Paralegals describe combining exhibits, Bates stamping, then splitting—start with merge + Bates here for the stamp step.

What Add Bates numbers to PDF actually does

  • Prefix + zero-padded counter on every page.
  • Continue numbering across multiple files in one run.
  • Drag the stamp on a live preview; ZIP for batches.

What it does not do

  • Replace a full e-discovery production database.
  • Auto-split back into exhibits by bookmark after Bates (merge→Bates is supported; bookmark split is not).

Steps

  1. Open Add Bates numbers to PDF.
  2. Upload production PDF(s).
  3. Set prefix, start number, padding; place on the preview.
  4. Download the stamped PDF or ZIP.

Related guides

Bates number a PDF · Exhibit labels · Evidence bundle merge

Go deeper

Scenario guides hub · Open Add Bates numbers to PDF · All PDF tools · Privacy

Last updated 2026-08-20 · Research-backed long-tail