What is an example of a Bates stamp?
SMITH-000123 is a typical Bates stamp: SMITH identifies the producing party, the hyphen separates the prefix, and 000123 is the sequential page number padded to six digits so labels sort correctly.
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Bates stamp examples
Every Bates stamp is a prefix, a separator, and a zero-padded number, sometimes joined by a confidentiality designation. These are the formats that show up in real productions, and how to pick one before you stamp page one.
Common Bates label formats
SMITH-000123
Party prefix, hyphen separator, six-digit padding. The default for most matters.
ACME 0004521
Space separator with seven digits, used for productions expected to exceed a million pages.
DEF000001
No separator. Compact, but harder to read at a glance in citation tables.
PLTF-EX-000087
Two-part prefix marking a plaintiff exhibit set inside a larger production.
SMITH-000123 CONFIDENTIAL
Sequential label plus a protective order designation, normally stamped in a second corner.
Reading a label part by part
- Prefix. Identifies the producing party or case. Short, uppercase, stable for the life of the matter.
- Separator. A hyphen, a space, or nothing. Pick one and never change it mid-production.
- Number. The sequential counter, zero padded so SMITH-000009 sorts before SMITH-000010.
- Designation. Optional CONFIDENTIAL or ATTORNEYS EYES ONLY text required by a protective order.
Where the stamp goes on the page
Keep the label inside the page margin. If the original document already prints content in the bottom-right corner, move the stamp to the bottom-left for the whole production rather than page by page, so the position stays predictable for anyone citing it.
Citing a Bates range
Documents are cited by their first and last page: SMITH-000123 to SMITH-000147. Privilege logs, exhibit lists, and deposition transcripts all reference ranges, which is why the sequence has to stay unbroken across every production in the matter. Reusing a number makes two different pages share one citation.
Bates stamp example questions and answers
How many digits should a Bates number have?
Six digits is the working default because it covers up to 999,999 pages without re-padding mid-matter. Use seven or eight for very large productions. Never change the width once a matter has started.
What prefix should I use?
Use a short code for the producing party or case, such as SMITH, ACME, DEF, or PLTF. Keep it under about eight characters so the full label stays readable in the page margin and in citation tables.
Where does the Bates stamp go on the page?
Bottom-right is the convention because it stays visible when pages are stapled, bound, or rescanned. Place it inside the margin so it never overlaps original content, and keep the position identical across the entire production.
How do you write a Bates range?
Cite the first and last page of the document, for example SMITH-000123 to SMITH-000147, or in shorthand SMITH-000123-147. Privilege logs and exhibit lists cite ranges rather than filenames.
Can a Bates stamp include a confidentiality designation?
Yes. Productions under a protective order often pair the Bates number in one corner with CONFIDENTIAL or ATTORNEYS EYES ONLY in another. Keep the designation on its own line or corner so it never obscures the sequential label.
Try these formats on your own PDF
Set the prefix, padding, and corner, then preview the stamp before you export. Nothing leaves your device.