Guide
Exhibit stickers, explained
An exhibit sticker is the small label on the first page of an exhibit that says whose exhibit it is and its number, like PLAINTIFF’S EXHIBIT 12. By long habit plaintiffs use yellow and defendants use blue. You can buy printed sticker sheets, or stamp the stickers straight onto the PDF so every copy matches.
What goes on a sticker
- The party: Plaintiff’s, Defendant’s, Petitioner’s, Respondent’s, or Joint.
- The word Exhibit and the exhibit’s number or letter.
- The case number, so a stray page can find its way home.
- At depositions, often a blank line for the date and the court reporter’s initials, filled in when the exhibit is marked.
Yellow or blue?
Yellow for plaintiffs and blue for defendants is the convention most US litigators know, and pre-printed stickers come in those colors. It isn’t a rule everywhere. Some courts or judges ask for something else, and joint exhibits may use a third color. If your court has a form or a preference, use it.
Where the sticker goes
Lower right corner of the first page is the usual spot, as long as it doesn’t cover anything that matters. If the page is full to the edge, like a photo or a dense form, put the sticker on a cover sheet in front of the exhibit instead.
Numbering conventions
| Convention | How it works |
|---|---|
| Numbers vs letters | Plaintiff 1, 2, 3; defendant A, B, C. Common in many US courts. |
| Number blocks | Plaintiff 1 to 99, defendant 100 and up, so labels never collide. |
| Joint exhibits | One set agreed by both sides, labelled JX-1, JX-2 or Joint Exhibit 1. |
| Continuing a series | Later filings pick up where the last left off: Exhibit 14, 15, 16. |
Digital stickers on a PDF
If you file or share exhibits electronically, stamping the sticker into the PDF saves printing and keeps every copy identical. In Bindery, choose the Trial preset (or turn on “Exhibit sticker on first page”), pick the party, and each exhibit gets a sticker in its party’s color with the case number. Photos and screenshots are shrunk a little so the sticker doesn’t sit on top of the evidence. Add or reorder exhibits and the stickers renumber themselves.
Questions
Can I print my own exhibit stickers?
Yes. Many people print labels on plain sticker sheets. Stamping them into the PDF is quicker when you have many exhibits or several copies.
Do exhibit stickers go on every page?
No, just the first page of each exhibit. Page numbers or Bates numbers identify the pages after that.
What if my exhibit is a single photo with no margin?
Use a cover sheet with the exhibit label in front of it, or shrink the photo slightly so the sticker fits in the corner. Bindery does the latter for you.
Updated November 9, 2026