More Than 26 Exhibits: AA, AB, AC and Beyond
After Exhibit Z, the 27th exhibit is labeled AA. The sequence continues through ZZ (the 702nd exhibit) and then into three-letter labels. The same convention applies in most state courts and federal courts.
- After Exhibit Z (the 26th exhibit), the 27th exhibit is labeled AA, the 28th AB, the 29th AC, and so on through AZ.
- After AZ comes BA, then BB, BC, BD, ..., continuing alphabetically through ZZ.
- ZZ is the 702nd exhibit (26 single letters + 676 two-letter combinations).
- Beyond ZZ, three-letter sequences are used: AAA, AAB, AAC, ..., ZZZ.
- The convention is the same in most state courts and federal courts — there is no special abbreviation behind ZZ; it is just the natural continuation of letter labeling.
- Some practitioners switch to numeric labeling (Defendant 1, Defendant 2) at exhibit 100+ for readability; both approaches are accepted as long as they are consistent within the set.
- Sub-exhibits within a letter exhibit are still labeled with hyphens (B-1, B-2, B-3 inside Exhibit B; AA-1, AA-2 inside Exhibit AA).
- Plaintiffs typically use numbers (1, 2, 3) and do not run into alphabet exhaustion — the AA/AB convention is primarily a defendant labeling issue.
- ExhibitPrep applies the AA, AB, AC sequence automatically once an exhibit set exceeds 26 letter-labeled exhibits.
The Sequence at a Glance
Exhibits 1 - 26
A, B, C, ..., X, Y, Z
Exhibits 27 - 52
AA, AB, AC, ..., AY, AZ
Exhibits 53 - 78
BA, BB, BC, ..., BY, BZ
Exhibit 702
ZZ
Exhibits 703+
AAA, AAB, AAC, ...
Or switch to numbers
Defendant 1, 2, 3, ...
Pattern: each two-letter combination follows like a counter. Increment the rightmost letter; when it rolls past Z, increment the next letter to the left and reset the rightmost to A. Same logic as Excel column headings.
When to Switch to Numeric Labeling
Three-letter sequences (AAA, AAB) become hard to read at a glance. For very large trial sets, some practitioners switch to numeric labeling at exhibit 100+:
Keep alphabetic
- • Consistency with existing record
- • Already past 26 with most exhibits in AA-CZ range
- • Smaller trial sets (under 200 exhibits)
Switch to numeric
- • 200+ exhibits expected
- • Hard to read three-letter sequences during testimony
- • Court's case management order expects it
Either approach is accepted in most courts. Consistency within the exhibit set matters more than the specific format.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If I have over 26 exhibits, what do I mark the 27th as?
After Exhibit Z, the 27th exhibit is labeled AA, the 28th is AB, the 29th is AC, and so on through AZ. The 53rd exhibit becomes BA, the 54th BB, etc. This continues to ZZ (the 702nd exhibit). Beyond ZZ, three-letter sequences (AAA, AAB, AAC) are used. The same convention applies in most state courts and federal courts.
What does ZZ stand for in exhibit numbering?
ZZ is the 702nd exhibit in standard alphabetic exhibit labeling. The sequence runs A-Z (1-26), then AA-AZ (27-52), BA-BZ (53-78), continuing through ZA-ZZ. ZZ does not stand for any abbreviation — it is the natural continuation of letter-based labeling once the alphabet has been exhausted twice.
Should I switch to numbers when I run out of letters?
Some practitioners switch to numeric labeling (Defendant 1, Defendant 2 ...) once an exhibit set exceeds 100 exhibits because long letter sequences (AAA, AAB) are harder to read at a glance. Other practitioners keep the AA, AB sequence for consistency with the existing record. Both approaches are accepted in most courts; check your local rules. For very large trial sets, switching to numeric labeling at exhibit 100+ is a common compromise.
How does ExhibitPrep handle more than 26 exhibits?
ExhibitPrep applies the AA, AB, AC sequence automatically once you exceed 26 letter-labeled exhibits. There is no manual configuration; the tool detects the rollover and continues sequentially through ZZ. Beyond ZZ (702 exhibits), the tool extends to three-letter sequences (AAA, AAB).
What about AA-1, AA-2 instead of AA, AB?
Some courts and practitioners use AA-1, AA-2, AA-3 instead of incrementing letters. This keeps the alphabetic prefix stable while sub-numbering identifies sequence position. It is less common than the AA, AB, AC convention but appears in some federal districts and large complex litigation matters where exhibits are grouped by topic. Either approach is acceptable in most courts; consistency across your exhibit set matters more than the specific format.
How are sub-exhibits numbered when grouped under a letter exhibit?
When multiple distinct documents are grouped under a single letter exhibit, they are sub-labeled with hyphens: B-1, B-2, B-3 within Exhibit B. This is independent of the alphabet-exhaustion question. If you have grouped documents AND have exceeded 26 exhibits, the sequence becomes AA, then sub-labeled AA-1, AA-2, AA-3 for grouped items.
Do plaintiffs face the same alphabet exhaustion issue?
Plaintiffs typically use numbers (1, 2, 3) so they don't exhaust the alphabet — they continue with 27, 28, 29 indefinitely. Alphabet exhaustion is primarily a defendant labeling issue (since defendants conventionally use letters). If a court requires both parties to use numbers (Texas) or both to use letters (rare), the exhaustion convention applies symmetrically.
Related Guides
Auto-Number Exhibits A through ZZ and Beyond
ExhibitPrep handles alphabet exhaustion automatically. The AA, AB, AC sequence applies the moment your set exceeds 26 letter labels — no manual configuration.
Start StampingFree to preview • Auto-sequencing through ZZ and beyond