---
title: How to Set the WooCommerce Invoice Number Format and Counters
description: Set the WooCommerce invoice number format and counter, including a year that resets annually.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-invoice-number-format-counters/"
updated: "2026-10-05"
category: How to
---

# How to Set the WooCommerce Invoice Number Format and Counters

To set the invoice number format in PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Generator for WooCommerce, go to WPFactory > PDF Invoicing, open the Doc: Invoice section, and edit the Number format field (default INV-[doc_counter format="%06d"]). Manage the running counter in the Counters section, where the value you set is assigned to the next document created.

### Set the number format

Go to **WPFactory > PDF Invoicing** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > PDF Invoicing**), open the **Doc: Invoice** section, and edit the **Number format** field (`number_format`). The default is:

```
INV-[doc_counter format="%06d"]
```

This produces numbers like `INV-000001`. The pieces are:

- `INV-`: a fixed prefix (change it to anything you like).
- `[doc_counter]`: the running counter for this document.
- `format="%06d"`: pads the counter with leading zeros to six digits.

### Add a year that resets annually

There is no `[Y]` shortcode. To include the year, use a date shortcode with a `datetime_format` attribute:

```
INV-[current_time datetime_format="Y"]-[doc_counter format="%04d"]
```

This yields numbers like `INV-2026-0001`. Other useful pieces: `[doc_formatted_date datetime_format="Y-m"]` for a year-month prefix, or `[order_number]` to tie the number to the order.

**Note:** you cannot use the `doc_nr` property inside **Number format**, because that property is the number this field produces.

### Manage the counter

Open the **Counters** section of the settings. It shows the current counter for each document. The value you set here is assigned to the *next* document created, and then increased automatically.

![PDF Invoicing counters section](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Counters.png)

To restart numbering for a new fiscal year, set the counter back to `1` (or your chosen start) and save. Because the year in the format above comes from a date shortcode, the counter does not reset by itself, so this manual step is how you begin a new sequence.

### Use cases

- Sequential invoice numbers for tax reporting: keep the default counter format.
- Year-based numbering: add the year prefix and reset the counter each January.
- Match invoice numbers to order numbers: use `INV-[order_number]`.

### Get more control

Numbering is free for one document. [PDF Invoicing](https://wpfactory.com/item/pdf-invoicing-for-woocommerce/) Pro gives each document type its own independent counter and format. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/pdf-invoicing-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Let Customers Download PDF Invoices from My Account](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-pdf-invoices-my-account/)
- [How to Add a Page Background or Watermark to PDF Invoices](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pdf-page-background-and-watermark/)
- [How to Create Multilingual PDF Invoices](https://wpfactory.com/docs/multilingual-pdf-invoices/)
- [How to Create and Manage PDF Invoices for WooCommerce Orders](https://wpfactory.com/docs/create-manage-woocommerce-pdf-invoices/)
- [How to Add Conditional Content and Item Loops to PDF Invoices](https://wpfactory.com/docs/conditional-content-in-pdf-invoices/)