Change endnote numbering and layout

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to control reference numbering, formatting, and endnote frame placement across documents in Adobe InDesign.

Customize endnotes to control how they appear throughout the document. Once you create endnotes, use this procedure to adjust endnote numbering styles, reference number formatting, text styling, and frame positioning. Changes apply to all existing and newly created endnotes.

Set endnote numbering

Select Type > Document Endnote Options.

In the Numbering section, choose a numbering style from the Style drop-down menu.

In the Start At field, enter the starting number for the first endnote in the story. This setting is useful for documents in a book, as numbering does not continue across documents.

From the Mode option, select Continuous or Restart Every Story.

Format endnote reference numbers in text

Select Type > Document Endnote Options.

In the Endnote Reference Number in Text section, choose a value from the Position drop-down menu to define how the reference number appears.

From the Character Style drop-down menu, select a character style to format the endnote reference number.

Format endnote content

Select Type > Document Endnote Options.

In the Endnote Formatting section, select a Paragraph Style for endnote text.

Modify the Separator by selecting the arrow icon to control spacing between the endnote number and text.

Set positioning options

Select Type > Document Endnote Options.

From the Scope menu, select Story to create a separate endnote frame for each story or Document to maintain one endnote frame for the entire document.

From the Endnote Frame, choose how the endnote frame is created.

Alert

If you change the Scope setting between Document and Story, Adobe InDesign reorganises all endnotes based on the selected option. This change cannot be undone independently of other document changes.

Set endnote prefix and suffix

From Show In, select where prefixes or suffixes appear.

Enter required characters in the Prefix or Suffix fields.

Select OK to apply all changes.

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