diff --git a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
index a643cc08d..cbde78daf 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
@@ -303,6 +303,20 @@ impl Default for AdvancedType {
 }
 
 /// File → Document Setup + the guide/grid/unit preferences stored with the document.
+/// Where a document's chapter number comes from (Numbering & Section Options › Document Chapter
+/// Numbering). A book's Update Numbering resolves it in book order.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub enum ChapterSource {
+    /// Automatic Chapter Numbering: one more than the previous document in the book (1 first).
+    #[default]
+    Automatic,
+    /// Start Chapter Numbering at `chapter_number`.
+    UserDefined,
+    /// Same as Previous Document in the Book: the document continues its chapter.
+    SameAsPrevious,
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase", default)]
 pub struct DocSettings {
@@ -334,8 +348,13 @@ pub struct DocSettings {
     /// The story in the primary text frames (Smart Text Reflow adds and removes pages for it).
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub primary_story: Option<StoryId>,
-    /// Chapter number (Numbering & Section Options › Document Chapter Numbering).
+    /// Chapter number (Numbering & Section Options › Document Chapter Numbering): the one set by
+    /// Start Chapter Numbering at, or the one a book last gave the document.
     pub chapter_number: u32,
+    /// The chapter number's style (Chapter Number variables, cross-references).
+    pub chapter_style: NumberStyle,
+    /// Where the chapter number comes from.
+    pub chapter_source: ChapterSource,
     /// Object › Effects › Global Light: the angle (degrees) shadows that use it share.
     pub global_light: f64,
     /// Preferences › Advanced Type: superscript and subscript size and position (percent of the
@@ -379,6 +398,8 @@ impl Default for DocSettings {
             primary_story: None,
             lists: Vec::new(),
             chapter_number: 1,
+            chapter_style: NumberStyle::Arabic,
+            chapter_source: ChapterSource::Automatic,
             global_light: 120.0,
             advanced_type: AdvancedType::default(),
             blend_space: BlendSpace::Cmyk,
@@ -666,6 +687,11 @@ impl Document {
     }
 
     /// The displayed page name ("1", "iv", "A-3"…) for an absolute page index, per sections.
+    /// The chapter number in its style (`3`, `III`, `c`, `03`).
+    pub fn chapter_label(&self) -> String {
+        self.settings.chapter_style.format(self.settings.chapter_number.max(1))
+    }
+
     pub fn page_name(&self, abs: usize) -> String {
         let Some(sec) = self.section_of(abs) else { return (abs + 1).to_string() };
         let num = sec.style.format(self.page_number(abs));
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/vars.rs b/crates/doc/src/vars.rs
index 119b1dbd0..7a6f77ab3 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/vars.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/vars.rs
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ impl Document {
                 };
                 self.page_name(last)
             }
-            VarKind::ChapterNumber => self.settings.chapter_number.max(1).to_string(),
+            VarKind::ChapterNumber => self.chapter_label(),
             VarKind::FileName { extension } => {
                 if *extension {
                     format!("{}.designcraft", self.title)
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/xref.rs b/crates/doc/src/xref.rs
index a2301b1c8..96e584862 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/xref.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/xref.rs
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ impl Document {
             para_num,
             page: String::new(),
             anchor_name: self.anchor(id).map(|a| a.name.clone()).unwrap_or_default(),
-            chapter: self.settings.chapter_number.to_string(),
+            chapter: self.chapter_label(),
             file_name: self.title.clone(),
         })
     }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/book.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/book.rs
index fbf80ed9e..98b380ee4 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/book.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/book.rs
@@ -144,20 +144,30 @@ fn writable_chapter(s: &Session, path: &str, command: &'static str) -> Result<()
 fn paginate(s: &Session) -> Result<Value> {
     let b = s.book.as_ref().ok_or_else(no_book)?;
     if b.documents.is_empty() {
-        return Ok(json!({"pages": 0}));
+        return Ok(json!({"pages": 0, "chapters": []}));
     }
     let mut batch = ChapterBatch::new(b.documents.len(), "book.paginate")?;
     let mut next = 1u32;
+    let mut chapter = 0u32;
+    let mut chapters = Vec::new();
     for path in &b.documents {
         writable_chapter(s, path, "book.paginate")?;
         let mut d = load(path)?;
         start_at(&mut d, next);
         let pages = u32::try_from(d.page_count()).map_err(|_| bad("book.paginate", "too many pages for continuous numbering"))?;
         next = next.checked_add(pages).ok_or_else(|| bad("book.paginate", "too many pages for continuous numbering"))?;
+        // Chapter numbers: automatic is one more than the previous document's.
+        chapter = match d.settings.chapter_source {
+            designcraft_doc::ChapterSource::Automatic => chapter.saturating_add(1),
+            designcraft_doc::ChapterSource::UserDefined => d.settings.chapter_number.max(1),
+            designcraft_doc::ChapterSource::SameAsPrevious => chapter.max(1),
+        };
+        d.settings.chapter_number = chapter;
+        chapters.push(d.chapter_label());
         batch.stage(path, &d)?;
     }
     batch.commit()?;
-    Ok(json!({"pages": next - 1}))
+    Ok(json!({"pages": next - 1, "chapters": chapters}))
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
@@ -307,7 +317,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             }
             Ok(json!({"path": b.path, "styleSource": b.style_source, "documents": docs}))
         }),
-        cmd!(noundo "book.paginate", "Update Numbering", [], None, "{} — each document starts numbering where the previous one ended (files are saved)", has_book, |s, _| {
+        cmd!(noundo "book.paginate", "Update Numbering", [], None, "{} — each document starts numbering where the previous one ended, and takes its chapter number (automatic: one more than the previous document's; same as previous; or its own start) (files are saved) → {pages, chapters}", has_book, |s, _| {
             paginate(s)
         }),
         cmd!(noundo "book.syncStyles", "Synchronize Book", [], None, "{} — paragraph and character styles and swatches of the style source go into every document (by name)", has_book, |s, _| {
@@ -346,6 +356,40 @@ mod tests {
 
     use crate::Session;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn book_numbering_resolves_chapter_numbers_in_order() {
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("dc-book-chapters-{}", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let p = |n: &str| dir.join(n).to_string_lossy().to_string();
+        let mut s = Session::new();
+        s.execute("book.new", &json!({"path": p("Field Guide.dcbook")})).unwrap();
+        let chapters = [
+            ("a.designcraft", json!({"style": "upperRoman"})),
+            ("b.designcraft", json!({"source": "sameAsPrevious"})),
+            ("c.designcraft", json!({})),
+            ("d.designcraft", json!({"start": 7, "style": "lowerLetters"})),
+            ("e.designcraft", json!({})),
+        ];
+        for (name, numbering) in &chapters {
+            s.execute("file.new", &json!({})).unwrap();
+            if numbering.as_object().is_some_and(|o| !o.is_empty()) {
+                s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", numbering).unwrap();
+            }
+            s.execute("file.saveAs", &json!({"path": p(name)})).unwrap();
+            s.execute("book.add", &json!({"path": p(name)})).unwrap();
+            // The book updates closed chapters only.
+            s.execute("file.close", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        }
+        let r = s.execute("book.paginate", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        // Same as previous takes the number, written in the document's own style.
+        assert_eq!(r["chapters"], json!(["I", "1", "2", "g", "8"]));
+        assert_eq!(super::load(&p("e.designcraft")).unwrap().settings.chapter_number, 8);
+        // A chapter opened again names its book.
+        s.execute("file.open", &json!({"path": p("e.designcraft")})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", &json!({})).unwrap()["book"], "Field Guide");
+        std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir).ok();
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn book_paginates_syncs_and_exports() {
         let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("dc-book-{}", std::process::id()));
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/layout.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/layout.rs
index bd5320799..81963d9e0 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/layout.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/layout.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use designcraft_doc::{LAYER_COLORS, Layer, LayerId, Margins, SpreadId};
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
 
 use super::{CommandSpec, bad, cmd, has_doc, ok, str_param};
-use crate::Result;
+use crate::{Result, Session};
 
 /// Each page's margin box, by spread and page id.
 fn margin_boxes(d: &designcraft_doc::Document) -> Vec<(designcraft_doc::SpreadRef, designcraft_doc::PageId, designcraft_geom::Rect)> {
@@ -432,6 +432,60 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
                 })
             }
         ),
+        cmd!(
+            "layout.chapterNumbering",
+            "Document Chapter Numbering",
+            [],
+            None,
+            "{style?: arabic|upperRoman|lowerRoman|upperLetters|lowerLetters|arabicLeadingZero|arabicThreeDigits|arabicFourDigits, start?: n (Start Chapter Numbering at), source?: automatic|userDefined|sameAsPrevious} → {chapterNumber, label, style, source, book: the open book holding the document, or null}; no parameters reports the setting",
+            has_doc,
+            |s, p| {
+                if p.as_object().is_none_or(|o| o.is_empty()) {
+                    return chapter_numbering(s);
+                }
+                let style = match p.get("style") {
+                    Some(v) => match serde_json::from_value::<designcraft_doc::NumberStyle>(v.clone()) {
+                        Ok(designcraft_doc::NumberStyle::Symbols) | Err(_) => {
+                            return Err(bad("layout.chapterNumbering", format!("unknown chapter style {v}")));
+                        }
+                        Ok(style) => Some(style),
+                    },
+                    None => None,
+                };
+                let mut source = match p.get("source") {
+                    Some(v) => Some(
+                        serde_json::from_value::<designcraft_doc::ChapterSource>(v.clone())
+                            .map_err(|_| bad("layout.chapterNumbering", format!("unknown chapter number source {v}")))?,
+                    ),
+                    None => None,
+                };
+                let start = match p.get("start") {
+                    Some(v) => Some(
+                        v.as_u64()
+                            .filter(|n| (1..=MAX_CHAPTER).contains(n))
+                            .ok_or_else(|| bad("layout.chapterNumbering", format!("start: 1 to {MAX_CHAPTER}")))? as u32,
+                    ),
+                    None => None,
+                };
+                // A start number alone means Start Chapter Numbering at.
+                if start.is_some() && source.is_none() {
+                    source = Some(designcraft_doc::ChapterSource::UserDefined);
+                }
+                s.edit(|d, _| {
+                    if let Some(style) = style {
+                        d.settings.chapter_style = style;
+                    }
+                    if let Some(source) = source {
+                        d.settings.chapter_source = source;
+                    }
+                    if let Some(n) = start {
+                        d.settings.chapter_number = n;
+                    }
+                    ok()
+                })?;
+                chapter_numbering(s)
+            }
+        ),
         cmd!("layer.move", "Move Layer", [], None, "{id, to: index (0 = top/frontmost)}", has_doc, |s, p| {
             let id = LayerId(p.get("id").and_then(Value::as_u64).unwrap_or(0));
             let to = p.get("to").and_then(Value::as_u64).unwrap_or(0) as usize;
@@ -708,10 +762,47 @@ fn document_setup(d: &designcraft_doc::Document) -> Value {
         "binding": if st.right_to_left_binding { "rightToLeft" } else { "leftToRight" }, "intent": st.intent, "bleed": st.bleed, "slug": st.slug})
 }
 
+/// The largest chapter number (as for page numbers).
+const MAX_CHAPTER: u64 = 99_999;
+
+/// The active document's chapter numbering, and the open book that holds it.
+fn chapter_numbering(s: &Session) -> Result<Value> {
+    let st = s.doc()?;
+    let set = &st.doc.settings;
+    let book = s
+        .book
+        .as_ref()
+        .filter(|b| st.path.as_deref().is_some_and(|p| b.documents.iter().any(|d| std::path::Path::new(d) == std::path::Path::new(p))))
+        .map(|b| std::path::Path::new(&b.path).file_stem().map_or_else(|| b.path.clone(), |n| n.to_string_lossy().to_string()));
+    Ok(
+        json!({"chapterNumber": set.chapter_number.max(1), "label": st.doc.chapter_label(), "style": set.chapter_style, "source": set.chapter_source, "book": book}),
+    )
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod setup_tests {
     use serde_json::json;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn chapter_numbering_sets_style_and_start() {
+        let mut s = crate::Session::new();
+        s.execute("file.new", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        let r = s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(r, json!({"chapterNumber": 1, "label": "1", "style": "arabic", "source": "automatic", "book": null}));
+        let r = s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", &json!({"start": 4, "style": "upperRoman"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!((&r["label"], &r["source"]), (&json!("IV"), &json!("userDefined")), "a start number means Start Chapter Numbering at");
+        s.execute("variables.define", &json!({"name": "Chapter", "type": "chapterNumber"})).unwrap();
+        let d = &s.doc().unwrap().doc;
+        let chapter = d.variable("Chapter").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(d.variable_value(chapter, Some(0)).as_deref(), Some("IV"), "the Chapter Number variable uses the style");
+        for bad in [json!({"style": "symbols"}), json!({"start": 0}), json!({"start": 100_000}), json!({"source": "nextBook"})] {
+            assert!(s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", &bad).is_err(), "{bad}");
+        }
+        s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", &json!({"source": "sameAsPrevious"})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(s.execute("layout.chapterNumbering", &json!({})).unwrap()["source"], "userDefined", "undoable");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn document_setup_pages_start_bleed_slug() {
         let mut s = crate::Session::new();