diff --git a/papermerge/core/alembic/versions/85fda75f19f1_make_document_type_name_unique_for_user_.py b/papermerge/core/alembic/versions/85fda75f19f1_make_document_type_name_unique_for_user_.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e7f0c2a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/papermerge/core/alembic/versions/85fda75f19f1_make_document_type_name_unique_for_user_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""make document type name unique for user_id
+
+Revision ID: 85fda75f19f1
+Revises: bc29f69daca4
+Create Date: 2024-11-25 10:03:03.516065
+
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "85fda75f19f1"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "bc29f69daca4"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    with op.batch_alter_table("document_types") as batch_op:
+        batch_op.create_unique_constraint(
+            "unique document type per user",
+            columns=["name", "user_id"],
+        )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    with op.batch_alter_table("document_types") as batch_op:
+        batch_op.drop_constraint("unique document type per user")
diff --git a/papermerge/core/features/conftest.py b/papermerge/core/features/conftest.py
index 24314c2cb..2e2834635 100644
--- a/papermerge/core/features/conftest.py
+++ b/papermerge/core/features/conftest.py
@@ -444,10 +444,14 @@ def token():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def make_document_type(db_session, user: orm.User, make_custom_field):
+def make_document_type(db_session, make_user, make_custom_field):
     cf = make_custom_field(name="some-random-cf", type=schema.CustomFieldType.boolean)
 
-    def _make_document_type(name: str, path_template: str | None = None):
+    def _make_document_type(
+        name: str, user: orm.User | None = None, path_template: str | None = None
+    ):
+        if user is None:
+            user = make_user("john")
         return dbapi.create_document_type(
             db_session,
             name=name,
diff --git a/papermerge/core/features/document_types/db/orm.py b/papermerge/core/features/document_types/db/orm.py
index 21eab2a44..86eea21ae 100644
--- a/papermerge/core/features/document_types/db/orm.py
+++ b/papermerge/core/features/document_types/db/orm.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 from uuid import UUID
 
-from sqlalchemy import ForeignKey, func
+from sqlalchemy import ForeignKey, func, UniqueConstraint
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column, relationship
 
 from papermerge.core.db.base import Base
@@ -28,3 +28,7 @@ class DocumentType(Base):
     )
     user_id: Mapped[UUID] = mapped_column(ForeignKey("users.id"))
     created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(insert_default=func.now())
+
+    __table_args__ = (
+        UniqueConstraint("name", "user_id", name="unique document type per user"),
+    )
diff --git a/papermerge/core/features/document_types/tests/test_router_document_types.py b/papermerge/core/features/document_types/tests/test_router_document_types.py
index da825f193..7a6fabd0d 100644
--- a/papermerge/core/features/document_types/tests/test_router_document_types.py
+++ b/papermerge/core/features/document_types/tests/test_router_document_types.py
@@ -118,11 +118,11 @@ def test_delete_document_type(
 
 
 def test_paginated_result__9_items_first_page(
-    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient
+    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient, user
 ):
     total_doc_type_items = 9
-    for _ in range(total_doc_type_items):
-        make_document_type(name="Invoice")
+    for i in range(total_doc_type_items):
+        make_document_type(name=f"Invoice {i}", user=user)
 
     params = {"page_size": 5, "page_number": 1}
     response = auth_api_client.get("/document-types/", params=params)
@@ -138,11 +138,11 @@ def test_paginated_result__9_items_first_page(
 
 
 def test_paginated_result__9_items_second_page(
-    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient
+    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient, user
 ):
     total_doc_type_items = 9
-    for _ in range(total_doc_type_items):
-        make_document_type(name="Invoice")
+    for i in range(total_doc_type_items):
+        make_document_type(name=f"Invoice {i}", user=user)
 
     params = {"page_size": 5, "page_number": 2}
     response = auth_api_client.get("/document-types/", params=params)
@@ -160,11 +160,11 @@ def test_paginated_result__9_items_second_page(
 
 
 def test_paginated_result__9_items_3rd_page(
-    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient
+    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient, user
 ):
     total_doc_type_items = 9
-    for _ in range(total_doc_type_items):
-        make_document_type(name="Invoice")
+    for i in range(total_doc_type_items):
+        make_document_type(name=f"Invoice {i}", user=user)
 
     params = {"page_size": 5, "page_number": 3}
     response = auth_api_client.get("/document-types/", params=params)
@@ -180,10 +180,12 @@ def test_paginated_result__9_items_3rd_page(
     assert len(paginated_items.items) == 0
 
 
-def test_document_types_all_route(make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient):
+def test_document_types_all_route(
+    make_document_type, auth_api_client: AuthTestClient, user
+):
     total_doc_type_items = 9
-    for _ in range(total_doc_type_items):
-        make_document_type(name="Invoice")
+    for i in range(total_doc_type_items):
+        make_document_type(name=f"Invoice {i}", user=user)
 
     response = auth_api_client.get("/document-types/all")
 
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 5f27c0fe4..08f4c53ca 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -104,10 +104,13 @@ def index(tmp_path, request) -> IndexRW:
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def make_document_type(db_session: Session, user: User, make_custom_field):
+def make_document_type(db_session: Session, make_user, make_custom_field):
     cf = make_custom_field(name="some-random-cf", type=CustomFieldType.boolean)
 
-    def _make_document_type(name: str):
+    def _make_document_type(name: str, user: orm.User | None = None):
+        if user is None:
+            user = make_user("john")
+
         return create_document_type(
             db_session,
             name=name,