How to merge PDF files
- Press Choose files and select the PDFs. You can pick several at once or add more later. Each shows its page count.
- Arrange the files. Up and Down work on phones and with a keyboard; on a computer you can drag by the handle.
- Optional: type page numbers in a file's Pages box to take only part of it.
- Press Merge PDF. The summary tells you how many pages the new file has. Press Download to save
merged.pdf.
Choosing pages from a file
Leave a file's Pages box blank to use every page. Otherwise write the pages you want, separated by commas:
| You type | Pages used from a 10-page file |
|---|---|
1-3 | 1, 2, 3 |
2, 5, 9 | 2, 5, 9 |
8- | 8, 9, 10 |
-2, 10 | 1, 2, 10 |
3, 1 | 3, then 1 (your order is kept) |
An unknown page, or a range written backwards such as 5-3, shows a message next to the file instead of producing a wrong result.
What a merge keeps, and what it doesn't
- Kept: each page's content, fonts, images, size and rotation. Pages are copied, not redrawn, so text stays searchable and quality is unchanged.
- Not carried over: bookmarks (outline), form-field behaviour, and document-level metadata from the sources. The merged file is a fresh document with the pages in your order.
- Mixed page sizes stay mixed. An A4 page (595 × 842 pt) and a Letter page (612 × 792 pt) sit side by side at their own sizes.
Password-protected and damaged files
A PDF that is locked with a password can't be copied page by page, and a damaged file can't be read at all. In both cases this tool stops and names the file in the message, rather than creating a broken PDF. For a locked file, remove the password in the program or site that created it, or open it and print to a new PDF, and add that copy instead.
Joining other things into a PDF
- Photos and scans: turn them into pages with JPG to PDF, or PNG to PDF for screenshots, then merge.
- Need pictures out of a PDF instead? PDF to JPG and PDF to PNG save each page as an image.
- Word and other documents: use "Save as PDF" or "Export" in the program first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I merge PDF files into one?
Press Choose files and select two or more PDFs, arrange them in the order you want with the Up and Down buttons, and press Merge PDF. The combined file downloads as merged.pdf. The pages appear in the same order as the list, and each file keeps its own page order.
What is the difference between merge PDF and combine PDF?
Nothing. Merge, combine and join all describe the same job: putting the pages of several PDFs into one file. This page does it all.
Are my PDFs uploaded to a server?
No. The pages are copied into the new file by code running inside your browser, so your documents, which may hold contracts, IDs or invoices, never leave your device. There is no account, no queue and no file deleted later because nothing is stored.
Is it free? Is there a limit on files or pages?
It is free with no sign-up and no watermark. We don't set a limit on the number of files or pages. The practical limit is your device's memory: a phone copes with a few hundred pages of ordinary documents, and a desktop with far more.
Can I choose only some pages from each PDF?
Yes. Each file in the list has a Pages box. Leave it blank for every page, or type a range such as 1-3, 5, 8- (8- means page 8 to the end). The pages are taken in the order you type them, so 3, 1 puts page 3 before page 1. The box turns red with a message if a page doesn't exist.
Why does it say my PDF is password-protected?
A PDF that needs a password to open (or one that is encrypted) cannot be copied page by page. The tool names the file so you know which one it is. Open it in the app that made it, remove the password or print it to a new PDF, and add the new file.
Will merging change how my pages look?
No. Pages are copied across with their fonts, images and sizes, and are not redrawn or compressed again, so a merge doesn't lower quality. Different page sizes (an A4 and a Letter file, for example) stay as they are in the merged document. Bookmarks and form fields from the sources may not be carried over.
Can I merge PDFs on my phone?
Yes. On iPhone and Android, Choose files opens the Files app or your downloads. Select several PDFs at once, or add them in batches; the list keeps everything. Use the Up and Down buttons to set the order, because dragging isn't practical on a small screen.
Can I add images or Word documents?
This tool joins PDFs. To include a photo or scan, first turn it into a PDF with the JPG to PDF or PNG to PDF converter, then add that PDF here. A Word file needs saving or exporting as PDF from Word first.
Will the size of the merged file be big?
About the sum of the originals, minus some shared overhead. Merging does not compress. If the result is too large to email, reduce the sources first, for example by re-exporting scanned pages at a lower resolution.