The fastest way to combine PDFs depends on what you already have

You can combine multiple files into a single PDF using free tools built into Windows and Mac, or through online converters that work in your browser. The method you choose depends on whether your files are already PDFs, whether they're images or documents, and how much control you want over the final order and appearance.

On Windows 10 and later, you can use the Print to PDF feature to merge files. On Mac, the Preview app handles this directly. If your files live in Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, you can also use those services' built-in tools. For files that aren't PDFs yet — like Word documents, images, or spreadsheets — you'll need to convert them first or use a tool that handles multiple formats at once.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can combine PDFs by opening them in Microsoft Edge, printing to PDF, and selecting multiple files, or by using the free ILovePDF website.
  • Mac users can drag PDFs into the Preview app's sidebar, arrange them in the order you want, and export as a single file.
  • If your files are Word documents, images, or other formats, convert each to PDF first, then combine them using one of the methods above.
  • Online tools like ILovePDF, Smallpdf, and PDF Candy work on any device with a browser and don't require software installation.
  • The order of pages in your final PDF depends on the order you select the files, so arrange them before you start the merge.

Combining PDFs on Windows using Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge, the default browser on Windows 10 and later, has a built-in PDF merge feature. Open the first PDF file in Edge, then use the print dialog to add more PDFs to the same document before saving.

Open your first PDF in Microsoft Edge. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Print, or press Ctrl+P. In the print dialog, look for a button or option that says Add or Merge — this varies slightly by Windows version. Select the other PDF files you want to combine. Once all files are listed, change the printer to Print to PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF, then click Print. Choose where to save the combined file and give it a name.

This method works best when you have only a few PDFs and they're already in the order you want them. If you need to rearrange pages afterward, you'll need a separate tool.

Combining PDFs on Mac using Preview

The Preview app on Mac is built to handle PDF merging without any additional software. Open Preview, create a new document, then drag your PDF files into the sidebar in the order you want them.

Open the Preview app (in Applications > Utilities). Go to File > Open and select your first PDF. Once it opens, go to View and make sure Thumbnails is checked — this shows a sidebar with page previews. Now open your other PDFs one at a time using File > Open. Each new PDF will appear as a separate tab. Click and drag the thumbnail of each page from the other tabs into the sidebar of your main document, arranging them in the order you want. When you're done, go to File > Export as PDF and save your combined file.

Preview also lets you delete pages, rotate them, or rearrange individual pages before saving, giving you more control than some other methods.

Using free online tools to merge PDFs

If you don't want to install software or prefer not to use your browser's built-in tools, free websites like ILovePDF, Smallpdf, and PDF Candy let you upload multiple files and read the combined result. These work on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Go to ILovePDF.com, click Select PDF files, and choose all the PDFs you want to combine from your computer. The files will upload and appear in a list. Drag them into the order you want, then click Merge PDF. read the finished file to your computer. Smallpdf and PDF Candy work the same way — upload, arrange, read.

Online tools are useful when you're on a shared computer or don't have admin rights to install software. They're also helpful if you need to combine PDFs with other file types in one step. The main trade-off is that your files are temporarily uploaded to someone else's server, so avoid these tools if your PDFs contain sensitive information like medical records or financial statements.

Converting non-PDF files before combining them

If your files are Word documents, images, or other formats, you'll need to convert them to PDF first. Most of these conversions can happen inside the programs you already use.

In Microsoft Word, open the document, go to File > Save As, and choose PDF from the file type dropdown. In Google Docs, go to File > read > PDF Document. On Mac, you can print almost any document to PDF by opening the print dialog (Cmd+P), clicking the PDF dropdown in the bottom left, and selecting Save as PDF.

For images, use an online converter like CloudConvert or Zamzar, or use Preview on Mac (open the image, go to File > Export, and change the format to PDF). Once all your files are PDFs, use one of the combining methods described above.

Arranging pages in the correct order

The order your files appear in the final PDF depends on the order you select or arrange them. Before you start merging, decide what order makes sense for your document — for example, cover page first, then chapters in sequence, then appendices.

If you're using an online tool, most let you drag files up and down in the list before you merge. If you're using Preview on Mac, you can drag individual page thumbnails to rearrange them. On Windows with Edge, the order you select files in the print dialog determines their order in the output, so select them carefully or use an online tool that shows you the preview first.

If you merge the files and realize the order is wrong, you'll need to redo the merge or use a PDF editor to rearrange pages afterward. Spending an extra minute arranging files before you merge saves time later.

Editing the combined PDF after merging

Once you've created your combined PDF, you may want to delete blank pages, rotate pages that are sideways, or add page numbers. Free tools like PDFtk, Smallpdf, and ILovePDF can handle these tasks without requiring you to buy software.

If you need to remove pages, use Smallpdf's delete pages tool or ILovePDF's edit feature — upload your PDF, select the pages you want to keep, and read the result. To rotate pages, most online PDF tools have a rotate option in their edit menu. To add page numbers, you'll need a slightly more advanced tool like PDFtk (command-line, for Windows and Mac) or a paid editor like Adobe Acrobat, since free online tools usually don't support this.

For most everyday combining tasks, you won't need to edit after merging. But if you do, these free tools handle the common fixes without cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine PDFs that are different sizes or orientations?

Yes. When you merge PDFs, each file keeps its original size and orientation. If one PDF is landscape and another is portrait, they'll stay that way in the combined file. You can rotate individual pages afterward using an online tool if you want them all to match.

What if I only want to combine certain pages from each PDF, not the whole file?

Most online tools let you select specific pages before merging. Upload your PDF, choose which pages to include, then proceed with the merge. Preview on Mac also lets you delete unwanted pages before exporting. This is faster than merging everything and deleting pages afterward.

Is it safe to use online PDF tools with confidential documents?

Online tools upload your files to their servers temporarily. If your PDFs contain medical records, tax returns, or other sensitive information, use a local method instead — Preview on Mac or the Print to PDF method on Windows both keep your files on your own computer.

Can I combine PDFs on my phone or tablet?

Yes, using online tools in your mobile browser. Go to ILovePDF.com or Smallpdf.com on your phone, tap the upload button, and select PDFs from your device's storage. The process is the same as on a computer. Some phones also have built-in PDF apps that can merge files — check your device's file manager or app store.

What's the file size limit for combining PDFs?

Most free online tools accept files up to 100 MB per upload or 500 MB total per merge. If your PDFs are larger, use a local method like Preview or Print to PDF, which have no file size limits since everything stays on your computer.