PDFs remain a common way to share documents because they preserve formatting across devices and platforms. Sometimes, however, you end up with several separate PDFs that would be easier to handle as a single file. Perhaps you’re sending a client multiple contracts or keeping all your scanned bills in one place. Whatever the reason, combining PDFs is simple once you know which tools to use. Adobe Acrobat offers the most direct approach, but there are plenty of free alternatives to consider as well.
How to combine PDFs with Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat has long been the default solution for editing and managing PDFs. If you already use the desktop app, you can merge files without relying on any third-party tools. Start by opening Acrobat and selecting the Tools tab. From there, choose Combine Files. You’ll see an option to add your documents. Usefully, this doesn’t limit you to just PDFs either. Word files, Excel sheets and image formats are all supported, too.
Once the files appear in the workspace, you can rearrange them by dragging them into the order you want. If there are pages you don’t need, they can be removed before finalizing. Acrobat also gives you the option to turn off automatic bookmarks if you prefer a cleaner output. When everything looks correct, click Combine and the program will generate a single PDF that you can save anywhere on your device.
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If you don’t have the desktop version, Adobe also provides a free online tool. The web-based version works in any modern browser. You simply go to Adobe’s merge tool page and drag your PDFs into the upload window. The interface lets you change the order before confirming. Once you click Merge, the combined document is processed and offered as a download.
The service supports up to 100 individual files or 1,500 total pages, which is more than enough for most everyday needs.
Consider free alternatives online
If you prefer not to use Adobe or are working with smaller projects, several free services handle PDF merging in a browser. I Love PDF is one of the more popular choices. Using I Love PDF is nice and simple too: you upload your documents, arrange them as needed and download the finished file.
However, there are limits to keep in mind: I Love PDF’s free tier allows up to 25 files or 100 MB per merge, but it remains a quick option when you don't want to install extra software.
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