How to Merge and Split PDFs: Turn Scattered Documents Into One File

When you need to merge or split a PDF

Job applications, scholarship and university applications and insurance claims often ask for "a single file" — so a diploma, transcript and certificate saved separately have to be combined. On the other hand, when you only need to send a few pages of a 100-page contract or textbook, you need to cut those out.

Combining several PDFs into one

1. Drop all the PDFs into Merge PDF at once.
2. Use the ↑↓ buttons to put them in the order requested — typically application form, then certificates, then the rest.
3. Click Merge to create one PDF.

Rename the result to something like "Jane_Doe_Application.pdf" so the recipient can find it easily.

Extracting only the pages you need

Split PDF offers three modes:

• Extract selected pages: type "1-3, 7, 10-12" to make a new PDF with just those pages.
• Every page separately: split each page into its own PDF.
• Every N pages: cut a long document into equal chunks.

When you get several files, download them as one ZIP.

Turning paper into a PDF without a scanner

Photograph the pages with your phone and drop the photos into Image to PDF. For a clean result:

• Place the paper on a dark surface and shoot straight down
• Use good light to avoid shadows
• Choose Letter or A4 and narrow margins

Going the other way — posting a page on social media, say — use PDF to JPG to turn every page into an image.

When the merged PDF is too big

Scanned pages are big images, so a merged file can reach tens of MB. Shrink the photos first with the Image Compressor or lower the quality when converting images to PDF, and the size drops dramatically.

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