How to Combine Multiple PDF Scans Into One Document

In this article we will be discussing how to combine multiple pdf scans into one document online and I’ll tell you my method for merging them together so that the pages in your files stay in their correct order. This can be especially important if you are putting together a photo book and want your pictures printed correctly.

Scanned files are a great way to archive important documents, but also tend to create multiple PDFs for each scan. However, these files can be combined into one document with a little bit of know-how. With the right software, you can merge scanned documents simply by saving them as an image to your computer. The process is easy and quick.

How can you combine two PDFs into one document?The pdf is one of the most popular image formats you may frequently see online or hear about. Many computer users choose to save documents in this format because there are lots of benefits they could get from it.

Combining (adding pages from) multiple PDF files into one document is both a simple & sometimes complex process. It all depends on the condition of the source PDF files which varies dramatically. If there are images, tables, text and page layouts with complex layers of text, then it’s going to be rather complicated to correctly merge all that information together.

Combine PDF files online with ease. How can I combine PDF files for free?

1 Choose files to Merge

Choose file: drag and drop to upload documents directly from your computer, or upload files from a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

2 Adjust order of files

Our Merge PDF tool is the solution for users looking to merge multiple files into a single PDF document. Once files have been uploaded to our system, change the order of your PDF documents.

3 Send file by Email

Once you merge PDFs, you can send them directly to your email or download the file to your computer and view directly in your browser.

You’ve got multiple files — documents, spreadsheets, and email attachments — from virtually everyone. Now you’ve also got an easy way to combine and organize them all into one PDF. It’s a better way to share and send.

Send fewer attachments.

Combine PDFs and other files — Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint (PPT) files, JPGs, PNGs, and more — into a single organized PDF that’s easier to send, share, archive, and review.

Merge on the go.

Combine and organize your PDF from any browser with the Acrobat PDF merger tool. You also use PDF tools to reorder, delete, or rotate PDF pages using the Acrobat Reader mobile app.

Organize your pages.

Just drag and drop file thumbnails to rearrange your merged PDF in your desired order. You can even organize pages after merging multiple files into a single PDF document.

Navigate easily.

Use bookmarks, headers, footers, and page numbers to navigate your PDF. Customize your pages by adding backgrounds and watermarks.

Start free trial ›

How to combine and merge your files into one PDF:

1. Open Acrobat DC to combine files:Open the Tools tab and select “Combine files.”
   
2. Add files: Click “Add Files” and select the files you want to include in your PDF. You can merge PDFs or a mix of PDF documents and other files.
   
3. Arrange and delete content: Click, drag, and drop to reorder files or press “Delete” to remove any content you don’t want.
   
4. Combine files: When you’re finished arranging, click “Combine Files”.
   
5. Save as a PDF file: Name your file and click the “Save” button. That’s it.

Merging multiple PDFs together shouldn’t be stressful. Sure, working with lots of different documents can get tricky, but there are a few easy ways you can combine PDFs together, whether you’re constructing a portfolio or just looking for ways to cut down on file clutter. 

One of the most popular tools for combining PDFs is Adobe Acrobat, but that software will cost you at least $13 a month for a subscription. Luckily, there are a few other ways you can combine PDFs for free, no matter what type of computer you’re using. 

How do I combine PDFs on Windows?

If you’re using Windows, you’ll need a third-party app to help you combine PDFs. We tested a few, and found a solid option in PDF Merger & Splitter by AnywaySoft. It’s available through the Microsoft Store for free. 

Here’s how to merge PDFs with this app:

• Open the app, and choose Merge or Split. If you just need to merge two documents without changing the order of any pages, choose Merge.
• Click Add PDFs, and select however many you want to merge. You have the option to move them up or down, or sort by name. You can also preview what the merged documents will look like. 
• Once your documents are in order, hit Merge, and name and save the new merged PDF. 

If you want to customize your merger a bit more, such as by changing the order of pages or only adding in certain parts of each PDF, you’ll have to split them first. To do that, select Split when the app opens. Choose which individual pages or page ranges you want to pull out. You can save them as one PDF, or as individual PDFs. 

How do I combine PDFs on Mac?

On Mac, you can combine PDFs with a built-in tool found in Preview, according to Apple Support.

Here’s how to combine two PDFs:

• Open a PDF in Preview.
• Go to View > Thumbnails. You’ll see page thumbnails in the sidebar.
• Select the thumbnail for the page where you want to insert the other document.
• Click Edit > Insert > Page from File (if the Page from File selection is dimmed so you can’t click it, make sure that the file you have open is a PDF. Some encrypted PDF documents can’t be merged, according to Apple. Check the permissions of a PDF by choosing Tools > Show Inspector, then click the lock icon).
• Select the PDF you want to add, and click Open.
• Choose File > Export as PDF to save.

And here’s how to combine parts of one PDF with another PDF:

• Open the PDFs you want to combine in Preview.
• In each document, choose View > Thumbnails. You’ll see page thumbnails in the sidebar.
• Press and hold the Command key, and select the page thumbnails that you want to add to the other document. Let go of the Command key.
• Drag the selected thumbnails to the sidebar of the other PDF, and release where you want them to go. (If you have macOS Sierra or earlier, drag the thumbnails directly into a thumbnail in the other PDF.) 

You can rotate, delete and reorder pages from the thumbnail section, too.

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is one of the most commonly used file types around.

PDFs are primarily shareable text or photo documents accessible to anyone who has a computer or smartphone. Unlike a Word file, which requires Microsoft Word to view or edit, most browsers will open a PDF.

That’s useful when sharing files with friends or colleagues, especially if you don’t know what software they have; PDFs are the one-size-fits-all option. You can also be sure your document’s format won’t change regardless of what kind of device is accessing your file.

But let’s say you have one or more documents to share. Instead of sending multiple attachments in an email, you can combine and organize multiple PDFs into one file. 

Mac users can do this using the Preview app that comes with your computer.

PC users will have to download software, but many of these programs are free and easy to use.

How to Combine Two Scanned Documents Into One in Word

1. 1.Start Microsoft Word and click the “Insert” tab.
2. 2.Click the small “Object” drop-down on the right side of the ribbon. Choose “Object” again.
3. 3.Scroll through the “Object type” menu to the type of file the scanned document was saved in, such as a PDF or image file format.
4. 4.Double-click the type of file. Note that these only list file types, not your actual scanned document.
5. 5.Browse through the window that opens and locate your scanned document. When you are returned to the Object window, click the “OK” button to insert the document.
6. 6.Click the cursor after the end of the scanned document or in the middle of the pages if you prefer to add the second document in between. Press “Enter” to add space for the second document or “Ctrl” and “Enter” together for a page break.
7. 7.Repeat the process to add the second scanned document into the Word document.
8. 8.Click the “File” tab, then click “Save As” and type a name for the combined document into the “File name” text box. Click the “Save” button.

How to Merge PDF Files With Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe Acrobat Reader is free. You can use Acrobat Reader to view and print PDF files, as well as add annotations. To further manipulate these files or combine multiple PDFs into one, install Acrobat DC.

Follow these steps to merge PDF files with Adobe Acrobat DC:

1. Open Acrobat DC and select Tools > Combine Files.
2. Select Add Files to add as many files as you would like. Select Add Open Files to include documents you’re currently viewing.
3. Adjust the order, including that of individual pages, by dragging and dropping each to the desired location.
4. Select Combine to complete the process.

Acrobat DC is available for a monthly or yearly subscription fee that varies based on the application version and length of commitment. If you have a short-term need, Adobe offers a 7-day free trial, which doesn’t contain limitations in terms of functionality.

How to Combine PDF Files With Apple Preview

On a Mac, use the built-in Preview application to combine PDF files, eliminating the need (and cost, as Preview is free with macOS) for third-party software or online service.

1. Open one of the PDF files you want to combine in the Preview app.
2. Go to the View menu and select Thumbnails, if it isn’t selected, to enable the thumbnail preview. To toggle the Thumbnails view, press Option+Command+2 on the keyboard.
3. If the open PDF has more than a single page, select a thumbnail in the left panel where you want to insert another PDF file. Inserted PDF pages appear after the selected page.
4. Select Edit > Insert > Page from File.
5. In a Finder window, locate the second PDF file you want to import into the current one, then select Open.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each additional PDF file you want to import.
7. Drag thumbnails to change the order of pages.
8. When you are satisfied with the combined PDF, select File > Save.

How to Combine PDF Files With PDF Merge

Several websites offer PDF merging services. Many are ad-driven and free of charge. One of these is PDF Merge, which makes it possible to upload multiple files using a web browser. There is a limit of 10 MB for files that are uploaded.

PDF Merge also offers an affordable downloadable app that merges PDFs offline. Only a Windows version is available.

1. Go to the PDF Merge website.
2. Select Choose File.
3. Choose the first PDF you want to merge, then select Open.
4. Select Choose File again for the other files you want to combine. If you run out of slots, select More Files.
5. Select Merge to combine the selected files. The files are combined in the order in which you select and upload each file.
6. Download the final combined PDF to your computer.

How Do You Merge PDF Files Explained

When you add multiple files together, you maintain the size and orientation of all the pages within the original files. Using our PDF combiner and PDF joiner does not prevent you from making alterations

to the document, if required, such as changing the order of the pages of your PDF. Before or after merging two PDFs or more, you can use our Split tool to remove any pages within your original documents that you don’t need in the final PDF.

Conclusion

PDFs are among the most popular file formats that businesses and individuals use to share, store, and view files. While it’s one of the most convenient file formats today, people often end up with multiples of the same or different PDFs on their computer. Converting your documents into PDF format has many advantages. This form of digital file storage isn’t going anywhere and will only become more popular as time goes on. More and more people are taking to the Internet and turning to online shopping instead of going down to the local department store. By having your documents available in a digital format you can access them from virtually anywhere, at any time.

If you would like to combine PDF files, there are times when you can do this directly in Acrobat Pro. When there is just a few documents to combine, this saves a lot of time. If it’s a lot of pages (say over 10/20) then it’s always best to use an independent software program that offers more options and better performance.