The complete guide to merging and splitting PDFs locally for free

Combining several PDFs into one file and dividing a large PDF into smaller files are two common office tasks. A bid may require credentials, pricing, and a proposal in one document; an expense claim may need several invoices together; or a scanned contract may be too large to send at once. This guide covers merging, splitting, reordering, deleting, and extracting pages—all locally in your browser, for free and without uploads.

Merge multiple PDFs

Merging joins two or more PDFs end to end in the order you choose. Use the PDF merger to add files, move them up or down into the right order, and merge them. Keep these points in mind:

• Order matters: The merged pages follow the list exactly, so arrange files before merging.
• Page counts add up: The result contains every page from every file. Content is not compressed or removed.
• File size grows: The result is usually close to the combined input size. If it exceeds a limit, remove unneeded pages or try a structural rewrite and check the actual savings.
• Encrypted files: Password-protected PDFs cannot be merged directly and must be unlocked first.

Split a PDF

Splitting is the reverse of merging: it divides one PDF into multiple files by page or range. The PDF splitter can create one file per page or separate ranges such as 1-3, 5, 8-10. Typical uses include sending only a contract's signature page, dividing a PDF textbook into chapters, or breaking up an attachment that exceeds an email size limit.

Reorder, delete, and extract pages

Sometimes you need more than a basic merge or split: perhaps moving pages to the front, removing blanks, or extracting only what you need. The PDF page organizer is designed for this. It shows every page as a thumbnail, letting you select pages to delete, reorder them, or extract selected pages into a new file.

An efficient combined workflow

These tools often work together. For example, to turn several bid documents into one polished submission:

1. First, merge credentials, pricing, and the proposal in the correct order.
2. Use the page organizer to remove extra covers or blank pages and rearrange sections if needed.
3. If the document needs a mark or label, use PDF watermark to add text, then use PDF page numbers to number the pages.
4. Finally, use PDF compression to reduce the file to a convenient size for sharing.

Privacy and security

PDFs such as contracts, résumés, and invoices often contain sensitive personal or business information. Every PDF tool on this site runs locally in your browser. Files are never uploaded, and results download directly to your device, avoiding both privacy exposure and upload delays.