Papiral
PixelForge
TabularHow to Merge PDF Files
3 methods — Papiral, Python, and Preview on Mac
Merging PDFs is one of the most common document tasks for professionals — combining contracts, reports, invoices, or chapters into a single file. Here are three ways to do it, from the quickest browser tool to a Python script.
Method 1: Using Papiral (fastest, no software needed)
The quickest option for merging PDFs in bulk — no Acrobat, no installs.
- 1Go to the Merge PDF tool on Papiral.
- 2Zip your PDFs into a single ZIP file. Name them 01_, 02_, etc. to control the merge order.
- 3Upload the ZIP file.
- 4Click Process and download the merged PDF.
Papiral merges files in alphabetical order by filename, so numbering your files gives you precise control.
Method 2: Python with PyPDF2
For developers or power users who want to automate merging.
- 1Install PyPDF2: pip install PyPDF2
- 2Write a script to merge your PDFs.
- 3Run the script from your terminal.
python
from PyPDF2 import PdfMerger
import glob
merger = PdfMerger()
for pdf in sorted(glob.glob("*.pdf")):
merger.append(pdf)
merger.write("merged.pdf")
merger.close()Use sorted() to ensure alphabetical merge order.
Method 3: Preview on macOS
- 1Open the first PDF in Preview.
- 2Go to View > Thumbnails to show the sidebar.
- 3Drag additional PDF files onto the sidebar in the order you want.
- 4Go to File > Export as PDF to save the merged file.
This works well for small merges but is slow for more than a handful of files.
Frequently asked questions
Does the order of files matter when merging PDFs?
Yes. Papiral merges files in alphabetical filename order, so naming your files 01_intro.pdf, 02_chapter.pdf, etc. gives you full control over the merge sequence.
Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
Papiral cannot merge encrypted or password-protected PDFs. Remove the password first using your PDF viewer.
Will bookmarks and hyperlinks be preserved?
Internal bookmarks (outline entries) in the original files are not currently merged into the combined document. Hyperlinks to external URLs are preserved.
Ready to try the fastest method?
Combine multiple PDF files into a single document. Upload a ZIP of PDFs and download one merged PDF — in seconds.
Merge PDFs — free