How To Add Pages to a PDF & Combine PDFs Online

There are different reasons why you might need to add pages to a PDF. Maybe you need to merge two PDF documents into one. Maybe you just need to insert a single blank page into a PDF. Or perhaps you need to combine select pages from different PDFs into a single document.

In this article, we'll show you step by step how to do all these things.

First, we'll look at simple online options that provide high-quality output for free. If you're a Mac user, we'll also show you how you can insert PDF pages locally on your Mac.

How to Add Pages to PDF Online with Smallpdf

The fastest, most intuitive way to add pages to a PDF, combine PDF files, or merge multiple PDFs into a single file is the Smallpdf PDF Merger.

We admit we're biased—but we built it with input from users like you, and we're constantly making it even better, so we know it does the job you need. It's free to use without even signing up, and its user-friendly interface requires no explanation.

Here's how to combine multiple PDFs into a single document using Smallpdf:

1. Go to the Merge PDF tool.
2. Select the PDFs to combine from your device. (Note: You can select multiple files at once, or you can add the first PDF, then add additional PDFs from within the tool.)
3. Add additional PDFs to merge as needed.
4. Drag pages to order your document as desired.
5. Click “Finish” and wait just a second.
6. Download your combined PDF file.

A nice feature of the Merge PDF tool is the “Show pages” toggle. This lets you choose between viewing your PDFs at a document level (with a single page icon for each PDF), or at a page level (where you can see all pages in the entire document). This makes it easy to rearrange pages however you like.

If you just need to combine specific pages from different PDFs, or remove certain pages from a PDF, the process is the same.

Follow the instructions above to add the PDFs with the pages you want to combine to the Merge PDF tool. Then toggle on “Show pages,” hover over any pages you don't need, and click the trashcan icon.

When you have only the final PDF pages you want to combine, click “Finish” to merge the remaining pages into a single PDF.

Before you download your new document, you'll also have the option to compress, edit, and convert your PDF if desired. All of this can be done for free without signing up to Smallpdf.

So, what's the catch? There’s no catch, but there is a daily use limit for free users. Smallpdf also has Pro features, like optical character recognition (PDF OCR), but that won't prevent you from adding PDF pages for free (and insider secret: you can try the 7-day trial to test out Pro features for free if needed).

With Smallpdf, you can merge, combine, and add PDF pages however you need from any device. But for Mac users, there's another free option you should know about.

How to Add Pages to a PDF on Mac (Preview)

If you use a Mac, you already have basic PDF tools right there on your computer. You can access these built-in PDF tools through your Mac's Preview function.

To begin, double-click a PDF in your Mac's Finder, or right-click the document icon and select Open With > Preview.

With your PDF open in Preview, go to Edit > Insert. There you'll see the options to add a Blank Page to your PDF or insert PDF Page from File. The latter option lets you combine separate PDFs on your computer into a single PDF.

In the sidebar, you can drag the thumbnails to rearrange pages in your PDF, or delete PDF pages by selecting a page and hitting ‘Delete’ on your keyboard.

This is a convenient option for smaller documents, but the sidebar layout makes it difficult to easily arrange or edit PDF pages in longer documents. It also takes some practice to get used to the controls in Preview if you're not familiar with the icons and shortcuts.

Pros:

• Built into Mac
• Easily add a blank page to a PDF
• No internet connection required

Cons:

• Less intuitive interface
• Difficult to rearrange pages in long documents

Reorder or Delete Pages Before You Save (Using Smallpdf)

After adding pages to your PDF, you might need to reorganize them or remove unwanted pages. Smallpdf makes this easy with its drag-and-drop interface.

Here's what you can do with your pages:

• Reorder pages: Drag page thumbnails to rearrange them in any order.
• Delete unwanted pages: Hover over any page and click the trash icon to remove it.
• Rotate pages: Click the rotation arrows to fix page orientation.
• Select multiple pages: Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) to select and move multiple pages at once.

The “Show pages” toggle gives you a clear view of all pages in your document, making it simple to spot and fix any issues before you download your final PDF.

Related PDF Tools You Might Need Next

Once you've added pages to your PDF, you might need these related tools to complete your document:

• Compress PDF: reduces file size when your merged PDF is too large to share.
• Add Page Numbers: numbers your pages after combining multiple documents.
• OCR PDF: makes scanned text searchable when you’ve added scanned pages to your file.
• Edit PDF: lets you modify text and images to update content after merging.
• Organize PDF: offers advanced page management for complex document restructuring.

Start your free trial to access all Smallpdf tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple pages to a PDF at once?

Yes, you can upload multiple PDFs or select multiple pages at once using Smallpdf's Merge PDF tool. Just select all the files you want to combine, and they'll be added to your document.

What's the maximum file size for adding pages?

Smallpdf’s file size limit is quite high and is more than enough for most PDF projects.

Can I add a blank page to my PDF?

Yes, you can add blank pages using Mac Preview (Edit > Insert > Blank Page) or by creating a blank PDF and merging it with your existing document using Smallpdf.

Is it safe to add pages to PDFs online?

Yes, Smallpdf uses 256-bit SSL encryption and automatically deletes your files from our servers after one hour. Your documents are processed securely and privately.