Handling multiple PDF files can quickly become a hassle, especially when you need to print them in large quantities.
Handling multiple PDF files can quickly become a hassle, especially when you need to print them in large quantities.
Bulk printing PDFs doesn’t have to be complicated, if you follow this simple guide, you’ll print PDF files in bulk like a pro.
Step 1: Compress or Merge Your PDFs
To streamline the printing process, it’s often a good idea to compress or merge your PDFs into one single document.
Why? When everything is combined or optimized, it’s much easier to print, and you avoid skipping any critical files.
Use Smallpdf's tools to get started:
If your files are large, compress them to reduce their size without compromising quality.
- Merge PDFs: Combine multiple PDF files into one document to keep everything organized and ensure it prints in the correct order.
How to Merge PDF Files
This step saves time and minimizes errors in the printing process.
Step 2: Download Your Prepared PDFs
Once your PDFs are optimized or merged, download the final versions to your computer. This ensures that all the necessary changes are saved. Having everything organized locally also makes it simpler to prepare for bulk printing. Out of habit, save the downloaded file somewhere easy to find. We recommend creating a dedicated folder labeled “To Print” on your desktop.
Step 3: Use a PDF Printer
Now that your PDFs are ready, it’s time to print! Most operating systems have native printing capabilities, so you don’t even need special software. Here's how to print PDFs in bulk based on your computer system: On Windows: 1. Open File Explorer and locate the PDFs you want to print. 2. Select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each file. 3. Right-click the selected files and choose the Print option.
On Mac:
1. Open the PDFs in Preview (Mac’s built-in file viewer).
2. Select File > Print, ensuring all the files you want are open in the app.
3. Print them together, choosing your desired print settings.
On Linux:
1. Use the terminal’s lp command for batch printing.
Example:
- lp file1.pdf file2.pdf file3.pdf
- This method requires you to have a compatible printer configured on your Linux system.
By using these native tools, you can print multiple PDFs in just a few clicks, even without any advanced software.
Bonus Tip: Organize for Order
Need to print your PDFs in a specific sequence? Use Smallpdf’s Merge to combine all your files in your desired order before printing. This makes the process seamless and avoids confusion when handling large document batches.
If your printer doesn’t support batch printing, don’t worry—you can still print them one at a time by selecting the files manually in any PDF viewer.
FAQs
Can you bulk print PDF files? Yes, absolutely! You can bulk print PDF files by using tools or software that supports batch processing, or directly from your system’s printing capabilities.
How do you bulk print PDF files in order? To ensure your PDFs print in a specific order, merge them into one document using the Smallpdf merging tool. This guarantees they print in sequence.
How do you batch print PDFs using online tools? Smallpdf allows you to prepare your files for bulk printing. After merging or compressing your PDFs, download them and proceed to print using your device.
What if my printer doesn’t support batch printing? If your printer doesn’t have batch printing features, you can manually select files one by one in your PDF software and print them individually. Alternatively, consider upgrading to a more advanced printer that supports the feature.
