Back to Collections

PDF Editing Tools

Edit PDF files easily. Merge multiple PDFs, split documents, rotate pages, reorder content, add page numbers, and change page sizes for complete PDF manipulation.

10 min read
Updated 2025-12-13

PDF editing transforms static documents into flexible, organized files. Combining separate PDFs creates unified reports, splitting large files makes sharing easier, rotating pages fixes scanning errors, reordering rearranges content logically, page numbers improve navigation, and resizing standardizes document formats.

These editing tools handle common PDF manipulation tasks without expensive software. Merge PDFs into single files, split by pages or ranges, rotate pages in any direction, drag-drop reorder pages, add custom page numbers with formatting, and resize pages to standard paper sizes.

Perfect for office workers organizing documents, students combining assignments, legal professionals preparing filings, teachers creating materials, and anyone working with PDF documents regularly. All editing happens in your browser without uploading files to servers.

How to Use These Tools

Step-by-step guidance and best practices for getting the most out of this collection

PDF merging combines multiple files into one continuous document, preserving all content, bookmarks, and formatting. The PDF Merger processes files in order, creating a single output PDF. Use merging for consolidating reports, combining scanned documents, assembling presentations, or creating course packets from multiple sources. Merged PDFs maintain original quality and file metadata. Order matters: arrange source files before merging. Large merges may take time depending on file sizes and page counts.

PDF splitting extracts pages from larger documents, creating new files with selected content. The PDF Splitter offers multiple modes: extract single pages, split by ranges (pages 1-5, 6-10), extract every N pages, or split at bookmarks. Use splitting for sharing relevant sections without entire documents, creating chapter files from books, distributing exam pages individually, or reducing file sizes for email. Splitting preserves original quality and does not modify source files.

Page rotation fixes orientation issues from scanners or cameras. The PDF Rotator rotates pages 90, 180, or 270 degrees clockwise. Apply rotation to all pages, specific pages, or based on current orientation (rotate only landscape pages). Common uses include correcting scanned documents, fixing mobile-captured pages, standardizing mixed orientations, or preparing documents for printing. Rotation is lossless and does not degrade image quality. Some viewers auto-rotate but rotation in file ensures consistency.

Page reordering rearranges document structure without splitting and merging. The PDF Page Reorder tool provides visual page thumbnails for drag-drop arrangement. Reorganize chapters, move appendices, group related content, or fix scanning order mistakes. Reordering maintains all page content, links, and bookmarks while changing sequence. This is faster than split-reorder-merge workflows and preserves document integrity.

Page numbering adds navigation aids to documents. The Add Page Numbers tool inserts numbers with customizable position (header, footer, margins), format (1, 2, 3 or i, ii, iii), starting number, and prefix/suffix text. Different sections can use different numbering styles. Page numbers help readers navigate, reference specific content, and maintain document order when printed. Position numbers to avoid overlapping content. Preview before applying to verify placement.

Page size changing standardizes documents to common formats (A4, Letter, Legal) or custom dimensions. The PDF Page Size Changer scales or crops content to fit new sizes. Options include scaling content proportionally (may create margins), stretching to fill (may distort), or cropping to size. Use this for preparing documents for specific printers, converting between regional paper sizes, or creating uniform layouts from varied sources. Consider content layout when resizing to prevent important information from being cut off.

Popular Workflows

Common ways professionals use these tools together

Combine Multiple Scans

  1. 1

    Collect all PDF scans

    PDF Merger

  2. 2

    Merge into single document

    PDF Merger

  3. 3

    Add page numbers for reference

    Add Page Numbers to PDF

Extract Document Section

  1. 1

    Split PDF by page range

    PDF Splitter

  2. 2

    Keep only needed pages

    PDF Splitter

Fix Scanning Errors

  1. 1

    Rotate incorrectly oriented pages

    PDF Rotator

  2. 2

    Reorder pages if needed

    PDF Page Reorder

Explore More Collections

Discover more expert-curated tool collections for specific workflows and use cases

Frequently Asked Questions

Does merging PDFs reduce quality?

No, merging is lossless. The PDF Merger combines files without recompression or quality loss. Original images, text, and formatting remain identical. File size equals approximately the sum of input files. Merging does not optimize or compress, so merged PDFs retain all original quality, both good and bad.

Can I split password-protected PDFs?

Only if you know the password. Password-protected PDFs encrypt content, preventing splitting without authentication. Remove password protection first using the PDF Password Remover tool (requires original password), then split. Never split PDFs without authorization, as password protection exists for document security.

Why do my rotated pages look blurry?

Rotation itself is lossless, but scanned images may appear blurry regardless of rotation. If only rotated pages seem blurry, the viewer may be rendering differently. Try different PDF viewers or re-save the document. If source pages were low-quality scans, rotation cannot improve them. Always rotate at 90-degree increments to avoid interpolation.

How do I number pages starting from a specific number?

Use the starting number option in the Add Page Numbers tool. This is useful when numbering continues from previous documents, or when front matter uses Roman numerals and main content uses Arabic numerals starting from 1. Specify start value, format (1,2,3 or i,ii,iii), and apply to desired page ranges.

What happens to bookmarks when splitting?

Bookmarks pointing to pages within extracted ranges typically transfer to split files, but bookmarks to other pages are removed. Some splitters preserve all bookmarks and update page references, others remove invalid bookmarks. Test with your splitter. If bookmarks matter, consider using page extraction instead of splitting.

Can I merge PDFs with different page sizes?

Yes, merged PDFs can contain pages of different sizes. Each page retains its original dimensions. Readers display mixed sizes correctly, though printing may require adjustment. For uniform appearance, resize pages before merging using the PDF Page Size Changer. Mixed sizes are acceptable for digital viewing.

How do I maintain document order when merging?

Arrange files in desired order before merging. Most mergers process files sequentially as selected. Name files with prefixes (01-file, 02-file) for logical ordering. Preview file list before merging. Some tools allow drag-drop reordering before merge. Double-check order as fixing merged PDFs requires re-merging or page reordering.

Why does page size changing distort my content?

Stretching content to fill different aspect ratios causes distortion. Use proportional scaling instead, which may create margins but preserves aspect ratio. Alternatively, crop to size if margins are acceptable. Converting Letter (8.5×11) to A4 (210×297mm) requires small adjustments. Choose scaling mode carefully based on whether distortion or margins are preferable.

Need More Tools?

Explore our complete collection of free, browser-based tools for all your design and development needs.

Browse All Tools