How to merge PDFs on a Mac

For a faster, more flexible solution, Lumin’s free merge PDF tool lets you combine multiple files directly in your browser. In this guide, we’ll show you how to merge PDFs using Lumin and also teach you how to do it with your Mac’s built-in tools.

Method 1: Use Lumin's free merge PDF tool

The fastest way to merge PDFs on a Mac is with Lumin's free merge PDF tool. It works directly in your browser, so there's nothing to install, and it's compatible with Safari, Chrome, and any other macOS browser.

Here's how to merge your PDFs:

1. Open the Lumin Merge PDF tool and upload your first PDF.
2. In the "Merge documents" panel on the right, choose “Click here” and select the additional PDFs you want to combine.
3. Choose where to insert the new document, either before or after the current file, or between specific pages.
4. Rearrange pages if needed by dragging and dropping them into the right order.
5. Click "Merge", then download your combined PDF.

Lumin preserves the original formatting, fonts, and images from each document, so your merged file looks exactly as it should. You can also merge different file types, such as Word documents, images, and PDFs, into a single file.

Method 2: Use Preview to combine two PDFs

Preview is Apple's built-in PDF viewer and it can handle basic merging. It works fine for combining two documents, but the process is a little clunky and it's easy to accidentally overwrite your original files if you're not careful.

Before you start, it's worth duplicating your original PDFs (File > Duplicate) so you don't lose them, since Preview saves changes automatically.

How to merge PDFs in Preview:

1. Open the first PDF in Preview.
2. Click View > Thumbnails to display page previews in the sidebar.
3. Open the second PDF in Preview and also enable the thumbnails sidebar.
4. Select the page thumbnails you want to add from the second PDF. 
5. Drag the selected thumbnails into the sidebar of the PDF and drop them exactly where you want them to appear in the document you’re merging.
6. Click File > Export as PDF to save your merged document.

Frequently asked questions

Can I merge PDFs on a Mac without downloading any software?

Yes. Both Preview on Mac can handle basic PDF merging. For more control, including selecting specific pages, reordering them, or merging multiple file types, browser-based tools like Lumin let you do this without any downloads.

Can I merge more than two PDFs at once on a Mac?

Preview can combine multiple PDFs, but it requires dragging and dropping each file individually, which becomes tedious with several documents. Browser-based tools like Lumin let you merge multiple files at once, making them a faster and easier option when working with more than two PDFs.

Will merging PDFs change the formatting of my documents?

Not if you use the right tool. Lumin preserves all original formatting, fonts, images, and layouts during the merge. 

Is it safe to merge PDFs online?

Lumin uses AES-256 encryption to protect your files during upload and while stored. The platform meets key security and privacy standards, including SOC 2, GDPR, and CCPA. You can request to have your data deleted at any time. Learn more about how Lumin protects your data.

Get more from your PDFs on Mac

Merging is just the beginning. With a free Lumin account, you can edit PDFs, add comments, convert files, sign documents, and more, all from your browser.

Related guides and tools:

How to add pages to a PDF

How to remove text from a PDF

How to add a signature block to a PDF