Merging PDFs when your email has an attachment limit

The merged file is about as big as the originals added together, so work out the total before you merge.

Drag & drop PDF files here

or

Free: up to 5 files, 20MB total

Merging adds sizes, it does not shrink them

Pages are copied as they are, with no recompression, so merged.pdf is about the sum of the files you put in, give or take a little overhead. This tool has no compress option, so a merge never makes the result smaller.

Estimate before you merge

  1. Look up your email provider's attachment limit. It is often around 20 to 25MB; check yours.
  2. Look at each file's size in your file manager and add them up. For example, 7MB + 6MB + 5MB = 18MB.
  3. Leave some room. Email is encoded for sending, which makes an attachment roughly a third bigger in transit, and some providers count that larger size. 18MB can then count as about 24MB, over a 20MB limit.

If it is too big

This tool's own limit is separate

The free merge allows 5 files and 20MB in total per merge. Over that, a Pro option appears instead of merging. See merging large PDF files.

What this does not do

It does not compress a PDF, split one into smaller pieces, or tell you your provider's limit. To send two emails you choose which whole files go into each merge.

More about merging PDFs

Free, with an optional Pro unlock

Pro is Hexloom Pro, $29 a year or $4 a month, one subscription for every Hexloom tool. It removes the 5 file and 20MB limits. There is no account: Pro unlocks the browser you subscribe in, and the confirmation page has a link to restore it elsewhere.

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