How to combine scanned documents into one PDF
From a pile of paper to one small, well-ordered PDF you can email.
You need to send a set of paper documents: an ID, a few payslips, a proof of address. The request says "one PDF, under 5 MB". Here is the quickest way from a pile of paper to exactly that.
1. Capture the pages
A phone camera is good enough for almost every document. For the best results:
- Put each page on a dark, plain surface so the edges are clear.
- Use daylight or even light, and avoid your own shadow over the page.
- Hold the phone flat above the page, not at an angle.
- If your phone's camera or notes app has a document scan mode, use it: it crops and straightens automatically.
2. Turn the photos into a PDF
Drop the photos into images to PDF. Each photo becomes a page. Choose A4 or Letter as the page size so the pages print properly. If the photos are from an iPhone and in HEIC format, convert them first with HEIC to JPG.
3. Add any documents that are already PDFs
Bank statements and payslips often arrive as PDFs already. Use merge PDF to combine them with your new scan PDF into one file, in the order you drop them.
4. Put the pages in the right order
Open the combined file in Edit PDF. Drag pages into order, remove blank or duplicate pages, and rotate any page that came out sideways. Numbering the pages is useful for long bundles.
5. Compress
A PDF made from phone photos is often 2 to 5 MB per page. The PDF compressor re-renders each page at a sensible resolution, and a ten-page bundle typically drops from 30 MB to 2 or 3 MB, with text still readable.
Sizes to aim for
| Where it is going | Aim for |
|---|---|
| Email to a company | Under 10 MB |
| Upload form with a stated limit | Comfortably under the limit |
| Printing | Size matters less; keep quality higher |
Name it sensibly
Give the file a clear name, such as Surname-Documents-2026.pdf. People handling dozens of applications appreciate it, and it is easier to find later.
Privacy
These bundles often contain ID documents and financial records, the most sensitive files most people ever send. Every step above runs in your browser, so the documents are only ever on your own device until you send them.