Merge PDF files in file-name order — automatically
When you have dozens of PDFs called scan1.pdf, scan2.pdf … scan12.pdf, or invoices named by date, putting them in order by hand is slow and easy to get wrong. The Merge PDF by File Name tool sorts the files for you and combines them into one PDF in exactly that order.
It uses a natural sort, so file2 comes before file10 the way a person would expect — not after it, as in a plain character-by-character sort. You can also sort by the first or last number in each name or by the date each file was last modified, flip the direction, and still nudge individual files up or down. Drop a whole folder (sub-folders included) and every PDF inside is picked up.
The merged file can open with a bookmark for each original file, and you can separate files with blank pages or title pages. Everything runs in your browser — your PDFs are never uploaded.
How to merge PDFs by file name
- Drop your PDFs or a folder onto the upload area, click it to choose files, or press “Choose a folder”. Non-PDF files are skipped.
- Pick how to sort: natural file name (the default), character order, first or last number in the name, or date modified — then Ascending or Descending.
- Check the numbered list. Move a file with the arrows if needed (the sort switches to “My own order”) or remove it with ×.
- Choose the bookmark style and what goes between files: nothing, a blank page, a title page or padding for double-sided printing.
- Press “Merge PDFs” and download the combined PDF.
Merge PDF by File Name features
Natural sorting
Numbers inside names are compared as numbers, so page2 sits before page10 and chapter 9 before chapter 11.
Sort by number or date
Use the first or last number in each name (handy for “2024-invoice-17”), or the file’s modified date.
Whole folders at once
Pick or drop a folder and every PDF in it and its sub-folders is added, with the folder path shown.
A bookmark per file
The merged PDF opens with a bookmark panel listing each source file, so long bundles are easy to navigate.
Separator pages
Add a blank page or a title page with the file name between files, or blank pages only where double-sided printing needs them.
Private and lossless
Pages are copied, not re-rendered, and nothing leaves your device.
Natural sort versus character order
Zero-padded names (001, 002 …) sort the same way in both modes, which is why many scanners add leading zeros. Upper and lower case are treated alike, so “Scan1” and “scan2” sort together.
| Files | Natural sort | Character by character |
|---|---|---|
| page1, page2, page10, page11 | page1, page2, page10, page11 | page1, page10, page11, page2 |
| ch9, ch10, ch11 | ch9, ch10, ch11 | ch10, ch11, ch9 |
| scan-001, scan-002, scan-010 | scan-001, scan-002, scan-010 | scan-001, scan-002, scan-010 |
When to use the other sort options
- First number in the name — for names like “12 - Annual report.pdf” where the number comes first, or when text before the number differs from file to file.
- Last number in the name — for names like “Invoice 2026 no 17.pdf” where an earlier number (the year) is the same for every file.
- Date modified — for phone scans and downloads named with random codes. Note that copying files, unzipping archives or downloading from some cloud drives can reset this date; check the list before merging.
- Files without any number are always placed after the numbered ones, in natural name order.
Bookmarks, separators and printing
Bookmarks are added as a simple outline: one entry per source file, pointing to its first page (or its title page). Bookmarks that existed inside the individual files are not carried over. Choose “folder and name” if files from different sub-folders have the same name.
For double-sided printing, “Blank page only if needed” inserts a blank page whenever the previous file ended on a front side, so every file starts on a new sheet. For an ordinary merge with full control over each file’s position, use Merge PDF; to number the pages of the combined document, finish with Add Page Numbers, and if the result is too large to email, run it through Compress PDF.
Merge PDF by File Name FAQ
How do I merge PDFs in alphabetical order?
Add the files and keep “File name — natural” with Ascending. The list shows the order before you merge; press “Merge PDFs” to combine them.
Why does file10 come before file2 in some programs?
Many programs compare names one character at a time, and the character “1” sorts before “2”. Natural sort reads the whole number, so 2 comes before 10.
Can I merge all PDFs in a folder?
Yes. Press “Choose a folder” or drag the folder onto the upload area on a computer. PDFs in sub-folders are included and other file types are skipped. On phones, select multiple files instead.
Will the merged PDF have bookmarks?
Yes, by default there is one bookmark per original file, named after it. Choose “No bookmarks” to leave them out.
Can I sort by the date the files were created?
Browsers only expose the date a file was last modified, so that is what the date sort uses. It usually matches the creation date for scans and downloads.
Is there a limit on how many files I can merge?
There is no fixed limit; it depends on your device’s memory. Hundreds of small scans usually work fine on a laptop.
Are my files uploaded?
No. The PDFs are sorted and merged in your browser and never leave your device.