Reorder PDF Pages into Any Sequence
How do I change the order of pages in a PDF?
Change the order of pages within a PDF. Specify the sequence you want and check the resulting document from beginning to end, especially when rearranging scanned pages or appendices. Page positions refer to the PDF file order, which can differ from numbers printed on the page. Use Merge PDFs when the pages are still spread across several separate files.
Cost: Free to use. File size and usage limits apply.
Reorder PDF pages step by step
Add one PDF
Click Choose PDF or drop a PDF of up to 200 MB on the preview. You can also open Uploads and pick a PDF you added earlier, including results from other PDF tools. One PDF is processed per job; if you drop several, only the first is used.
Look up the page positions
Page through the preview. The counter above it shows the current page and the total, for example
4 / 12. Write down positions in the file, not the page numbers printed on the pages.Type the new order
In New page order, list every page you want in the result, in the order you want it, separated by commas. Ranges save typing:
1-3means pages 1, 2 and 3. The field starts empty and must be filled in.Reorder and check the result
Click Reorder PDF. The new file opens in the preview, so you can page through it and check the page count. If something is in the wrong place, edit the order and click Reorder PDF again: the original PDF stays selected as the source.
Download
Click Download reordered PDF. The result is also kept in Uploads, so you can pass it straight to another PDF tool without uploading it again.
How the New page order field works
The tool has one setting. What you type is not just a sort order: it is the complete list of pages the new PDF will contain.
- Pages and ranges
- Use single pages (
7), ranges (4-9) or a mix of both, separated by commas, for example10,1-9,11-12. Spaces are ignored. Only digits, commas and hyphens are allowed. - Pages you leave out
- Pages that are not in the list are not in the result. On a 12-page PDF,
3,1,2returns a 3-page PDF. To keep the whole document, make sure every page from 1 to the last one appears somewhere in the list. - Pages you list twice
- A page listed twice appears twice.
1,2,2,3-12turns a 12-page PDF into a 13-page PDF with page 2 repeated, which is handy for a form or cover sheet you need two copies of. - What is rejected
- Ranges must run from low to high, so
12-1is not accepted. Open-ended ranges such as5-and words such asoddorlastare not supported either; write the pages out. A page number beyond the end of the file is rejected with a message such as "This PDF has 12 pages. Page 14 is not available."
What to type for common reorders
All examples assume a 12-page PDF. Each one lists all 12 pages, so nothing is lost.
Move the last page to the front
12,1-11, for example when a cover page was scanned last.
Swap two neighbouring pages
1-4,6,5,7-12 swaps pages 5 and 6 and leaves everything else where it was.
Move a block of pages
1-3,10-12,4-9 moves an appendix on pages 10 to 12 so it follows page 3.
Reverse the whole document
12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. A reversed range is not accepted, so type each page from last to first.
Interleave a one-sided scan of double-sided sheets
If a scanner fed all 6 front sides first and the flipped stack gave the back sides last-to-first, type 1,12,2,11,3,10,4,9,5,8,6,7. If the back sides came out in normal order, use 1,7,2,8,3,9,4,10,5,11,6,12.
What reordering keeps and what it drops
Pages are copied into the new PDF, not re-rendered. Text stays selectable and searchable, and images are not recompressed. The file is written anew, so its size can differ from the original even when you keep every page.
A PDF that asks for a password when you open it cannot be reordered. If you know the password, remove it first with Unlock PDF.
Remove PDF Pages is quicker when you only want to drop a few pages and keep the rest in place. To combine pages from several files, join them with Merge PDFs first and then reorder the merged file. This tool only changes the order, so fix sideways scans with Rotate PDF.
Formats and limits
- Input format
- Output format
- One PDF with the pages in the order you typed
- Maximum file size
- 200 MB
- Files per job
- 1 PDF
- Password-protected PDFs
- Not supported if the PDF needs a password to open. Unlock it first.
- Processing
- On our servers with the pdfcpu PDF library. The file is not sent to any AI or third-party service. A job can run for up to 15 minutes.
- Watermark
- None
- Storage
- Uploads and results are deleted automatically after 48 hours for guests and after 30 days for free accounts. Paid plans can keep files longer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my reordered PDF have fewer pages than the original?
Only the pages you list end up in the result. If you typed 3,1,2 for a 12-page PDF, pages 4 to 12 are left out. Add the missing pages to the list, for example 3,1,2,4-12, and run the tool again.
Does reordering reduce the quality of my PDF?
No. The pages are copied as they are. Text, vector graphics and images are not converted or recompressed, so zooming in shows the same detail as in the original.
Can I go back to the original order?
Yes. Reordering creates a new file and leaves the original untouched in Uploads. Select the original again and type a new order, or keep working with the reordered result.
Can I reorder a PDF that has printing or copying restrictions?
Yes, as long as it opens without a password. Only a password that is needed to open the file stops the tool; unlock such a PDF first.