My Tool Studio
PDF

N-up PDF: Multiple Pages per Sheet

N-up PDF puts several pages on each sheet, so a 40 page handout can print on 10 sheets of paper. Pick 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 or 16 pages per sheet, choose the sheet size, such as A4, A3 or US Letter, and let the tool pick the orientation that makes each page largest. You can set the outer margin and the gap between pages, draw a thin border around each page, read right to left, and fill each sheet with copies of one page for cards or labels. Pages are placed as vector content rather than screenshots, so text stays sharp and searchable. Teachers use it for revision handouts and speakers for printed slide notes. Preview the first sheets before you download, and nothing is uploaded.

Always freeNo sign upRuns in your browser

How to use

01

Upload a PDF

Drop one PDF of up to 100 MB on the upload area. The page count appears, along with how many sheets the result will have at the current setting.

02

Choose the layout

Pick the pages per sheet, the sheet size and orientation, the page order, and the margin and gap in millimetres. Type a page list if you only want some pages, and tick border, right to left or repeat as needed.

03

Preview and download

Click Preview first sheets to check the layout on up to two sheets, then Create & download. The file saves as yourfile-4-up.pdf, or the name you type.

Why N-up PDF: Multiple Pages per Sheet

Pages per sheet and how big each page ends up

More pages per sheet saves more paper but shrinks the text. The table shows roughly how much a portrait A4 page is scaled on an A4 sheet with the default 5 mm margin and 3 mm gap, and the grid the tool picks. Text set in 11 point type stays readable up to about 4-up for most people, while 9-up and 16-up suit thumbnails, proofs and slide overviews.

Pages per sheetTypical grid on A4Scale of each A4 pageGood for
22 across on landscapeAbout 67%Reading copies, booklets to fold
42 x 2 on portraitAbout 47%Handouts, lecture notes
63 across x 2 down on landscapeAbout 33%Slide handouts
84 across x 2 down on landscapeAbout 33%Cards and labels with Repeat
93 x 3 on portraitAbout 31%Proof sheets
164 x 4 on portraitAbout 23%Page overviews

N-up, merge and split: how they fit together

N-up changes how pages are laid out on paper, not which pages you have. If the pages come from several files, join them with Merge PDF first and then run the merged file through this tool. If you only want part of a long document on the sheets, type a page list here, or use Extract PDF Pages first.

Going the other way, Split PDF Pages in Half cuts two-up scans back into single pages, which undoes a 2-up layout made on a scanner or copier.

Common questions

What does N-up mean for a PDF?
N-up means placing N pages side by side on one printed sheet. 2-up puts two pages on a sheet, 4-up puts four in a two by two grid, and so on. The pages are scaled down to fit, which saves paper for handouts and proofs.
How do I print multiple PDF pages on one sheet without a print dialog?
Create an N-up file here and print it like any normal PDF. The layout is baked into the new file, so it prints the same from any printer, phone or print shop, and you do not need to find the pages per sheet setting in each print dialog.
Which sheet orientation does the N-up tool pick?
With Automatic, it tries portrait and landscape sheets and every grid that gives the chosen number of cells, then keeps the one where each page is largest. Two portrait pages usually land side by side on a landscape sheet. Choose Portrait or Landscape to force one.
Is text still searchable after putting 4 pages per sheet?
Yes. Each original page is embedded as vector content and scaled, not turned into an image. Text stays selectable and searchable and prints sharply. Links and form fields on the original pages are not carried over, since the pages become part of a new sheet.
Can I make a sheet of business cards or labels from one PDF page?
Yes. Tick Repeat each page to fill its sheet. Every sheet is then filled with copies of one page, for example eight copies of a card design on A4. Set the gap to leave cutting room and tick the border option if you want cutting guides.
What is the difference between across then down and down then across?
Across then down fills the top row from left to right before moving to the next row, like reading a book. Down then across fills the first column from top to bottom before moving to the next column, which some people prefer for slide handouts.
How do margins and gaps work in the N-up layout?
The outer margin is the empty border around the edge of each sheet, and the gap is the space between neighbouring pages. Both are in millimetres. Most printers cannot print right to the edge, so keep the outer margin at 5 mm or more for home printing.
Can I choose which pages go on the N-up sheets?
Yes. Type a list in Pages to include, such as 1-12 or 3, 5, 7. The order you type is the order on the sheets, so you can repeat or rearrange pages. Leave the box blank to use every page.
Does right to left change the N-up page order?
Yes. It fills each row from the right edge to the left, which suits Arabic and Hebrew documents and manga. The pages themselves are not mirrored, only their positions on the sheet.

More PDF tools

View all

Merge PDF

Combine PDFs and images into one PDF

PDF

Split PDF

Split a PDF by ranges, size or bookmarks

PDF

Compress PDF

Reduce PDF size to a target or by level

PDF

PDF to Excel Converter

Extract PDF tables to Excel or CSV

PDF