Insert PDF Pages into a LaTeX Document (pdfpages)
To insert PDF pages into LaTeX, load the pdfpages package and use \includepdf[pages=-]{file.pdf}. Select pages, add them to the TOC, and scale to the layout.
To insert PDF pages into a LaTeX document, load the pdfpages package and use \includepdf[pages=-]{file.pdf} — the dash includes all pages. It's the standard way to attach a signed form, an externally generated cover page, a published paper, or a supplementary report into your document. Here's the full control set.
1. Include a whole PDF
\usepackage{pdfpages}
...
\includepdf[pages=-]{appendix-survey.pdf}
pages=- means every page. Each PDF page becomes a full page in your output.
2. Select specific pages
\includepdf[pages={1,3,5-8}]{report.pdf} % pages 1, 3, and 5–8
\includepdf[pages={1}]{cover.pdf} % just the first page
3. Useful options
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| pages=- | All pages |
| pages={2-5} | A range |
| nup=2x1 | Two source pages per page |
| fitpaper=true | Keep original page size |
| scale=0.9 | Scale the inserted pages |
| addtotoc={...} | Add a table-of-contents entry |
4. Add inserted pages to the TOC
\includepdf[pages=-, addtotoc={1, section, 1, Survey Form, sec:survey}]{form.pdf}
This creates a navigable table-of-contents entry pointing at the inserted PDF — so external appendices don't appear as untitled pages.
5. When pages look wrong
By default pdfpages scales each page to your text area, which can shrink it. Use fitpaper=true to preserve the original size, or scale=1.0 to control it. This is the usual cause of "my included PDF has odd margins". Inserting PDFs is common for appendices and supplementary material in a thesis.
→ Insert and preview PDF pages instantly in LetX.
Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs, maker of LetX.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I include all pages of a PDF in LaTeX?
Load the pdfpages package and use \includepdf[pages=-]{file.pdf}, where the dash means 'all pages'. To include specific pages, list them: pages={1,3,5-8}. The package inserts each PDF page as a full page in your document, which is the standard way to attach a signed form, a published paper, or an externally generated cover into a LaTeX thesis or report.
Can I add an included PDF to the table of contents?
Yes. Use the addtotoc option of \includepdf to create entries: \includepdf[pages=-, addtotoc={1, section, 1, Survey Form, sec:survey}]{form.pdf} adds a TOC line pointing at page 1 of the inserted PDF with the label 'Survey Form' and a reference key. This is how you keep appendices that are external PDFs visible in your document's navigation rather than appearing as untitled inserted pages.
Why do my included PDF pages look too small or have wrong margins?
By default pdfpages scales each page to fit inside the text area, which can shrink it. Use the fitpaper=true option to keep the original page size, or scale=1.0 to control scaling explicitly, and pass nup=2x1 to place two source pages on one. If the inserted pages need different margins than your document, this scaling behavior is usually the cause — adjust with the noautoscale or fitpaper options.