Joe Biden granted about 80 pardons during his presidency, alongside more than 4,000 commutations.

Quick Scoop: Biden’s Pardons in Context

When people ask “how many people did Biden pardon during his presidency,” they often mix up pardons with broader “acts of clemency” (which include commutations). Here’s the breakdown reported after he left office:

  • Biden issued 80 presidential pardons in total.
  • He granted 4,165 commutations (sentence reductions).
  • That adds up to 4,245 total acts of clemency , a modern record for a four‑year term.

A news graphic summary from early 2025 similarly noted that Biden had granted at least 88 individual pardons , but clarified the precise, finalized tally as 80 pardons and 4,165 commutations once the full Justice Department data were in.

Why the Numbers Can Look Confusing

Some headlines focus on “more than 8,000 pardons/clemencies” because they count large, blanket actions—like a mass marijuana-possession pardon that covered around 6,500 people—as part of a bigger “clemency total.” Others, like the Pew Research Center analysis and detailed fact‑checks, count each individual pardon or commutation as one “act of clemency,” giving the more conservative but precise 4,245 figure and the specific 80‑pardon count.

So, if you’re asking strictly: “How many people did Biden pardon?” the best-supported answer from post‑presidency data is 80 people received pardons , with thousands more receiving commutations or other clemency.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.