Split PDF
Split PDF files into multiple documents or extract specific pages. Choose which pages to keep.
Upload PDF File to Split
Drag and drop your PDF file here, or click to select
Maximum file size: 100MB. Supports all PDF documents.
Privacy Protected
All splitting happens locally in your browser. Your PDF files never leave your device.
Lightning Fast
Split large PDF files in seconds with our optimized processing engine.
Flexible Splitting
Split by individual pages, page ranges, or custom intervals to meet your needs.
Batch Processing
Process multiple splitting operations and download all results in one go.
Split PDF in one sentence. Drop a PDF into the tool above, type the page range you want (like 1-5 or 1,3,5), and download the extracted pages as a new file. Splitting runs in your browser — files never leave your device. Free, no sign-up, files up to 200 MB.
What is PDF splitting?
PDF splitting takes one PDF and produces one or more smaller PDFs containing only the pages you choose. The page bytes are copied straight through — no re-encoding, no quality loss, no change to text or fonts.
People split PDF files for three reasons. First, they only need a few pages of a long document — say, the cover letter from a 50-page application packet. Second, they want to break a book into chapters or a year-end report into sections. Third, splitting is the workaround when a PDF is too large to email and compression alone won't get under the cap.
How to split PDF in 4 steps
- 1
Upload your PDF
Drag the file onto the box above or click to browse. The tool accepts PDFs up to 200 MB and 1,000 pages.
- 2
Type the page range
Use 1-5 for a continuous range, 1,3,5 for specific pages, or 1-3, 8-10 for multiple ranges in one output. Use semicolons to produce multiple output files at once.
- 3
Click Split PDF
The browser extracts the pages locally. A 100-page split typically finishes in under a second on a 2020-era laptop.
- 4
Download the result
Single output downloads as one PDF. Multiple outputs (semicolon syntax) bundle into a ZIP. Your original is untouched.
Split modes: which one do you actually need?
Most split PDF tools offer three or four modes that cover everything users actually want. The table below maps real goals to the right mode.
| Your goal | Mode | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Pull pages 12–18 from a 50-page PDF | Page range | One PDF, 7 pages |
| Save every page as a separate file | Single pages | 50 PDFs, one per page |
| Cut a 200-page book into chapters | Custom ranges | Multiple PDFs by range |
| Take only the cover page | Page range (1–1) | One 1-page PDF |
| Make a 100 MB PDF email-friendly | Custom ranges (split in halves) | Two ~50 MB PDFs |
If your goal isn't in this table, it usually maps to Custom ranges. The semicolon separator lets you produce any combination of output files in a single pass.
Split vs compress vs organize: which tool fits your problem?
Splitting is the right call when you need fewer pages than the source has. If you want all the pages but in a different shape — smaller file, different order — a different tool fits.
| Situation | Split PDF | Compress PDF | Organize PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pull pages 5–10 from a 100-page doc | |||
| Whole PDF too large to email | partial | ||
| Want to drop only pages 12, 18, 30 | partial | ||
| Cut a book into 12 chapters | |||
| Reorder pages while keeping the file | |||
| Already split — just need it smaller |
Pattern: split PDF when you want fewer pages. Compress when you want all pages but smaller bytes. Organize when you want all pages in a different order.
Page-range syntax cheat sheet
The range box accepts a small grammar that covers nearly every split job. Below are the patterns we get the most questions about.
| Notation | Meaning | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Pages 1 through 5 | One PDF, 5 pages |
| 1,3,5 | Specific pages 1, 3, and 5 | One PDF, 3 pages |
| 1-3, 8-10 | Two non-contiguous ranges in one file | One PDF, 6 pages |
| 1-5; 6-10 | Two outputs (semicolon separator) | Two PDFs in a ZIP |
| odd | All odd-numbered pages | One PDF |
| even | All even-numbered pages | One PDF |
Page numbers always count from the start of the file, not from any printed page numbering inside the document. If a book starts content on file-page 9 because of front matter, that's the number to use.
Common split PDF problems and how to fix them
The page numbers don't match what's printed in the PDF
The range box uses file-page numbers, counting from 1. Books with Roman numeral front matter often have a content page numbered 1 that's actually file-page 9. Open the thumbnail strip first and count from the start of the file.
Splitting fails on a password-protected PDF
The tool cannot decrypt content. Open the protected PDF in your reader, save a copy with the password removed, and split that copy. We do not store passwords or strip protection on the server because nothing reaches the server in the first place.
The split output looks blurry
The thumbnails on the page are low-resolution previews to keep things fast. The actual output is byte-identical to the source pages — open it in your PDF reader to confirm. If the source itself is a low-res scan, the split inherits that, since split PDF doesn't re-render anything.
Splitting a very long PDF on a phone hangs
Mobile browsers cap memory at 100–300 MB. A 1,000-page report can exceed that during processing. Either split on a laptop, or split in stages — extract the first half, then go back for the second half — to keep peak memory low.
5 pro tips for cleaner splits
Count from the file, not the print
Page 1 in the range box is always the first file page, regardless of what the document prints on it.
Use semicolons for multiple outputs
1-5; 6-10; 11-20 in one go produces three PDFs in one ZIP — faster than three separate runs.
Split before compressing
If a PDF is over the email cap, split into halves first. Each half compresses better separately than the whole would.
Keep the original
Split is non-destructive — your source file stays intact. Archive it before deleting; you can't reconstruct it from the splits.
Combine with merge for chapter rearrangement
Split into chapters, reorder mentally, then merge the chapter PDFs in the new order. Two passes, but cleaner than per-page reordering.
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about splitting PDF files
Is splitting PDF files free?
Yes — every split on this page is free with no sign-up. No daily cap, no watermark, no per-file limit.
How do I split a PDF by page range?
Type the range in the input box, like 1-10 for the first ten pages. Use commas for non-contiguous selections (1,3,5) and semicolons for multiple output files (1-5; 6-10).
Can I extract a single page from a PDF?
Yes — type the single page number, or use the format 5-5 for clarity. The output is a one-page PDF byte-identical to the source page.
Will splitting a PDF reduce quality?
No — split PDF copies page bytes through unchanged. Text stays selectable, images keep their resolution, and form fields keep their data.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Not directly — the tool cannot read encrypted content. Open the PDF in your reader, save a copy without the password, then split the copy.
How do I split a PDF into equal halves?
For a 100-page PDF, type 1-50; 51-100 in the range box. The semicolon separator produces two output PDFs, bundled into a ZIP for download.
Can I split PDF on iPhone or Android?
Yes — this page runs in mobile Safari and Chrome. Phone browsers handle files up to ~100 MB reliably; for 100–200 MB files, a laptop is more reliable.
What's the difference between split and extract?
They're the same operation; "extract" usually implies pulling out a few specific pages. Both end up using the page range syntax and produce a smaller PDF from a larger one.
Can I split scanned PDFs the same way?
Yes — the tool treats scanned and digital PDFs identically. Each page is one image inside the file; splitting copies the chosen pages into a new PDF without re-rendering.
Is it safe to split PDF online?
This tool doesn't upload anything. Splitting runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. The PDF stays on your device and is released from memory when you close the tab.
Related PDF tools
If you came here to split PDF files, you'll probably need one of these next:
- Compress the resulting PDFs — for the email cap problem after splitting.
- Merge split PDFs back together — useful when you only needed to drop a few pages.
- Reorder pages without splitting — if you want all pages but in a different order.
- Convert PDF pages to images — extracts each page as a PNG file.
- How our tools work — privacy and architecture overview.
Ready to Split Your PDF?
Start splitting your PDF documents now. Extract pages, create sections, and organize your files. It's free, fast, and completely secure.
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