About This Tool
Split PDF separates a single document into smaller files — either one PDF per page or a specific range of pages you choose. It is the counterpart to Merge PDF and is essential when you need to share only part of a document, archive individual pages, or reorganize content before combining files elsewhere.
What Happens to Your PDF
Upload a PDF and choose between two modes. Split All Pages creates a separate PDF for every page in the document, delivered as a ZIP download. Extract Range copies only the pages between your chosen start and end numbers into a single new PDF. Both modes use pdf-lib to copy pages directly from the source, so text, images, and vector graphics remain untouched.
When You'll Need It
- Sharing one chapter — Extract pages 15–30 from a full report without sending the entire file.
- Invoice processing — Split a multi-page scan so each invoice becomes its own PDF for filing.
- Form distribution — Separate a batch-scanned PDF into individual forms for different recipients.
- Preparing a merge — Pull specific pages from several sources before combining them with Merge PDF.
Doing It Step by Step
- Upload your PDF by dragging it into the drop zone or clicking Choose Files.
- Check the page count displayed after upload to confirm the file loaded correctly.
- Select a mode — Split All Pages for individual files, or Extract Range for a section.
- Enter page numbers if using range mode (e.g., start 3, end 7).
- Click Split and wait for processing to finish.
- Download the result — a single PDF for ranges, or a ZIP for all-page splits.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Extracting a 5-page chapter from a 60-page manual (Extract Range)
- Upload the 60-page PDF, choose Extract Range, set Start = 12 and End = 16, and click Split.
- Output: a single 5-page PDF containing only pages 12–16.
Example 2 — Pulling a single invoice page (Start = 44, End = 44)
- Set both Start and End to
44in Extract Range mode to download page 44 as a standalone 1-page PDF.
Example 3 — Separating a 10-page batch scan of individual receipts (Split All Pages)
- Choose Split All Pages → downloads a
.ziparchive containing 10 separate 1-page PDFs (page-1.pdfthroughpage-10.pdf).
Quality & Limits
Split PDF works on page numbers, not document structure. If your PDF uses bookmarks or section headings, you still need to identify the corresponding page numbers manually. Encrypted or password-locked files cannot be split until unlocked. Documents with hundreds of pages may take longer and consume significant browser memory when splitting every page at once.
What Usually Goes Wrong
- Off-by-one page numbers — Page numbering starts at 1, not 0. Double-check your range before splitting.
- Splitting before rotating — If scanned pages are sideways, rotate them first so each split file opens correctly.
- Forgetting to download the ZIP — When splitting all pages, the output is a ZIP archive, not a single PDF. Make sure to extract the files after download.
- Using range mode for one page — This works, but remember to set both start and end to the same page number.
Tips for Best Results
- Use Extract Range when you only need a few pages — it is faster and produces a single file instead of a large ZIP.
- After splitting, run individual pages through Compress PDF if file size matters for email.
- Keep the original PDF as a backup until you verify every split file contains the correct content.
- For documents you plan to reassemble, name your range extractions clearly (e.g.,
report-chapter-2.pdf) before merging.
Ranges, and the file you leave in the archive
Split follows page numbers. Bookmarks and a table of contents are a map you read yourself. They are not a mode this tool runs. Cover pages, blank inserts, and rotated scans shift the numbers away from a printed contents page. Open the source and note where each section starts. Page numbering in the tool starts at 1.
A 40-page report can be cut as pages 1 to 2 (cover and contents, kept with the master), pages 3 to 25 (report-body.pdf), and pages 26 to 40 (report-appendix.pdf). If one recipient needs the body and the appendix together, split once and merge the extracts you want to send.
The download is a new file. The original stays where it was unless you overwrite it yourself. Check the first page, the last page, and the file size of each piece before you delete anything. Rotate sideways scans before you split, so each piece opens the right way up.