How to Split a PDF File
Splitting a PDF lets you extract specific pages, break a large document into smaller sections, or remove pages you don't need. Here's how to do it for free, right in your browser.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open the Split PDF tool — Navigate to PDF Tools and select “Split PDF” from the tool grid, or click the link directly from the homepage.
- Upload your PDF — Drag and drop your file into the upload area, or click to browse your files. Your file stays on your device — it is not uploaded to any server.
- Enter page ranges — Specify which pages you want to extract. Use commas to separate individual pages (e.g., “1, 3, 5”) or dashes for ranges (e.g., “1-5, 10-15”).
- Click Split — The tool processes your PDF locally and generates a new file containing only the pages you selected.
- Download your result — Your split PDF is ready to download immediately. The original file remains unchanged.
Common Use Cases
Extracting a chapter from a textbook. If you have a 300-page PDF textbook and only need Chapter 5 (pages 87–112), splitting lets you create a lightweight file with just those pages. This is especially useful for students who want to print or annotate specific sections without dealing with the entire document.
Separating a contract for individual signatures. Legal documents often contain multiple sections that need to go to different parties. Splitting the PDF lets you send only the relevant pages to each signer, keeping sensitive information compartmentalized.
Removing cover pages and appendices. When sharing a report, you might want to strip the title page, table of contents, or appendices that aren't relevant to the recipient. Splitting gives you a clean, focused document.
Meeting email attachment limits. Many email providers cap attachments at 25 MB. If your PDF exceeds that, splitting it into smaller sections lets you send it across multiple emails without needing file compression.
Tips for Better Results
- Use the page range syntax “1-3, 7, 10-12” to grab non-consecutive pages in a single operation.
- If you're unsure which pages you need, open the PDF in your browser's built-in viewer first to identify page numbers.
- For very large PDFs (100+ pages), splitting is faster than trying to delete individual pages one by one.
- The split operation preserves all formatting, fonts, images, and links from the original document.
Common Splitting Scenarios
Extracting chapters from textbooks. Digital textbooks often come as a single PDF with hundreds of pages. If you only need to study Chapter 7 for an exam, splitting out pages 145–172 gives you a focused, lightweight file you can annotate on a tablet or print without wasting paper on the entire book. This is especially useful for students who share study materials — sending a 2 MB chapter is far more practical than a 150 MB textbook.
Separating individual invoices from a batch. Accounting software often exports a month's worth of invoices as a single PDF — one invoice per page or per few pages. If you need to send a specific invoice to a client, or attach one to an expense report, splitting lets you extract just that invoice. This is a daily workflow for bookkeepers and accounts payable teams who process dozens of invoices at a time.
Pulling specific forms from a packet. Government agencies, insurance companies, and HR departments frequently distribute form packets as multi-page PDFs. You might receive a 20-page benefits enrollment packet but only need to fill out pages 3–5. Splitting extracts exactly the forms you need, making it easier to print, fill out, and return just the relevant pages.
Splitting a large scan into individual documents. If you batch-scanned a stack of mixed documents — receipts, letters, certificates — into one file, splitting lets you separate them back into individual documents. Identify the page ranges for each document, split them out, and rename them appropriately. This turns a chaotic scan into an organized digital filing system.
Split vs Extract vs Delete — Which Tool?
PDF Tools offers three different ways to work with pages, and choosing the right one depends on what you're trying to accomplish:
- Split PDF — Best when you want to break a document into sections at specific page ranges. You define where to cut, and you get a new file containing only those pages. Use this when you know exactly which pages you want to keep.
- Extract PDF Pages — Best when you want to pick specific individual pages from throughout a document and combine them into one new file. Use the Extract Pages tool when you need pages 2, 7, and 15 from a 30-page document.
- Delete PDF Pages — Best when you want to keep most of a document but remove a few unwanted pages. Instead of specifying what to keep, you specify what to remove. Use the Delete Pages tool when you want everything except pages 1 and 8. You can also read our guide on how to remove pages from a PDF for more details.
All three tools process files locally in your browser and preserve the original formatting of every page they keep.
Need more advanced features?
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Advanced editing, OCR, e-signatures, and batch processing
Frequently Asked Questions
Does splitting a PDF reduce file size?
Yes. When you extract a subset of pages, the resulting file only contains the data for those pages — images, fonts, and other embedded resources that only appear on removed pages are excluded. The file size reduction is proportional to how many pages you remove.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
If the PDF has an owner password (restricting editing), most browser-based tools can still process it. However, if the PDF requires a user password to open, you'll need to enter that password first before splitting.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. PDF Tools processes everything locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your file never leaves your device, making it safe for sensitive documents like financial records, medical files, or legal contracts.