How to split a PDF: extract pages or separate every page

You received a 60-page PDF and only need the certificate on page 12. Your bank sent a whole year of statements in one file, but the tax office wants three of them. Your scanner digitised ten invoices at once into a single document. In every one of these cases, the answer is the same: split the PDF.

This guide covers the two ways to split a PDF online, the page range syntax to extract exactly what you need, and tips for common situations.

Two ways to split a PDF

Split PDF offers two modes:

Mode	Result	Typical use
One file per page	Each page becomes a separate PDF	Separating ten invoices scanned together
Custom ranges	One file per range you enter	Extracting pages 1 to 3 and page 8

When the result contains several files, they are bundled into a ZIP archive so you can download them in one go.

Split a PDF step by step

1. Open Split PDF and drop your document.
2. Page thumbnails appear along with the total page count: find the pages you need.
3. Choose One file per page or Custom ranges.
4. In range mode, type the pages you want in the Page ranges field.
5. Click Download.

The tool is free, up to 5 files per day, and splitting happens in your browser: your document is not uploaded to our servers to be split.

Writing page ranges correctly

The syntax is simple and similar to the print dialog:

• 1-3: pages 1, 2 and 3 in the same file;
• 5: page 5 on its own;
• 8-10: pages 8 to 10;
• 1-3, 5, 8-10: three separate files, one per comma-separated range.

Tip: if you want a single file containing pages 1 to 3 and page 5, split into ranges first, then merge the resulting files. Alternatively, start from the full document and remove the extra pages with Delete PDF Pages.

Common situations

Sending only part of a document

A 40-page contract where the other party only needs the appendix? Extract that range: the file is lighter and quicker to read. It is also good privacy practice: send only what is needed.

Separating documents scanned together

Scanners with document feeders often produce a single PDF for a whole stack of sheets. One file per page separates every page; all that is left is renaming the files.

Getting under a size limit

If a PDF is too heavy for an online form, split it into two or three parts, or compress it first. Splitting does not make pages lighter, but it spreads the document over smaller files.

Extracting a chapter from a book or course

Enter the chapter's range (for example 45-78) to get a file you can read or print separately.

What happens to quality?

Splitting recompresses nothing: each page is copied as it is, with its selectable text and images. Bookmarks and the table of contents of the original document are, however, not rebuilt in the extracted files.

Split, extract, delete: which tool?

• Split PDF: get several files from one.
• Delete PDF Pages: keep a single file, minus some pages.
• Reorder PDF Pages: change the order of pages without removing any.

Frequently asked questions

How many files can I create?

As many as there are pages or ranges. The free allowance counts the PDF you upload, not the number of files produced.

Can I split a protected PDF?

Yes, if you know its password: you are asked for it when the document opens.

The ZIP file won't open on my phone. What can I do?

On an iPhone, the Files app opens ZIP files with a single tap. On Android, most file managers do too. To avoid a ZIP altogether, extract a single range: you get a PDF directly.

Do extracted pages keep their numbering?

Numbers printed on the pages stay those of the original document. To renumber the new file, use Add Page Numbers.