Split large PDF files into smaller documents.
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A PDF splitter extracts specific pages or page ranges from a PDF and saves them as separate files — processing locally in your browser with pdf-lib so the original document is never uploaded to any server.
PDF files often contain more than you need to share. A 50-page contract might only require the signature page; a 200-page annual report may need to be distributed chapter by chapter to different departments. A PDF splitter lets you specify exactly which pages to keep, preserving everything — text, images, fonts, hyperlinks, and formatting — in the extracted output.
Splitting operates on the PDF's page tree structure (as defined in ISO 32000), not by re-rendering. The tool copies the selected page objects and their resources into a new PDF document. Nothing is re-encoded or quality-reduced. The original file is not modified — split output is always a new file.
Click 'Select PDF' or drag the file into the tool. The PDF is loaded locally in your browser — no server upload. The page count and thumbnail preview load immediately.
Enter page numbers, ranges, or both (e.g. 1-3, 5, 7-9). Or click individual pages in the thumbnail grid. You can also choose 'Split every page' to create one file per page.
Click 'Split PDF'. Processing runs locally — your file never leaves your device.
Download the extracted pages as a new PDF. For split-every-page mode, download a ZIP containing all individual page PDFs.
Common real-world scenarios where this tool saves time.
Pull one chapter, one invoice, one form, or one exhibit from a larger document to share only the relevant pages — keeping the rest private.
Split office scan batches where multiple documents were scanned together into a single file — creating one PDF per document for filing and archiving.
Break a large PDF into smaller parts that each fit within email attachment limits (Gmail: 25 MB, Outlook: 20 MB). Merge them back together later if needed.
Extract only the shareable pages from a document that also contains confidential appendices, pricing, or internal commentary.
Split every page into an individual PDF for document management systems, court filing systems, or archival workflows that require single-page documents.
Step-by-step chains that connect related tools for common tasks.
When a single PDF cannot reach a 1 MB cap even after aggressive compression, splitting is the reliable fallback.
Split does not reduce quality — use it to isolate pages you will mark up externally, then recompress.
Input
45-page contract PDF · Extract pages: 44-45Output
2-page PDF (signature page + witness page)Instead of emailing a 45-page document, extract only the pages that need signing. Share the 2-page PDF for a cleaner, more professional signature request — and keep the full contract private.
Input
120-page annual report · Split: pages 1-30, 31-60, 61-90, 91-120Output
4 separate PDFs — one per chapter sectionRoute each chapter to the relevant department without sharing the full report. Finance gets pages 61–90 (financials), operations gets 31–60. Each output PDF preserves original formatting, fonts, and page layout.
Input
Multi-invoice scan: 24 pages total · Extract pages: 5-8Output
4-page PDF (single invoice)Office scanners produce multi-document batches. Use split to extract individual invoices, receipts, or forms into separate files for filing, accounting software import, or client delivery.
The tool uses pdf-lib to read the input PDF's page tree (the internal structure that organises pages in ISO 32000 PDF files). For each selected page number, it copies the page object — including its content stream, resource dictionary (fonts, images, colour spaces), and annotations — into a new PDFDocument. The output is a valid PDF containing only the requested pages, with all their assets intact. Nothing is re-rendered, re-encoded, or quality-reduced.
Free tools for extracting pages from PDF files.
| Tool | Privacy | Browser-based | Page range input | Split-all-pages | Signup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EverydayTools | Local only — no upload | Yes | Ranges + individual | Yes | No |
| SmallPDF | Server upload | Yes | Visual selection | Yes | Optional |
| ILovePDF | Server upload | Yes | Ranges + visual | Yes | Optional |
| Adobe Acrobat (desktop) | Local | No | Full control | Yes | Licence required |
| PDF24 Tools | Server upload (EU) | Yes | Ranges + visual | Yes | No |
Choosing the right tool for your page management task.
| Task | Best Tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Extract specific pages into a new PDF | Split PDF | This tool — select page numbers or ranges |
| Remove unwanted pages from a PDF | Remove Pages | Removes pages in place, keeps the rest |
| Reorder pages within a PDF | Reorder PDF Pages | Drag-and-drop page reordering |
| Combine multiple PDFs into one | Merge PDF | Reverse of split — joins documents |
| Extract and isolate one page | Split PDF (single page) | Enter one page number for a 1-page output |
PDF page 1 in the tool is the first page in the file — regardless of printed numbers. A document paginated from page 50 still has its first page at position 1 in the tool. Check the thumbnail preview to confirm which pages correspond to which numbers.
A split PDF's file size is proportional to the pages it contains. Splitting a 50 MB 20-page PDF to get 5 pages will produce roughly a 12–15 MB output. Use Compress PDF afterward if the extracted section still needs to meet a file size limit.
Encrypted PDFs cannot be read or split without the decryption password. Remove the password protection first (with authorization), then split.
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No. The split runs entirely in your browser using pdf-lib. Your file — including any confidential content, signatures, or personal data — never leaves your device.
Yes. Choose 'Split every page into a separate PDF'. The result is a ZIP file containing one PDF per page, named by page number.
Hyperlinks within the extracted page range are preserved. Document-level bookmarks that reference pages outside the extracted range will not transfer, since those pages no longer exist in the output.
Only after providing the correct password to unlock it. Encrypted PDFs cannot be read or processed without decryption. Remove password protection first (with authorization), then split.
No. Splitting copies page objects directly without re-encoding or re-rendering anything. Text, fonts, images, and vector graphics in the extracted pages are identical to the originals.
Enter pages separated by commas: for example, '1, 5, 12, 18' extracts exactly those four pages into one PDF in order. Combine commas and ranges as needed: '1-3, 7, 15-20'.
There is no hard page limit. Very large PDFs (hundreds of pages, large images) will take longer to process since everything runs in your browser's JavaScript engine. Split in batches for very large documents.
Yes — proportionally to the pages extracted. A 50 MB 20-page PDF split to 5 pages will produce roughly a 10–15 MB output. For further size reduction, run the output through Compress PDF.
Interactive form fields (text boxes, checkboxes) within the extracted pages are copied into the output PDF. Form field values that were filled in remain in the output. Cross-field validation rules that reference pages outside the extracted range will no longer function.
All PDF splitting runs locally in your browser using pdf-lib. Your files — including contracts, medical records, legal documents, and any sensitive content — are never transmitted to any server, stored, or logged.
Page extraction is lossless — the output pages are byte-for-byte copies of the original page objects. The only changes are the addition of new document metadata and cross-reference table entries.
Part of PDF Tools
More free tools for the same workflow.
Extract specific PDF pages or ranges (1, 3-7, 10) into a new file. Thumbnail picker, reorder pages. Browser-only—no upload, no signup.
Free PDF to text extractor — extract all text from any PDF instantly. Copy to clipboard or download as .txt. Browser-based, no upload to server, fully private. No signup.
Free browser-based PDF compressor — pick Smallest size, Balanced, or Best quality presets and reduce PDF file size without a fixed byte target. Up to 50 MB per file. Ideal for email, cloud storage, and general uploads. No server upload, no signup.
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Make a new PDF from the pages you choose—your original file stays as-is.
Drop PDF here or click to upload
PDF only · max 100MB
Files stay on your device — never uploaded