Split PDF Free
Extract pages from PDF or separate PDF pages online securely.
Drop files here or click to upload
Max 100 MB
Splitting a PDF pulls specific pages out into their own file — either as one extract or as multiple sub-documents. It solves the everyday problem of a large PDF containing one page you actually need, or a report where each chapter should live in a separate file for different audiences. Three modes cover most workflows: split into individual pages, split every N pages into equal chunks, or extract a specific range like pages 3-8. The tool handles single-file output and multi-file output (packaged as ZIP) transparently based on what you choose. Splitting runs entirely in your browser via pdf-lib. Source resources — fonts, images, embedded files — are copied into each output document so every result opens standalone. No server involvement, no upload queue.
Last reviewed: July 2026
What is this?
In a PDF, each page is a leaf node in a page tree with references to shared resources like fonts and embedded images. Splitting means creating new documents that copy the referenced pages plus their required resources — a page that uses a specific font gets that font copied into the output, even if only one glyph is used. This is why splitting a 100-page PDF into 100 files can produce a total size significantly larger than the original: shared resources are duplicated across outputs rather than referenced once. pdf-lib handles this copying via copyPages(), preserving annotations, hyperlinks, and rotations along with the page content.
How to use this tool
- 1Choose the PDF to split. Any size works, but very large files (over 100MB) may strain browser memory during multi-file splits.
- 2Pick a split mode. 'Every N pages' creates equal chunks (useful for splitting a book into chapters of fixed length). 'Extract pages' pulls a specific range like 5-10. 'Split by page' produces one PDF per page.
- 3Enter the parameters. For range mode, use comma-separated pages or ranges (e.g., '1, 3, 5-8'). Invalid entries are ignored, so double-check before processing.
- 4Click Process. The tool creates each sub-document by copying pages and their resources. Single-file extracts download as PDFs; multi-file splits arrive as a ZIP archive.
Tips & best practices
- Single-page splits of a 100-page PDF can produce total output 2-3x the source size because shared fonts and images are duplicated in each file.
- Use range mode when you know the pages you want — it is faster than splitting into all pages and deleting the ones you do not need.
- For very large PDFs, split first, then process — running Compress on each sub-file usually beats running it on the full source.
- Page numbers in ranges are 1-indexed and inclusive (5-8 gives pages 5, 6, 7, 8, not four pages starting at 5).
- If the source PDF has bookmarks marking chapter starts, use those page numbers as your split points rather than guessing where chapters begin.
Common use cases
- A lawyer extracting the signature page from a 60-page contract to attach to a follow-up email without sending the entire document.
- A teacher separating a scanned test packet into individual student papers before grading each independently.
- A researcher pulling one chapter out of a large reference PDF for close reading without loading the whole file each time.
- An accountant splitting a scanned bank statement archive into monthly PDFs before filing them into a year-by-year folder structure.
- A designer extracting a single illustration page from a portfolio PDF to send as a preview without revealing the rest of the book.
- A translator dividing a long document into 20-page chunks so they can be assigned to multiple team members in parallel.
Technical notes
- Split uses pdf-lib's copyPages() which preserves rotations, annotations, and hyperlinks intact in the output.
- Multi-file output is packaged as a ZIP using JSZip to keep downloads manageable and avoid browser download dialogs firing 100 times.
- Page numbers are 1-indexed. Range 3-5 produces pages 3, 4, and 5 (three pages total).
- Splitting linearized (web-optimized) PDFs produces non-linearized outputs. Run Compress afterward to re-linearize if fast web viewing matters.
- Extracted files include all resources referenced by the extracted pages — fonts, embedded images, color profiles — so each output opens standalone.
- PDF forms (AcroForm fields) that span multiple pages are split with the pages they appear on; a two-page form split across chunks becomes two separate forms with orphaned field references.
Private by design
This tool runs in your browser. Your file is not uploaded to our server while using the tool.
Limitations
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be split directly. Unlock with the Protect tool first.
- Digital signatures on the source are not carried into split outputs because the signed byte range no longer exists in the same form.
- The tool does not deduplicate shared resources across outputs. Splitting a 50MB PDF (heavy with a common template image) into 20 files may produce a total of 200MB+.
- Bookmarks in the source that point to pages in the extracted range are preserved; bookmarks pointing outside the range are removed as their targets no longer exist.
- Very large multi-file splits (say, splitting 500 pages into 500 files) may exhaust browser memory before ZIP packaging completes. Split in batches of 100.
- Split output is compatible with modern PDF readers. Older Preview.app or PDF-XChange versions may show warnings on files split from PDF 2.0 sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I split a PDF into individual pages?
Yes. Choose 'Split every 1 page' and every page becomes its own PDF file. All the individual PDFs arrive as a ZIP archive to keep the download manageable.
How do I extract specific pages like 3, 7, and 12?
Use the 'Extract pages' mode and enter the page numbers separated by commas or dashes: '3, 7, 12' for individual pages or '3, 7-12' to mix single pages with a range.
Why is my ZIP of split pages larger than the original PDF?
Splitting duplicates shared resources like fonts and images into each output. If your source uses common templates, splitting into many files inflates the total. This is expected — each file has to be self-contained.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. Remove the password with the Protect tool first. If you own the PDF, this is straightforward. If not, our tool refuses to open it.
How large a file can I split?
Desktop browsers handle up to 200MB reliably. Mobile browsers cap around 40-80MB. For very large files, run Compress first to shrink the source, then split.
What happens to hyperlinks after splitting?
Internal hyperlinks pointing to pages within the same split output work fine. Links pointing outside the range become broken references. External links (URLs) are always preserved.
Do bookmarks survive splitting?
Bookmarks pointing to pages that ended up in a specific output are copied to that output. Bookmarks pointing to pages in other splits are dropped from that file — their targets no longer exist there.
Can I preview which pages will end up in each split before processing?
The tool does not currently show a preview. Range mode is the most predictable — enter '1-10' and you get pages 1 through 10. For split-every-N mode, do the math: a 100-page file split every 20 produces 5 files with pages 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100.
Is anything uploaded to a server?
No. Splitting runs in your browser using pdf-lib. When you close the tab, all data is gone. This tool has no upload endpoint and no cloud dependency.