Free PDF Splitter
Extract specific pages from PDF documents instantly. Visual page selection with preview thumbnails. Split by page ranges or individual pages. 100% private — your files never leave your browser.
Split PDF Document
Drag & drop a PDF to extract pages
Why Split PDF Files?
Common scenarios where extracting specific pages is essential
Remove Unwanted Pages
Large PDFs often contain unnecessary pages — blank pages, obsolete information, or irrelevant sections. Extract only the pages you need, creating a cleaner, smaller document. Perfect for removing cover letters, appendices, or outdated sections before sharing.
Extract Chapters
Textbooks, manuals, and reports are often distributed as single large PDFs. Extract specific chapters or sections for focused study, sharing with students, or creating reading assignments. Pages 1-20 become Chapter 1, pages 21-45 become Chapter 2, etc.
Confidential Page Removal
Business documents may contain confidential financial data, salary information, or internal notes on specific pages. Extract only public-facing pages before sharing externally. Protect sensitive information while distributing necessary content.
Email Size Reduction
Email attachment limits (typically 25MB) prevent sending large PDFs. Extract relevant pages to create smaller documents that fit within size limits. Send pages 1-10 instead of entire 200-page report. Recipient gets needed information without file size issues.
Targeted Sharing
Share only relevant sections with specific people. Accountants get financial pages, developers get technical specifications, executives get executive summary. Split large documents into role-specific smaller PDFs for efficient collaboration.
Report Segmentation
Annual reports, audit findings, or research papers often combine multiple sections. Extract executive summary (pages 1-5), methodology (pages 10-25), and conclusions (pages 150-160) into separate digestible documents. Easier navigation and distribution.
How PDF Splitting Works
The technology behind extracting pages from PDF documents
PDF Upload
Upload your PDF. The file loads in your browser using PDF.js. Thumbnails generate for all pages, showing you exactly what's in each page.
Page Selection
Click pages you want to extract or specify ranges (e.g., "1-5, 10, 15-20"). Visual preview ensures you select correct pages. Deselect unwanted pages.
Extraction
Selected pages are extracted and compiled into new PDF using pdf-lib. Original formatting, images, text, and quality are preserved perfectly.
Download
New PDF with only selected pages downloads automatically. Original page numbers optionally preserved. Ready to share or edit further.
Page Selection Methods
🖱️ Visual Selection (Click Pages)
How it works: Click page thumbnails to select/deselect them individually
Best for:
- Non-consecutive pages (pages 2, 5, 7, 12)
- Visual inspection needed before selection
- Removing specific unwanted pages
- Small to medium PDFs (< 50 pages)
Advantages: See exactly what you're selecting. Easy to verify correct pages. Intuitive interface.
Tip: Hold Ctrl/Cmd and click multiple pages for faster selection.
📝 Range Selection (Type Page Numbers)
How it works: Type page ranges in text box (e.g., "1-10, 15, 20-25")
Best for:
- Consecutive page ranges (pages 10-50)
- Large PDFs where clicking is tedious
- When you know exact page numbers
- Quick extraction without preview
Syntax:
1-10= pages 1 through 105, 10, 15= pages 5, 10, and 15 only1-5, 10-15, 20= combine ranges and singles
Tip: Fastest method for large PDFs when you know page numbers.
✂️ Split Modes
Extract Selected Pages: Creates one PDF with only selected pages. Most common use case.
Split Each Page: Creates separate PDF for each page. Results in N PDFs for N-page document. Use for distributing individual pages.
Split by Range Size: Divide PDF into chunks of X pages. 100-page PDF split by 25 pages = 4 PDFs of 25 pages each. Good for creating manageable sections.
Remove Selected Pages: Inverse operation. Deletes selected pages, keeps everything else. Use for removing unwanted pages while keeping bulk of document.
PDF Splitting Best Practices
📋 Organization Tips
- Naming Convention: Name extracted PDFs descriptively: "Report_Chapter1_Pages1-20.pdf"
- Keep Original: Always preserve original PDF before splitting. Extraction is non-destructive but keep backup
- Logical Grouping: Extract pages in logical groups (chapters, sections, topics) not random selections
- Page Numbers: Note which pages were extracted for future reference
- Consistent Splits: If splitting multiple similar documents, use same page ranges for consistency
🎯 Common Workflows
Remove Blank Pages: Visual selection → deselect blank pages → extract remaining
Extract Chapter: Range selection → type "25-50" → extract to "Chapter3.pdf"
Confidential Page Removal: Visual selection → deselect confidential pages → extract clean version
Create Sections: Extract pages 1-10 → merge with other section PDFs → create final document
Size Reduction: Split 200-page PDF into 10 PDFs of 20 pages → easier to email/upload
⚡ Efficiency Tips
- Range Syntax: "1-10, 20-30" is faster than clicking 20 individual pages
- Preview First: Skim thumbnails before extraction to verify correct content
- Batch Processing: If splitting multiple PDFs similarly, document page ranges for reuse
- Combine with Other Tools: Split → compress individual sections → merge if needed
- Quality Check: Always verify extracted PDF has correct pages before deleting original
Real-World Splitting Scenarios
📘 Textbook Chapter Extraction
Scenario: 800-page textbook PDF for semester class. Only need chapters 3, 7, and 12.
Solution: Extract pages 50-100 (Chapter 3), 200-250 (Chapter 7), 400-450 (Chapter 12) into separate PDFs. Reduces 200MB file to 30MB of relevant content.
💼 Contract Signature Pages
Scenario: 50-page contract. Client only needs to sign last 3 pages.
Solution: Extract pages 48-50 into "Signature_Pages.pdf". Client prints 3 pages instead of 50. Saves paper, ink, and time.
📊 Executive Summary Extraction
Scenario: 150-page annual report. CEO needs just executive summary for board meeting.
Solution: Extract pages 2-8 (summary section). Quick distribution without sending entire report. Board gets concise version first.
🎓 Homework Assignment
Scenario: Professor shares 300-page resource PDF. Students need specific exercises on pages 45-47 and 89-92.
Solution: Extract those 8 pages into "Homework_Week3.pdf". Students download small file, focus on assignment without 300-page distraction.
🏥 Medical Records Sharing
Scenario: 100-page medical history. Specialist needs only recent tests (pages 85-100).
Solution: Extract recent pages for specialist referral. Protects privacy of older records while sharing necessary information.
📱 App Documentation
Scenario: 200-page developer documentation. Designer needs only UI section (pages 50-75).
Solution: Extract UI section into separate PDF. Designer gets relevant info without navigating huge document. Reduces overwhelm, improves productivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this PDF splitter free?
Yes, completely free with unlimited splits. No page limits, no file size limits, no registration required. All processing happens in your browser using free pdf-lib library.
Are my PDFs safe and private?
Absolutely. Your PDFs never leave your device. All splitting happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Files are never uploaded to servers, never stored, never seen by us. Safe for confidential contracts, medical records, financial documents, or any sensitive information.
Will extracted pages maintain quality?
Yes. Splitting doesn't compress or reduce quality. Extracted pages are pixel-perfect copies of originals with all formatting, images, text, fonts, and links preserved. It's like taking specific pages and putting them in a new folder.
Can I split password-protected PDFs?
No. Password-protected or encrypted PDFs must be unlocked first. If you know the password, use a PDF password removal tool first, then split. This is a security feature — encrypted content cannot be accessed without authorization.
How many pages can I extract?
No limit. Extract 1 page or 1000 pages. Most common: extract 10-50 pages from 100-500 page PDFs. Practical limit is your device's memory (typically handles up to 1000+ page PDFs fine on modern computers).
Can I extract multiple separate PDFs at once?
Currently, one extraction per operation. To create multiple PDFs from one source, split multiple times:
1. Extract pages 1-10 → "Section1.pdf"
2. Upload again, extract pages 11-20 → "Section2.pdf"
3. Repeat as needed
This gives you control over each extraction's naming and content.
What happens to page numbers?
Extracted PDF has new page numbers starting at 1. If you extract pages 50-60 from original, new PDF shows pages 1-11. Original page numbers (if printed on pages) remain visible in the content. Actual PDF page numbering resets.
Will hyperlinks and bookmarks work?
External hyperlinks (URLs) usually remain functional. Internal links and bookmarks pointing to pages not included in the extraction will break. Table of contents links may not work correctly in extracted PDF if they reference removed pages.
How long does splitting take?
Very fast:
• Small PDFs (< 20 pages): 2-5 seconds
• Medium PDFs (50-100 pages): 10-20 seconds
• Large PDFs (200-500 pages): 30-60 seconds
Processing depends on file size and your device's CPU. Modern computers process about 10-20 pages per second.
Can I split scanned PDFs?
Yes! Scanned PDFs (where each page is an image) split perfectly. The tool works with all PDF types: native PDFs, scanned PDFs, hybrid PDFs, or image-based PDFs. All page types extract correctly.
What's the maximum file size?
No artificial limit on input PDF size. Practical limit is your device's available memory (most modern computers handle 100-200MB PDFs easily). Very large PDFs (>200MB) may require closing other browser tabs to free memory.
Can I use this on mobile devices?
Yes, but performance varies. Modern smartphones can split small to medium PDFs (< 50 pages, < 20MB). Large PDFs may be slow or fail due to limited mobile memory. For best experience with large PDFs, use desktop/laptop browser.