Free Split PDF
Split a PDF into single pages or custom page-range groups in your browser. Download each part as a PDF, or all parts in a ZIP, with no uploads.
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How to split a PDF into separate pages or page ranges
Break one PDF into several smaller PDFs, either one file per page or one file per group of pages you define. Parts download together in a ZIP when there is more than one.
- Choose the PDF you want to split. You can choose up to 20 files, but only the first is split unless you tick the option to split every chosen PDF.
- Pick Every page to make one PDF per page, or Range groups to type groups such as 1-3;4-9;10-12.
- In Every page mode, optionally limit the pages with the Pages / ranges field, or select Inspect to tick pages on thumbnails.
- Select Process & download. One part downloads as a PDF; several parts download as a ZIP with a processing report.
- Open a few parts to confirm each one starts and ends on the pages you expected.
When to split a PDF
Splitting helps when a single PDF holds things that need to go to different places. A scanner may produce one long file for a whole stack of invoices, a signed contract may arrive with the schedules attached, or a course pack may bundle several readings that you want to file separately. Splitting gives each part its own file.
It is also a quick way to send only what someone needs. Rather than forwarding a 40-page report, you can split out the 3-page summary. If you only need to keep some pages in one file, Range groups with a single group does that as well.
Worked example: dividing a 12-page contract
Suppose contract.pdf has 12 pages: a 3-page agreement, a 6-page schedule and a 3-page signature section. Choose Range groups and type 1-3;4-9;10-12. After Process & download, split.zip contains 01-contract-part-1.pdf with 3 pages, 01-contract-part-2.pdf with 6 pages, 01-contract-part-3.pdf with 3 pages and a processing-report.json file listing the selection.
With Every page instead, the same file produces twelve one-page PDFs named part-1 through part-12. If you also type 2,5 in the Pages / ranges field, you get only two files: part-1 holds page 2 and part-2 holds page 5. When a run produces exactly one part, that PDF downloads directly with no ZIP.
How the split works
The page count is read first so your page numbers can be checked. Each group is then built with the pdf-lib library: a new PDF is created, the chosen pages are copied into it in the order listed and the file is saved and checked before it is added to the download. Everything happens in your browser tab.
Groups may overlap, so 1-3;3-5 places page 3 in both parts, and a group can list pages in any combination, such as 1,4,7. Because each part is a new document, bookmarks, document metadata and attachments from the original are not copied. The ZIP is stored without extra compression, so its size is close to the total of the parts.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using commas between groups is the usual error. Commas join pages inside one group, while semicolons separate groups, so 1-3,4-6 is a single 6-page part and 1-3;4-6 is two parts. A reversed range such as 6-4, a page number above the page count or an empty group between two semicolons stops the run with a message.
Another surprise is file naming. Parts are numbered by their position in the output, so a part-2 file is not necessarily page 2. Also remember that only the first chosen PDF is split unless you tick the option to split every chosen PDF, and that encrypted files need an authorized unlocked copy first.
Finally, keep the limits in mind for long documents. A source PDF can have up to 200 pages, and one run can create up to 200 parts and 500 pages in total. Overlapping groups count every copy: on a 200-page file, 1-150;50-200 adds up to 301 pages and works, but 1-200;1-200;1-200 adds up to 600 pages and stops with a message.
Useful tips and limitations
- Separate range groups with semicolons and pages inside a group with commas or hyphens, for example 1,3;5-8.
- Parts are numbered in output order (part-1, part-2 and so on), not by their original page numbers.
- Select Inspect to see thumbnails of the first 30 pages before you decide on the ranges.
- Keep the original PDF; splitting never changes the file on your device.
Common questions
How do I split a PDF into custom page ranges with Split PDF?
Choose Range groups and type each group separated by a semicolon, such as 1-3;4-9;10-12. Each group becomes its own PDF.
Does Split PDF keep bookmarks in the split files?
No. Each part is a new document with copies of the selected pages, so bookmarks and the original document title are not included.
What are the page limits in Split PDF?
Each source PDF can have up to 200 pages. A run can create up to 200 groups and up to 500 pages in total across all parts.
Can Split PDF split several PDFs at once?
Yes. Choose up to 20 files and tick the option to split every chosen PDF. Each file's parts get a numbered prefix such as 01- and 02- inside the ZIP.
Why did Split PDF give me one file instead of a ZIP?
The run produced exactly one part, so it downloads directly as a PDF. Several parts are packaged into a ZIP with a processing report.
Can a page appear in more than one part with Split PDF?
Yes. Range groups may overlap, so 1-3;3-5 puts page 3 in both the first and second part.
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