How to Split a PDF: Extract Pages or Break It Into Single Pages (Free, No Upload)
Extract the pages you need or split a whole PDF into single pages. Page range examples, built-in tricks on Windows and Mac, and how to do it without uploading.
Key takeaways
- Splitting does not reduce quality, because it copies the existing pages into new files instead of redrawing them.
- Choose between two jobs: extract a page range into one new PDF, or split every page into its own file inside a ZIP.
- Page ranges like 1-3,5,8-10 work as you would expect. Pages always come out in their original order, with duplicates removed.
- Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first, and splitting will not shrink a file much if its pages hold large images.
- A tool that runs in your browser means a contract, ID or bank statement never has to travel to someone else's server.
Two jobs that sound the same
When people say they want to split a PDF, they usually mean one of two things. Either they need a few pages out of a long document, or they have one big file that should really be many small ones. The Split PDF tool does both, and picking the right one first saves a lot of fiddling.
| Your goal | Choose | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Send only pages 4 to 6 of a contract | Page range: 4-6 | One new PDF with 3 pages |
| Remove the cover page from a 40-page report | Page range: 2-40 | One new PDF without page 1 |
| Pull out just the signature page | Page range: the page number, for example 12 | One single-page PDF |
| Keep chapters from two places in the file | Page range: 1-12,25-38 | One new PDF with both sections |
| Separate a scanned stack of invoices into one file each | Split every page | A ZIP with one PDF per page |
How page ranges work
A page range is a list of page numbers and ranges, separated by commas. Write a single page as a number, and a run of pages with a hyphen. Spaces are ignored, so 1-3, 5 works the same as 1-3,5.
A few rules are worth knowing before you type. A range written backwards, like 10-8, is read the right way round as pages 8 to 10. Pages that do not exist are skipped, so asking for 1-500 in a 40-page file gives you pages 1 to 40. If the text has letters in it, or nothing valid is left, you get an error message instead of an empty file.
Pages always come out in their original order, and a page you type twice appears once. That means 8-10,1-3 gives you pages 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, in that order. If you need a different order, split first and rearrange the pages in a PDF editor.
| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | Pages 1, 2 and 3 |
| 5 | Page 5 only |
| 1-3,5,8-10 | Pages 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 |
| 10-8 | Pages 8, 9 and 10 |
| 8-10,1-3 | Pages 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, in original order |
| 1-500 in a 40-page file | Pages 1 to 40, since missing pages are skipped |
Step by step with the Split PDF tool
It takes under a minute for most files.
- Open the Split PDF tool and drop in your file, or click to browse for it.
- Choose Page range to extract part of the document, or Split every page to get one PDF per page.
- For a range, type your pages, for example 1-3,5,8-10.
- Start the split. A range downloads as one PDF. Splitting every page downloads as a single ZIP.
- Open the result and check that the pages are the ones you wanted before you send it on.
Printed page numbers and real page numbers are not always the same
The tool counts pages from the first sheet of the file, the same way most PDF viewers do. That may not match the numbers printed on the pages. A book with a cover and a preface numbered in Roman numerals might have its printed page 1 sitting at page 9 in the file.
The safe way is to open the PDF in a viewer, look at the page counter in the toolbar, and use that number. Do not trust the number printed at the bottom of the page.
Doing it with tools you already have
You do not always need a separate tool. Two built-in routes work for simple jobs.
- In Chrome, open the PDF, press Ctrl+P (Command+P on a Mac), set Pages to Custom, type the page numbers, choose Save as PDF as the destination and save.
- On a Mac, open the PDF in Preview, choose File and then Print, pick the pages, click the PDF button at the bottom left and choose Save as PDF.
What can go wrong
Printing to PDF redraws the pages, so things like form fields and bookmarks often do not survive that route. A few other snags are common and easy to avoid.
- Password-protected files: the in-browser reader cannot open encrypted PDFs. Remove the password in your PDF reader first, then split.
- Files that stay large: splitting does not shrink pages that contain big images. Run Compress PDF on the result if the size matters.
- A missing download: splitting every page creates one ZIP. Check your downloads folder, and allow downloads if your browser asks.
- Scanned documents: a scan is a picture of each page. Splitting keeps those pictures as they are, which is exactly what you want.
Is it safe to split a private document online?
Many free PDF sites upload your file to their server before they do anything with it. For a passport scan, a contract or a bank statement, that is a real risk, because you do not know who can read it or how long it is kept.
The Split PDF tool on this site reads and writes the file inside your own browser. You do not have to take our word for it. Open your browser's developer tools, switch to the Network tab and split a file. You will see that your document itself is never sent anywhere.
Mentioned in this post
Merge PDF
Combine multiple PDF files into a single document, in any order you choose.
Split PDF
Extract a page range from a PDF, or split every page into its own file.
Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size for easier sharing and uploading — all in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Does splitting a PDF reduce quality?
No. Splitting copies the existing pages into new files without redrawing them, so there is no quality loss.
Can I split a PDF by file size?
Not directly. The tool splits by page numbers. To get smaller files, split into page ranges and then compress each result.
Is there a page limit?
The tool sets no limit. Very large files depend on your device's memory, so they may be slower on an older phone.
Can I change the order of the pages?
Not in this tool. Pages come out in their original order. Use a PDF editor if you need to reorder them.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. Remove the password in your PDF reader first, then split the unlocked copy.
Do I need an account or to pay?
No. The tool is free, has no signup and no limit on how many files you split.
About the author
Dhaval Khatri
Designer, Developer and Educator
Dhaval Khatri has spent more than 12 years in the IT industry, working in design and development. He is also a visiting professor at a university. He started Open Tools Library because everyday tasks should not cost you your privacy or your patience. Merging a PDF or resizing a photo should take a minute, with no sign-up, no waiting and no one else holding your files. Every tool here runs in your own browser, and that promise is the reason the site exists.