Split a PDF in 4 steps
- 1
Open the file
Go to Split PDF and drop your PDF on Select a PDF file, or click Choose file.
- 2
Pick a mode
Under How to split, choose Custom ranges, Every page, Every N pages or Ranges into one file. The next section explains which one fits your job.
- 3
Enter the details and check the preview
For ranges, type them in Page ranges, such as 1-3, 4-6, 7-. For chunks, set Pages per file. The tool lists every file it is about to create, with names like report-p1-3.pdf.
- 4
Split and download
Click Split PDF. Download each part with its own button, or click Download all (ZIP) to get them in one archive.
Which split mode should you use?
- Custom ranges: one file per comma-separated range. Use it to break a combined scan into its separate documents, like a contract, an invoice and a receipt.
- Every page: every page becomes its own PDF, named -p1, -p2 and so on. Handy for a stack of single-page certificates or payslips.
- Every N pages: equal chunks. A 30-page set of 3-page application forms with Pages per file set to 3 gives 10 files. The last file is shorter when the page count doesn't divide evenly.
- Ranges into one file: the listed ranges are joined, in the order you type them, into a single PDF. The button changes to Extract ranges, and the file is named -extracted.
Writing page ranges that do what you expect
A comma starts a new file. 7- runs from page 7 to the end, and -4 covers pages 1 to 4. Ranges may overlap: 1-5, 3-8 gives two files that both contain pages 3 to 5. Type the same range twice and the second file gets a -2 suffix so neither overwrites the other.
If some pages aren't covered by any range, a warning names them and says they will be left out. That is useful when you only want parts of a file, and a good catch when you meant to keep everything.
Splitting a PDF by file size
The tool splits by pages, not megabytes. If a portal caps each upload, split with Every N pages, see how big the parts are, and adjust N. Parts that are still too heavy can go through Compress PDF or a fixed target such as Compress PDF to 2 MB.
Split a PDF with Chrome's print dialog
Open the PDF in Chrome, press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac), set Destination to Save as PDF, choose Custom under Pages, type a range and click Save. It produces one part per print, so it is fine for pulling out one section but slow for ten.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Split PDF button greyed out?
The message under it says why. Common ones are "Enter the page ranges.", "This PDF has only one page." for Every page, and a note that Pages per file is as large as the whole document.
Does splitting change my original PDF?
No. The original stays as it is; you download new files.
How do I keep just one set of pages instead of making several files?
Use Ranges into one file, or click thumbnails in Extract Pages if you'd rather pick pages visually.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Unlock it with Remove PDF Password first, then split it.