Split PDF Files Online - Extract & Separate Pages Free
Split PDF documents by extracting specific pages or ranges instantly with our free online PDF splitter. Extract individual pages, create multiple documents, or separate chapters from large PDFs without software installation. Our browser-based tool processes files locally, ensuring complete privacy and security for confidential documents.
Why Split PDF Files?
Share Specific Sections
Extract only relevant pages from lengthy reports, manuals, or contracts to share with colleagues or clients. Instead of sending a 100-page manual, split and send just the 5 pages needed, saving bandwidth and recipient time.
Email Size Restrictions
Most email services limit attachments to 25MB. Splitting large PDFs into smaller chunks ensures successful delivery. This is especially critical when sharing scanned documents, presentations, or image-heavy materials.
Organize Documents Efficiently
Separate multi-document PDFs into individual files for better organization. Split course materials by chapter, break invoices into monthly files, or extract individual forms from government document packages.
Compliance & Confidentiality
Extract non-sensitive pages while protecting confidential information. Legal professionals can share relevant contract sections without disclosing private client details or financial data.
📝 Example: Academic Research
A researcher sharing findings with collaborators:
- Original: 250-page thesis PDF (45MB)
- Action: Extract pages 45-67 (methodology section)
- Result: 23-page PDF (3.2MB)
- Benefit: Email-friendly, focused sharing
How to Split PDF Files
Method 1: Extract Specific Pages
- Upload your PDF file (drag & drop or click to browse)
- Select "Extract Pages" mode
- Enter page numbers or ranges (e.g., "1-5, 8, 12-15")
- Click "Split PDF" to create a new document with selected pages
- Download the extracted PDF
Method 2: Split All Pages (Coming Soon)
The "Split All Pages" feature will create individual PDF files for each page, compressed into a downloadable ZIP archive. This is perfect for creating flashcards, separating scanned documents, or archiving individual forms.
Page Range Syntax Guide
- Single pages: "1, 5, 9" (extracts pages 1, 5, and 9)
- Page ranges: "1-10" (extracts pages 1 through 10)
- Combined: "1-3, 7, 12-15" (extracts pages 1, 2, 3, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- Reverse order: Automatically sorted in ascending order
- Duplicates: Each page extracted only once even if listed multiple times
Common Use Cases
Business & Professional
- Contract Extraction: Split multi-party agreements into individual contracts
- Invoice Processing: Separate bulk invoice PDFs into individual files
- Report Sharing: Extract executive summaries from detailed reports
- Proposal Sections: Share specific sections without revealing pricing details
Education & Research
- Textbook Chapters: Extract specific chapters for student distribution
- Research Papers: Share methodology sections with peer reviewers
- Exam Papers: Separate question papers from answer keys
- Course Materials: Split semester materials into weekly modules
Legal & Healthcare
- Medical Records: Extract specific test results from patient files
- Court Documents: Separate exhibits from legal briefs
- Insurance Claims: Extract relevant pages for submission
- HIPAA Compliance: Remove sensitive pages before sharing
Personal & Home Use
- Tax Documents: Extract W-2 forms from tax return packages
- Travel Itineraries: Separate booking confirmations from full itineraries
- Recipes: Extract favorite recipes from digital cookbooks
- E-book Chapters: Split e-books into manageable reading sections
Best Practices
Before Splitting
- Open the PDF in a viewer to confirm page numbers (numbering starts at 1)
- Verify the total page count shown after upload
- Note that PDF page numbers may differ from document page numbers (e.g., book page "23" might be PDF page 35)
- Check for blank pages that might affect numbering
Page Selection Strategy
- Extract table of contents/index pages for reference
- Include title pages for context
- Capture page ranges rather than scattered individual pages when possible
- Double-check page numbers before final split
After Splitting
- Rename extracted files descriptively (e.g., "contract-exhibit-a.pdf")
- Verify page count matches your selection
- Keep original files as backups
- Organize split files in appropriate folders
Privacy & Security
All PDF splitting happens entirely in your browser using the pdf-lib JavaScript library. Your files never upload to our servers or any external service. This ensures complete privacy for confidential contracts, medical records, financial documents, and personal files. Once you close the browser, no trace of your document remains on our site.
Technical Details
Supported Features
- Preserves original PDF formatting, fonts, and images
- Maintains hyperlinks within extracted pages
- Retains form fields and annotations on selected pages
- Supports PDFs up to several hundred megabytes
- Handles password-protected PDFs (after unlocking in source)
Limitations
- Cannot split password-protected PDFs (remove password first)
- Cross-page elements like bookmarks may not transfer correctly
- Extremely large files (500MB+) may cause browser performance issues
- Bulk splitting to ZIP archive requires additional implementation
Troubleshooting
Invalid Page Range Error
Problem: Error message when entering page numbers.
Solutions:
- Ensure page numbers are within the document range (check page count)
- Use correct syntax: "1-5" not "1 to 5"
- Separate ranges/pages with commas: "1-3, 7" not "1-3 7"
- Avoid special characters except hyphens and commas
No Pages Extracted
Problem: Downloaded PDF is empty or has 0 pages.
Solutions:
- Double-check your page range syntax
- Verify page numbers don't exceed total page count
- Try extracting a simple range like "1-2" to test
- Refresh the page and try again
File Won't Upload
Problem: PDF file doesn't load after selection.
Solutions:
- Ensure file is a valid PDF (not Word .docx or image)
- Try a smaller PDF first to test functionality
- Check browser console for JavaScript errors
- Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox recommended)
- Disable browser extensions that might block JavaScript
Browser Crashes or Freezes
Problem: Browser becomes unresponsive during split operation.
Solutions:
- Reduce file size by compressing PDF before splitting
- Close other browser tabs to free memory
- Try splitting smaller page ranges instead of the entire document
- Use a desktop browser instead of mobile for large files
Alternatives to Splitting
When to Use Other Tools
- Remove pages: Use PDF delete pages tool if you want the opposite (keep most, remove few)
- Reorder pages: Use PDF page reorder tool to rearrange before splitting
- Merge after split: Use PDF merge tool to recombine extracted sections differently
- Print to PDF: In desktop apps, print selection to new PDF (less precise)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a file size limit?
No strict limit, but browser memory constraints apply. Files under 100MB work best. Larger files (200MB+) may cause performance issues depending on your device and browser.
Can I split multiple PDFs at once?
Currently, the tool processes one PDF at a time. For batch processing, repeat the split operation for each file. Bookmark this page for quick access.
Will the original PDF be modified?
No. The tool creates a new PDF with extracted pages. Your original file remains unchanged on your device.
Can I split encrypted/password-protected PDFs?
Not directly. Remove the password from the PDF first using PDF unlock tools or the original password in a desktop PDF reader, then upload the unprotected version.
Why doesn't my page numbering match?
PDFs have two numbering systems: PDF page index (starts at 1) and document page numbers (can be i, ii, iii, then 1, 2, 3 for books). This tool uses PDF page index, so count from the very first page regardless of printed page numbers.
Can I extract pages in custom order?
Pages are automatically sorted in ascending order. To create a PDF with pages in custom order (e.g., 5, 2, 8), first extract those pages, then use a PDF reorder tool.
How do I split a 500-page PDF into 10 files of 50 pages each?
Run the tool multiple times with different ranges:
- File 1: pages 1-50
- File 2: pages 51-100
- File 3: pages 101-150
- ...and so on
Download and rename each extracted PDF accordingly.
Does splitting reduce PDF quality?
No. Splitting extracts pages as-is with no quality loss. Text remains sharp, images maintain resolution, and formatting stays intact. This is a lossless operation.