Free Online PDF Splitter
Large PDF files often contain sections you need to share separately — a single chapter from a textbook, specific pages from a contract, or one invoice from a monthly statement. Our free PDF splitter lets you extract custom page ranges from any PDF and download each range as its own file. The entire operation runs in your browser with no uploads to external servers.
Upload your PDF, define page ranges using a simple comma-separated format like 1-3, 4-6, 7, and click Split to download each section instantly. Powered by PDF-Lib, the tool reads your file locally, copies the specified pages into new documents, and triggers separate downloads for each range. Your original file is never modified or uploaded anywhere. Splitting is the inverse of merging — use our PDF Merger tool if you need to combine files back together after splitting.
How to Split a PDF
- Upload your PDF by clicking the upload area or dragging the file in.
- The tool displays the total page count after loading your file.
- Enter page ranges separated by commas — for example
1-3, 4-6, 7. - Click Split & Download. Each range downloads as a separate PDF file named with the range suffix.
Who Uses a PDF Splitter?
- Students extract specific chapters or assignment pages from course packs.
- Office workers separate multi-page invoices, statements, or reports for individual distribution.
- Legal professionals pull specific exhibits or sections from large case files.
- HR departments extract individual employee documents from bundled PDF archives.
- Researchers isolate relevant pages from published papers and reference materials.
- Anyone receiving combined scans split multi-document scans into separate files.
Key Features
- Split by custom page ranges with comma-separated input
- Support for single pages, ranges, and mixed formats
- Automatic page count display after upload
- Each range downloads as a separate PDF file
- 100% client-side processing — files never leave your device
- Drag-and-drop file upload support
Understanding Page Range Syntax
The splitter uses a flexible range syntax shared across our PDF tools. A range like 1-5 includes all pages from 1 through 5 inclusive. Mix single pages and ranges in one input: 1, 3-7, 10 produces three separate PDF files. The tool validates your input against the actual page count and shows an error if any page number exceeds the document length. After splitting, each file retains the full quality of the original pages — fonts, images, and formatting are copied exactly.
Tips for Splitting PDFs
Use the format 1-5, 6-10, 11 where each comma-separated segment becomes one output file. Single page numbers like 3 extract just that page. Page numbers are 1-based, matching how PDF viewers display page numbers. Check the displayed page count before entering ranges to avoid out-of-range errors. For encrypted PDFs that cannot be read, try our PDF Unlock tool first. If you need the opposite operation — combining files — use our PDF Merger tool. When splitting a large document into many single-page files, work in batches to avoid overwhelming your browser's download manager with dozens of simultaneous downloads. Preview page numbers in your PDF reader before entering ranges to ensure accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What page range format should I use?
Use comma-separated ranges like 1-5, 6-10, 11. Each range produces one output PDF. Single page numbers like 3 are also valid. Ranges are inclusive on both ends — 1-3 includes pages 1, 2, and 3.
Can I extract a single page?
Yes. Simply enter a single page number (e.g. 5) and that page will be extracted as a one-page PDF file.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. All splitting happens locally in your browser. Your PDF is read into memory, pages are copied into new documents, and downloads are triggered — nothing is transmitted to any server.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
PDFs with owner restrictions may work if PDF-Lib can read them. PDFs requiring a password to open will show an error. Use our PDF Unlock tool to remove restrictions first.
How are output files named?
Each output file uses your original filename with a range suffix — for example, document_1-3.pdf and document_4-6.pdf for a file named document.pdf.
Can I split every page into its own file?
Yes. Enter each page number separated by commas — for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for a five-page document. For large documents, a range-per-page approach like 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 also works. Each entry produces one output PDF.
Does splitting work on multi-column layouts?
Yes. The splitter copies entire pages as they appear in the PDF, including multi-column layouts, headers, footers, and embedded graphics. Each extracted range preserves the original page structure exactly.
Will splitting reduce the quality of extracted pages?
No. Pages are copied as-is without re-encoding. Text, images, and formatting in each extracted section match the original PDF exactly.