Split PDF
Break one long PDF into several smaller ones, or pull out just the pages you need, without changing anything on the pages themselves. Six split methods cover chapters, invoices, scanned batches and email size limits.
Split PDF
or drop PDF files here ·
Max 95 MB per file· Up to 10 files· Deleted after 30 minutes
Ranges is required.
Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.
Combine the listed pages into one new PDF, or save each as its own file.
How each part is named after the original file name.
How to use this tool
- 1
Upload the PDF to split
Add up to 10 PDFs, each up to 95 MB; the split method you pick applies to every file. Note the page counts in your PDF viewer first; they help when you type ranges.
- 2
Choose a split method
Pick a Split method: Custom ranges, Every N pages, Every page, Extract pages, Max size per file or By bookmarks. Then fill in the field that appears for it.
- 3
Split and download the parts
Press Split. The parts arrive as one ZIP or as separate files, named after the original by page range, part number or bookmark title.
Six ways to split PDF pages
Custom ranges
Type ranges such as 1-5, 6-10, 11 and each one becomes its own PDF. Best when you know where each document begins.
Every N pages
Cuts the file into parts of equal length, from 1 to 1,000 pages each. Two is the default, which suits two-page forms scanned in one batch.
Every page
Saves every page as its own one-page PDF, for example a stack of scanned receipts or single-page invoices.
Extract pages
Keeps only the pages you list, such as 2, 4-6, and drops the rest. The selection can be one new PDF or one file per page.
Max size per file
Fills each part with pages until the next page would pass Max file size, from 1 to 100 MB, 10 MB by default.
By bookmarks
Starts a new file at each top-level bookmark, so a manual or a book splits into its chapters without counting pages.
When splitting a PDF file is the right fix
Scanners and phone scanning apps tend to produce one long PDF per session. If you fed a pay stub, a lease and three receipts through the feeder together, splitting is how you turn that session back into separate documents that can be filed, renamed and sent to different people.
Upload limits are the other common reason. Portals that accept 2 MB or 5 MB per file will reject a 40-page scan, and splitting it into parts that each fit is often easier than compressing everything until small print blurs. When a part is still a little too large, run it through compress PDF afterwards. Going the other way, merge PDF joins the parts or other files back into one document in any order.
A split never edits a page. Text stays selectable, images keep their resolution, links inside a part keep working, and links that pointed to a page now in another part simply stop jumping anywhere. Page sizes and rotation are copied as they are, so a landscape spreadsheet page stays landscape in its new file. If you need to change orientation or paper size at the same time, do it before splitting so every part inherits the fix.
Splitting also protects privacy: send a landlord the two pages of a bank statement that show your name and balance, not the full transaction history. For more examples, including how to split on a phone, read how to split PDF files.
How the split files are named and packaged
| Setting | Choice | Result |
|---|---|---|
| **File names** | Page range (default) | report_1-5.pdf, report_6-10.pdf |
| **File names** | Part number | report_part1.pdf, report_part2.pdf |
| **File names** | Bookmark title | Named after the chapter each part starts with |
| **Download as** | One ZIP file (default) | All parts in one archive, in order |
| **Download as** | Separate files | Each part downloads on its own |
| **Keep bookmarks** | On (default) | Bookmarks pointing into a part's pages are copied into it |
| **Remove metadata** | Off (default) | When on, author, title and software fields are cleared in every part |
Split PDF dos and don'ts
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Check the page numbers in your viewer's thumbnail panel before typing ranges | Rely on printed page numbers; roman-numbered front matter shifts them |
| Use bookmark titles as file names for manuals and e-books | Split a digitally signed contract you still need to verify |
| Leave a margin under an upload limit: set 9 MB for a 10 MB portal | Expect Max size per file to cut a single huge page in half |
| Keep the original PDF until you have checked every part | Upload a password-protected PDF without unlocking it first |
Free online PDF split limits
- PDFs per split
- 10
- Maximum file size
- 95 MB
- Split methods
- 6
- Until files are deleted
- 30 min
Split PDF questions
How do I split a PDF into multiple PDFs of equal length?
Choose Every N pages and type the length into Pages per file. A 30-page PDF split every 10 pages gives three files; if the count does not divide evenly, the last file simply has fewer pages.
What is the difference between Custom ranges and Extract pages?
Custom ranges makes one PDF per range, so 1-5, 6-10, 11 produces three files. Extract pages takes the pages you list and, by default, puts them together into one new PDF; switch Extracted pages to One PDF per page to get them separately.
Can I split a PDF so each part fits an email attachment limit?
Yes. Choose Max size per file and set Max file size below your mail provider's limit; Gmail, for example, allows 25 MB per message including all attachments. A single page that is larger than the limit is kept on its own rather than cut.
Does splitting a PDF reduce quality?
No. Pages are copied into the new files as they are, with the same text, images and fonts. Each part can be smaller than the original simply because it contains fewer pages.
Will fillable form fields still work in the split files?
With Keep form fields on, which is the default, each field stays fillable in the part that contains its page. Turn it off only if you want the parts to be plain pages.
How do I split a PDF by chapters?
If the PDF has bookmarks, choose By bookmarks (chapters): each top-level bookmark starts a new file. Set File names to Bookmark title so the parts are named after the chapters instead of page numbers.
Is there a page limit for splitting?
The limit is the 95 MB file size, not the page count. Range fields accept up to 300 characters, which is enough for dozens of ranges; for very long lists, split by every N pages or by bookmarks instead.
Can I split a scanned PDF where each sheet has a front and back?
Yes. If every sheet produced two pages, choose Every N pages with Pages per file set to 2, and each sheet becomes its own PDF. If some sheets have blank backs, list the ranges yourself with Custom ranges instead.