How to split a PDF into multiple files — free online guide
A PDF with 80 pages is useful as an archive but impractical when you only need to share pages 5 to 12 with a client. Splitting a PDF lets you extract exactly what you need and share it without the rest.
Common reasons to split a PDF
- Share only relevant sections — send a specific chapter without the entire report
- Reduce file size — a smaller PDF is easier to email and faster to open
- Separate a multi-invoice scan — extract each invoice as its own file
- Prepare a presentation — pull selected slides from a larger deck
How to split a PDF in your browser
Our Split PDF tool processes the file locally — nothing is uploaded to a server.
Step 1 — Open the tool
Go to Split PDF. No login required.
Step 2 — Load your PDF
Drag the PDF onto the upload area. The tool shows the total page count.
Step 3 — Choose a page range
Enter the first and last page of the section you want to extract. For example, pages 5 to 12. You can also extract a single page by entering the same number twice.
Step 4 — Download the result
Click Split and download the extracted pages as a new PDF.
Extracting multiple ranges
If you need several non-consecutive sections, run the tool once for each range. The original file is not modified, so you can re-run it as many times as needed.
For more advanced page management — removing specific pages, reordering, or inserting pages from another document — see:
- Remove Pages — delete specific pages from a PDF
- Reorder Pages — drag pages into a new order
- Extract Odd Pages / Extract Even Pages — useful for descanning double-sided documents
Split vs. extract: what is the difference?
Split generally means dividing a PDF at a fixed point — for example, splitting a 100-page document into two 50-page halves. Extract means pulling a specific range of pages into a new file.
Our tool does both: you choose the range and it extracts those pages as a standalone document.
Reassembling after splitting
If you split a document and later need to put it back together, use Merge PDF. Add the parts in the right order and combine them into a single file.
File size and performance
The tool handles files up to 150 MB. If your PDF is larger, compress it first to speed up loading and processing.
Conclusion
Splitting a PDF requires no desktop software, no account and no file uploads. In a few clicks you can extract exactly the pages you need and share them privately.