Why Split a PDF?
There are many reasons you might need to divide a PDF into smaller files:
- Extract specific pages: Pull out just the pages you need to share
- Reduce file size: Split large documents to meet email attachment limits
- Organize content: Separate chapters or sections into individual files
- Remove unwanted pages: Isolate the content you want to keep
- Distribute selectively: Share different sections with different people
Method 1: Split by Page Numbers
The most common way to split PDFs is by specifying which pages you want:
- Go to our Split PDF tool
- Upload your PDF document
- Enter the page numbers or ranges you want to extract (e.g., "1-5, 8, 12-15")
- Click Split and download your extracted pages
Page Number Examples
- "1-5": Extract pages 1 through 5
- "3, 7, 12": Extract only pages 3, 7, and 12
- "1-3, 8-10": Extract pages 1-3 and 8-10
- "5-end": Extract from page 5 to the last page
Method 2: Split Into Equal Parts
Divide a document into sections of equal length:
- Split every N pages: Create a new file every 5, 10, or 20 pages
- Split into N parts: Divide into exactly 2, 3, or 4 equal sections
This is useful for:
- Breaking up large manuals into chapters
- Creating multiple handouts from a single document
- Distributing work among team members
Method 3: Extract Single Pages
Sometimes you just need one page from a large document:
- Upload your PDF
- Enter a single page number (e.g., "7")
- Download the extracted page
Perfect for extracting a specific form, certificate, or page to share.
Method 4: Remove Pages (Inverse Split)
Instead of extracting pages, you can remove specific pages and keep the rest. This is the opposite approach:
- Split: "Give me pages 1-5" → You get pages 1-5
- Remove: "Remove pages 6-10" → You get everything except pages 6-10
Tips for Efficient Splitting
Before You Split
- Check page count: Know how many pages your document has
- Identify content: Scroll through to find where chapters or sections begin
- Note page numbers: Write down which pages contain what content
After You Split
- Rename files: Give extracted files meaningful names
- Verify content: Open each file to confirm you got the right pages
- Consider merging: Use Merge PDF if you need to recombine files later
Common Use Cases
Academic
- Extract specific chapters from textbooks
- Separate assignment sheets from answer keys
- Pull out readings for different class sessions
Business
- Extract pages for different departments
- Separate invoices from a batch PDF
- Create individual proposals from a master document
Personal
- Extract recipes from a cookbook PDF
- Separate tax documents by year
- Pull out specific photos from a PDF album
File Size Considerations
Splitting a PDF doesn't always reduce file size proportionally. A 10-page extract from a 100-page document won't necessarily be 10% of the original size because:
- Fonts and resources may be embedded in each split file
- High-resolution images on extracted pages retain their full size
For smaller files, use Compress PDF after splitting.