A 60-page scan from the office copier, a textbook chapter you only need part of, a bank statement that bundles a whole year: split PDF lets you cut one document into smaller ones. You choose where each new file starts and ends, or you turn every page into its own PDF. The tool is free and you don't need an account.
Two ways to split
The tool has one setting, called "Split", and it has two choices.
| Option | What you type | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| By page ranges | Ranges such as 1-3, 4-6, 7 | One PDF per range. Here: pages 1 to 3, pages 4 to 6, and page 7 on its own |
| Every page into its own PDF | Nothing | One PDF for every page in the document |
With page ranges, each range you type becomes a separate PDF. Separate the ranges with commas. A range with nothing after the hyphen runs to the end of the document, so "8-" means page 8 through the last page. That saves you from counting pages in a long file when you only care where a section begins.
The second option is for when you need to separate PDF pages one by one, for example a stack of single-page forms that were scanned together.
How to split a PDF
- Add your PDF. Drag it onto the box on a computer, or tap "Select files" on a phone. The tool takes one PDF at a time, up to 100 MB.
- Under "Split", choose "By page ranges" or "Every page into its own PDF".
- If you picked page ranges, type them in, such as 1-2, 3-10, 11-.
- Start the split.
- Download the ZIP file and open it to find your new PDFs.
Examples from everyday use
Scanned paperwork
Office scanners often save a whole tray of paper as one PDF. If that tray held five separate invoices of two pages each, type 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and you get five files you can save or send separately. If every invoice is one page, "Every page into its own PDF" does it without typing anything.
Study material
Students often receive a full course pack as one large PDF. Split PDF online by chapter, using the page numbers from the contents page, and you can open only the part you're reading this week. Smaller files are also easier to keep on a phone.
Teachers can use it the other way round: split one long worksheet pack into a file for each week, then post each file in the class group when it's needed.
Sending only part of a document
A landlord may need one page of your bank statement, or a client may need one section of a long report. Splitting lets you send that part without the rest. If you want only certain pages in one new file, though, Extract pages is the quicker tool, since it gives you a single PDF directly.
Getting under upload limits
Some application portals and email services reject large attachments. Breaking a big PDF into two or three parts can get each piece under the limit. You can also try Compress PDF first, which keeps the document in one piece. If you do split, give the parts clear names, such as "Report part 1" and "Report part 2", so the person receiving them reads them in order.
Things to know before you split
- The results always come back as a ZIP file, even if you made only two PDFs. Most phones and computers open ZIP files when you tap or double-click them.
- Check the page numbers in your PDF reader before you type ranges. If the document has a cover or roman-numeral pages at the front, the numbers printed on the pages may not match the page count your reader shows.
- You can split one PDF per upload. For several files, split them one after another.
- If you split something by mistake and need it whole again, put the parts back together with Merge PDF.
Privacy
Your PDF is processed on our server and deleted as soon as the ZIP with your results is sent back to you. We don't store your files or share them. The new PDFs have no watermark or branding added, so each one looks like a normal page from the original.
Frequently asked questions
Is Split PDF free?
Yes, it's free to use and you don't need to sign up or log in. Nothing is added to your pages either, so there is no watermark on the split files.
Can I split a PDF on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in the browser on Android phones and iPhones. Tap "Select files", pick the PDF, choose how to split it, and the ZIP downloads to your phone. Most phones can open a ZIP from the Files app.
What does "8-" mean in the page ranges box?
A range ending in a hyphen runs from that page to the last page. So "8-" gives you one PDF containing page 8 and every page after it, however long the document is.
Why do I get a ZIP file instead of PDFs?
Splitting always gives you more than one file, and several files are bundled into one ZIP so you only have to download once. Open the ZIP and your separate PDFs are inside.
Can I split a PDF into single pages?
Yes. Choose "Every page into its own PDF" and each page becomes its own file. A 12-page document gives you 12 PDFs inside the ZIP.
What if I only want to delete a few pages?
Then splitting is the long way round. Use Remove pages and type the page numbers you don't want, and you get one PDF back without them.