Split PDF
Split a PDF online for free, extract page ranges, select pages visually with thumbnails, or split every N pages. 100% private, runs in your browser.
About This Tool
Extract specific pages from a PDF or split it into smaller documents. Choose from three flexible modes: define custom page ranges like "1-5, 8, 12-15", visually select individual pages from a thumbnail grid, or automatically split every N pages. See a preview of every page before you decide what to extract. Processing happens entirely in your browser, your document stays private.
How To Use
- Upload a PDF file by dragging it into the drop zone.
- Browse the page thumbnail grid to preview your document's content.
- Choose a split mode and configure which pages to extract.
- Click "Split" and download the extracted pages as individual PDFs or a ZIP.
How It Works
The Split PDF tool first renders every page of your PDF as a small thumbnail using the pdfjs-dist library, giving you a visual preview of the entire document. You can then choose which pages to extract using one of three modes.
In Range mode, you specify page ranges in a familiar format like "1-3, 5, 7-9". The tool parses this input and creates a new PDF containing only those pages. In Extract mode, you click directly on page thumbnails to select or deselect them, the selected pages are combined into a new PDF. In Every N mode, the document is automatically divided into chunks of N pages each, producing multiple output files.
Page extraction uses the pdf-lib library's copyPages function, which performs a genuine page-level copy. All content, text, images, fonts, annotations, bookmarks, is preserved exactly. The thumbnails are generated using pdfjs-dist's canvas rendering in a Web Worker, so even large documents load quickly without freezing your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
No. You'll need to remove the password first using our Remove PDF Password tool. Upload the protected file there, enter the password, and download the unprotected version to split.
What does "Split Every N Pages" do?
It divides your PDF into smaller files, each containing N pages. A 12-page PDF split every 3 pages produces four 3-page PDFs. If the total pages aren't evenly divisible, the last file will have fewer pages.
Can I see a preview before splitting?
Yes. After uploading, the tool renders every page as a clickable thumbnail. You can scroll through the entire document before deciding which pages to extract or how to split.
Is there a page limit?
There is no limit on the number of pages. However, very large PDFs (500+ pages) may take a moment to render all thumbnails. The actual split operation is fast regardless of page count.
How do I download multiple split files?
When splitting produces multiple output files, you can download each individually or click "Download All as ZIP" to get everything in a single archive for convenience.
Are my documents sent to a server?
No. Splitting happens entirely in your browser using pdf-lib and pdfjs-dist. Your PDF is processed locally and never transmitted anywhere. The tool works offline after the page loads.