Split PDF extracts exact page ranges from a document — pull out a chapter, isolate a single page, or carve out several sections at once — without altering the content of any page you keep. It's the reverse of Merge PDF: instead of combining files, it divides one file into precisely the pieces you specify, using standard page-range notation rather than a fixed set of preset options.
How to use Split PDF
- Choose your privacy mode, then select a single PDF.
- Enter the page ranges you want, using the same notation you'd expect: "1-5" for pages one through five, "1,3,7" for specific individual pages, or "1-3,8-10" to combine multiple ranges — each comma-separated range becomes its own output file, so "1-5,8" gives you two files: one with pages 1-5, one with page 8.
- In Sensitive mode, enter your ranges directly on-device. In Normal mode, entering a custom range isn't available yet.
- Click Process. The tool extracts exactly the pages your ranges specify by copying their existing page objects into a new document — nothing is reordered, rotated, re-rendered, or altered in the process.
- Download the result. If your ranges produce more than one output file — for example, "1-5,10-15" as two separate ranges, or the every-page split — they arrive together as a set.
Worked example
Pulling one chapter out of a 200-page book PDF
Suppose chapter 4 of a 200-page book runs from page 61 to page 84. Enter "61-84" as the range, and the output is a 24-page PDF containing exactly those pages, with their original page size, rotation, and content untouched — page 61 of the source becomes page 1 of the output, and so on in order. A related case: pulling out two non-contiguous sections at once, like an executive summary on pages 1-3 and an appendix on pages 190-200, by entering "1-3,190-200" — that produces two separate output files, one per comma-separated range, delivered together.
Processing limits & specifications
| Mode | Location | Max file size | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensitive mode | Your device (WASM) | Up to 75 MB (typical device) | Never stored / zero egress |
| Normal mode | Server sandbox | 300 MB | Deleted when you close the page |
Frequently asked questions
What page range formats are supported?
Single ranges like "1-5", comma-separated pages like "1,3,7", and combinations like "1-3,8,12-15" all work. Page numbers refer to the position in the original document, starting at 1.
Can I get every page as its own separate file in one go?
There's no dedicated one-click option for that yet — each comma-separated range you enter becomes its own output file, so for a short document you can list every page number individually (e.g. "1,2,3,4,5"), but there's currently no shortcut for doing this automatically on a long document.
Does splitting change the rotation or size of extracted pages?
No — each extracted page keeps its exact original rotation, dimensions, and content. Splitting only changes which pages end up in which output file.
What happens if I enter an invalid page range, like a page number beyond the end of the document?
You get a clear error identifying the problem rather than a silently truncated or incorrect result.
Can I see which pages a range covers before processing?
Not as a visual preview within the tool — check the page numbers in a PDF viewer first if you're unsure exactly where a range starts or ends, then enter the confirmed numbers here. Processing is fast enough that re-running with an adjusted range if you got it wrong is a quick fix.
If I split into multiple ranges, do I get one file or several?
Each distinct range in your input produces its own output file, delivered together as a set — a request for "1-5,10-15" gives you two separate PDFs, one for each range, not one file containing both ranges concatenated.
Does splitting reduce the file size of the pages I extract?
Not directly — split output pages carry the same underlying compression as the source document. If you also want a smaller file, run the result through Compress PDF afterward.
Can I split a PDF that has bookmarks or a table of contents?
Yes — the pages you specify are extracted with their content intact. Document-level navigation aids like bookmarks that reference pages outside the extracted range won't carry over, since they'd point to pages that no longer exist in that output file.
What's the largest document I can split?
In Sensitive mode, that depends on your device's memory and page-count budget — a typical modern laptop or desktop can comfortably handle documents in the hundreds of pages, and the tool shows your device's specific limit before you start. In Normal mode, uploaded files are capped at 1,500 pages, which covers the vast majority of everyday documents.
Can I use Split PDF to extract just the last page of a document, without knowing exactly how many pages it has?
You'll need to know the page count first — check it in a PDF viewer if you don't already know it — then specify that exact page number as your range. There's currently no shorthand like "last page" independent of the actual page number.