How to Split PDF Pages into Separate Files
Published by PDFToolz · Updated · Technical references listed below
To split a PDF file by pages, open it in a split tool, type the page ranges you want, such as 1-3, 4-10, and save each range as its own PDF. PDFToolz Split PDF also cuts a file every N pages or saves every page separately, in your browser with no upload. On a Mac, drag page thumbnails out of Preview. In Chrome, print a custom page range to Save as PDF.
This guide shows when to split, extract or delete pages, gives step-by-step instructions for each method, and lists what a split file keeps and what it drops.
Choose between split, extract and delete
'Splitting' covers three different jobs. Pick the tool by the result you want, not by the word you searched for.
| You want | Use | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Several files, one per range | Split PDF, Page ranges | One PDF per range, zipped |
| Equal parts | Split PDF, Every N pages | One PDF every N pages, zipped |
| Every page on its own | Split PDF, Extract every page | One PDF per page, zipped |
| A few chosen pages in one file | Extract PDF Pages | One new PDF |
| The same file minus some pages | Delete PDF Pages | One PDF without the marked pages |
How to split a PDF by page ranges
PDFToolz Split PDF runs in your browser. The file is never uploaded, there is no account, and the pages are copied into the new files rather than turned into images, so text stays selectable and quality is unchanged.
Ranges are inclusive, so 3-8 means pages 3 to 8. 9- runs from page 9 to the end, and -3 means pages 1 to 3. Each range becomes its own file, named after its pages, such as report-pages-1-3.pdf.
- Open Split PDF and select your file. The tool counts the pages.
- Under Split mode, pick Page ranges.
- Type the ranges separated by commas, for example 1-4, 5-12, 13-.
- Press Split PDF.
- One range downloads as a single PDF. Several ranges download together as one ZIP.
Split every N pages or into single pages
For long files with a regular structure, such as a stack of two-page forms scanned in one go, you don't need to type ranges.
- Every N pages: enter how many pages go in each file. A 30-page PDF split every 10 pages gives three files. The last file is shorter if the count doesn't divide evenly. N must be smaller than the page count.
- Extract every page: saves each page as its own PDF, all in one ZIP named after the original, such as scan-split.zip. This suits receipts, invoices or certificates scanned into one file.
Extract selected pages into one PDF
Split PDF makes one file per range, so typing 2, 7, 15 gives three files. To get pages 2, 7 and 15 together in one PDF, use Extract PDF Pages instead.
Extract PDF Pages shows a thumbnail of every page. Tap the pages you want, or type a range, and the two stay in sync. The new PDF keeps the order you type, and a page listed twice is included once.
- Open Extract PDF Pages and select the file.
- Tap the thumbnails you want, or type pages such as 1-3, 8.
- Press Extract pages and download the new PDF.
Separate PDF pages on Mac with Preview
Preview, the PDF app built into macOS, can make a new PDF from pages you drag out of the sidebar. It is quick for a handful of pages but tedious for splitting a long file into many parts.
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Choose View > Thumbnails to show the page sidebar.
- Select the page or pages you want.
- Drag the selected thumbnails onto the desktop. Preview creates a new PDF with those pages.
- Repeat for each part you need.
Split PDF pages in Chrome with Save as PDF
Chrome's print dialog can save a page range as a new PDF on Windows, Mac, Linux or ChromeOS. Each print run makes one file, and every page you list goes into that file, so run it once per part.
Printing rebuilds the pages, so bookmarks, links and fillable form fields are often lost. It also won't work on a file that blocks printing. Use it for quick, simple jobs.
- Drag the PDF into a Chrome window.
- Press Ctrl+P on Windows and Linux, or Cmd+P on a Mac.
- Set Destination to Save as PDF.
- Under Pages, choose Custom and type the pages, for example 1-5, 8, 11-13.
- Click Save and name the file. Repeat for the next range.
Split a PDF in Adobe Acrobat
Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Standard, both paid, split a PDF by a maximum number of pages, a maximum file size, or its top-level bookmarks. Splitting by bookmarks suits reports where each chapter has its own bookmark.
Adobe's free online Split PDF tool uploads your file to Adobe's servers. It accepts files up to 1,500 pages or 1 GB, makes up to 20 files, and asks you to sign in after the upload.
- Open the PDF and select All tools > Organize pages.
- In the left pane, select Split.
- Open the Split by menu and pick Number of pages, File size or Top level bookmarks.
- Select Output options to choose the folder and file names.
- Select Split.
- To pull out chosen pages instead, use Extract in Organize pages. Tick Extract pages as separate files for one PDF per page, or Delete pages after extracting to remove them from the original.
When to delete pages instead of splitting
If you only want to drop a cover sheet, a blank scan or an appendix, splitting is the long way round. PDFToolz Delete PDF Pages saves the rest of the file in one step. Tap the pages to remove, or type them as 2, 5-7, and press Delete pages. At least one page must stay.
To also reorder or rotate pages, use Delete / Reorder. To join parts back together later, use Merge PDF.
What a split PDF keeps and drops
The page content is copied as it is, so text, fonts and images look the same. A few document-level extras don't come along.
- Bookmarks, and document details such as title and author, are not copied to the new files.
- Links that point to a page now in a different file stop working. PDFToolz removes those references, so the pages left out can't be read from the new file.
- Fillable form fields may stop working, so fill in and flatten a form before you split it.
- Files that only block printing or copying split as normal in PDFToolz. If the PDF asks for a password to open, remove it first with Unlock PDF.
Key takeaways
- ✓To split a PDF by pages, type ranges such as 1-3, 4-10 and save each range as its own PDF.
- ✓PDFToolz Split PDF splits by ranges, every N pages or into single pages in your browser, with no upload.
- ✓Use Extract PDF Pages for chosen pages in one file, and Delete PDF Pages to drop a few pages from the original.
- ✓Mac Preview, Chrome's Save as PDF and Adobe Acrobat can also split, each with its own trade-offs.
- ✓Split files keep the page content but not bookmarks or document details.
Tools for the job
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a PDF file by pages?
Open PDFToolz Split PDF, pick Page ranges and type the parts separated by commas, such as 1-3, 4-10, 11-. Press Split PDF and download the ZIP with one PDF per range. It is free and runs in your browser. Adobe Acrobat's Split tool and Chrome's Save as PDF also work.
How do I separate pages of a PDF into individual files?
In PDFToolz Split PDF, choose Extract every page and press Split PDF. You get one PDF per page in a single ZIP. On a Mac, you can also drag page thumbnails from Preview's sidebar to the desktop to make new PDFs.
How do I split a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Use a free tool. PDFToolz Split PDF works in any browser without uploading the file. You can also open the PDF in Chrome, press Ctrl+P or Cmd+P, choose Save as PDF and a custom page range, or drag thumbnails out of Preview on a Mac.
How do I extract certain pages from a PDF into one file?
Use PDFToolz Extract PDF Pages. Tap the pages you want or type them, such as 2, 7, 15, then press Extract pages. They are saved together in one new PDF, in the order you typed.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
If it opens without a password and only blocks printing or copying, PDFToolz splits it as normal. If it asks for a password to open, remove the password first with Unlock PDF, using the password you know, then split the unlocked copy.
Does splitting a PDF reduce quality?
Not with PDFToolz or Acrobat, which copy the original pages into the new files. Text stays selectable and images keep their resolution. Printing to PDF in Chrome rebuilds the pages, so links, bookmarks and form fields can be lost.
Related terms
Sources and further reading
- Split PDFs in Acrobat from Adobe Acrobat Help
- Extract pages from PDFs from Adobe Acrobat Help
- Split PDF online from Adobe
- Add, delete, or move PDF pages in Preview on Mac from Apple Support
- Print from Chrome from Google Chrome Help
Browse all PDF guides, look up a term in the PDF glossary, or head back to the PDFToolz toolkit.