How to split a PDF into separate files by page range
Splitting is useful when a scan contains several documents, a report needs to be shared chapter by chapter, or an email limit forces you to send smaller parts. Split PDF offers three ways to do it.
Steps
- Add your PDF.
- Choose Split by:
- Ranges: type groups such as
1-3, 4-6, 7. Each group becomes its own file. - Every N pages: set Pages per file (default 5) and the tool cuts the document into equal parts, with a shorter last part if needed.
- Single pages: one file per page.
- Ranges: type groups such as
- Download the files one by one, or take everything as a single ZIP.
Range syntax
Separate groups with commas and use a dash for a span. 1-3, 4-6 makes two files; 1, 3, 5 makes three single-page files. The full syntax is in the page ranges cheat sheet.
Tips
- Splitting never changes the pages themselves, so quality stays identical.
- If you only want one slice and not several files, Extract PDF pages is simpler.
- If you want to throw pages away instead, use Remove pages from PDF.
- Splitting to meet an email size limit works only if the parts are each small enough. If the pages are image-heavy, compress the PDF as well.
When it will not work
A page number larger than the document is rejected with a message rather than silently ignored, so check the total page count if you get an error. Encrypted PDFs must be unlocked first.