PDF files are widely used for ebooks, research papers, contracts, reports, manuals, and business documents. However, a PDF may sometimes contain dozens or even hundreds of pages when you only need a small section.

You may want to send a few pages to a coworker, separate chapters for easier study, extract a form from a larger document, or reduce the size of a file before uploading it.

Splitting a PDF allows you to divide one large document into several smaller files or extract specific pages into a new PDF.

This guide explains several easy ways to split a PDF using online tools and desktop applications. Whether you need a quick browser-based solution or a private offline method for large or sensitive files, you can choose the approach that best fits your workflow.

Why Split a PDF?

A single PDF can contain many different sections, chapters, forms, or records. Keeping everything in one document is not always practical.

You may need to split a PDF when you want to:

• Send only selected pages to another person
• Separate chapters from an ebook or study guide
• Extract an invoice, form, or certificate
• Divide a large report into smaller sections
• Reduce the size of an email attachment
• Organize pages by topic, client, or project
• Upload part of a document to an online system
• Avoid sharing confidential pages that are not relevant
• Create separate files from a scanned document
• Archive different sections independently

A PDF splitter can usually perform one or more of the following operations:

• Extract selected pages
• Divide a PDF by page range
• Split every page into a separate PDF
• Create a new file after every fixed number of pages
• Split a document according to bookmarks
• Divide a PDF according to a maximum file size

The available options depend on the tool you use.

Method 1: Split a PDF Online

For most occasional users, an online PDF splitter is the simplest option.

Online tools work directly in a web browser, so you do not need to install any software. They can usually be used on Windows, macOS, Linux, tablets, and smartphones.

The typical process is:

1. Upload the PDF
2. Choose the pages or splitting method
3. Start the process
4. Download the resulting files

Online tools are convenient, but your document may need to be uploaded to a third-party server. Avoid uploading confidential files unless you understand the provider’s privacy and file-retention policies.

Option 1: Split a PDF with Smallpdf

Smallpdf provides a browser-based Split PDF tool with a simple visual interface.

It may allow you to extract selected pages or divide a document into multiple files, depending on the features available under your current plan.

How to Use Smallpdf

1. Open the Smallpdf Split PDF tool.
2. Drag your PDF into the upload area or select it from your device.
3. Wait for the document to upload and generate page previews.
4. Choose how you want to split the PDF.
5. Select the pages or page ranges you want to extract.
6. Click the button to split or extract the pages.
7. Download the resulting PDF files.
8. Open the files and confirm that the correct pages were included.

Advantages

• Clean and easy-to-understand interface
• Visual page selection
• No software installation required
• Works in most modern browsers
• Suitable for occasional PDF tasks

Some advanced splitting features or frequent use may require a paid subscription.

Option 2: Split a PDF with iLovePDF

iLovePDF offers several ways to divide a PDF.

Depending on the available settings, you may be able to:

• Split by page range
• Extract specific pages
• Combine several ranges into one PDF
• Save each selected range as a separate file
• Extract every page into an individual PDF

How to Use iLovePDF

1. Open the iLovePDF Split PDF tool.
2. Upload your PDF file.
3. Choose a splitting mode.
4. Enter the page range you want to extract.

For example:

1-5

extracts pages 1 through 5.

You may also be able to create multiple ranges, such as:

1-5, 6-10, 11-15

5. Choose whether the ranges should be combined or saved separately.
6. Click Split PDF.
7. Download the resulting files.

When several PDFs are created, the service may package them in a ZIP archive.

Advantages

• Supports page-range splitting
• Offers several output options
• Provides page previews
• Works without installing desktop software
• Suitable for users with precise page requirements

Check the selected settings carefully before processing the file, especially when creating several separate PDFs.

Option 3: Split a PDF with PDF24 Tools

PDF24 Tools provides an online PDF splitter as well as a desktop application for Windows.

The online version may support options such as:

• Splitting after selected pages
• Creating a new PDF every fixed number of pages
• Extracting individual pages
• Dividing a document into several sections

How to Use PDF24 Tools

1. Open the PDF24 Split PDF tool.
2. Upload your document.
3. Review the page previews.
4. Select the pages or splitting rule.
5. Start the splitting process.
6. Download the resulting documents.

Advantages

• Straightforward page-selection interface
• Offers many related PDF tools
• Useful for larger documents
• May support more flexible splitting rules
• A desktop version is available for offline processing

For confidential files, the desktop edition may be preferable because the document can be processed locally.

Online PDF Splitting and Privacy

Online PDF tools require careful consideration when a document contains sensitive information.

Examples include:

• Contracts
• Financial statements
• Tax documents
• Identification documents
• Medical records
• Employee records
• Customer information
• Legal correspondence
• Confidential business plans
• Passwords or account information

Before uploading a sensitive PDF, check whether the service explains:

• Where the file is processed
• How long uploaded files are stored
• Whether files are automatically deleted
• Whether processing occurs locally in the browser
• Whether data is shared with subprocessors
• Which security measures are used

For highly confidential documents, use an established desktop application that processes the file locally.

Method 2: Split a PDF with Desktop Software

Desktop applications are usually a better choice when:

• The PDF is confidential
• The document is very large
• You regularly process PDF files
• You need advanced splitting rules
• Your internet connection is slow or unreliable
• You need to process several files
• You do not want to upload documents to a website

The following applications provide offline PDF-splitting options.

Option 1: Split a PDF with PDFsam Basic

PDFsam Basic is a free, open-source PDF application available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Its name stands for PDF Split and Merge. Splitting documents is one of its main features.

PDFsam Basic processes files locally, which makes it a useful option for private documents and large files.

How to Use PDFsam Basic

1. Download and install PDFsam Basic from its official website.
2. Open the application.
3. Select the Split tool.
4. Add the PDF you want to divide.
5. Choose a splitting method.
6. Select an output folder.
7. Configure the output file names if necessary.
8. Click Run.
9. Open the generated files and verify the results.

Available Splitting Methods

Depending on the version, PDFsam Basic may allow you to split:

• After specific page numbers
• After every page
• After every odd or even page
• Every fixed number of pages
• According to document bookmarks
• According to a maximum file size

Example: Split Every 10 Pages

If you have a 50-page PDF and choose to split it every 10 pages, the application will create approximately five files:

Pages 1–10
Pages 11–20
Pages 21–30
Pages 31–40
Pages 41–50

Advantages

• Free and open source
• Available for multiple operating systems
• Processes documents locally
• Suitable for large PDF files
• Supports several advanced splitting rules
• Useful for repeated document-processing tasks

PDFsam Basic is particularly useful for ebooks, manuals, scanned records, and documents organized with bookmarks.

Option 2: Split a PDF with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat provides a professional Organize Pages tool that can split a document according to different conditions.

It may allow you to divide a PDF by:

• Number of pages
• File size
• Top-level bookmarks

How to Use Adobe Acrobat

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Select All Tools or Tools.
3. Open Organize Pages.
4. Click Split.
5. Choose a splitting method.
6. Configure the relevant settings.
7. Select the output options.
8. Run the splitting process.
9. Save and review the resulting files.

The exact menu names may vary depending on your Acrobat version.

Split by Number of Pages

This option creates a new PDF after a specified number of pages.

For example, entering five pages will divide a 20-page document into four smaller files.

Split by File Size

This option is useful when each resulting PDF must remain below an upload or email attachment limit.

Acrobat attempts to divide the document so that each file remains within the selected size.

The exact output size may vary because PDF pages can contain different amounts of text, images, fonts, and other data.

Split by Bookmarks

A document with properly configured top-level bookmarks can be divided into separate files based on those bookmarks.

This is useful for:

• Ebooks
• Training manuals
• Legal documents
• Policy handbooks
• Technical documentation
• Reports with clearly defined chapters

Advantages

• Professional document-management tools
• Visual page organization
• Supports several splitting methods
• Integrates with other PDF editing features
• Suitable for regular business use
• Can process documents locally

Most advanced editing and splitting features require Adobe Acrobat Pro rather than the free Acrobat Reader.

Option 3: Split a PDF on a Mac with Preview

The Preview application included with macOS can be used to extract selected pages from a PDF without installing additional software.

Extract Pages Using Drag and Drop

1. Open the PDF in Preview.
2. Select View → Thumbnails.
3. Hold the Command key and select the pages you want to extract.
4. Drag the selected thumbnails to the desktop or a Finder folder.
5. Preview will create a new PDF containing those pages.
6. Rename and review the new document.

Extract Pages Using Print

1. Open the PDF in Preview.
2. Select File → Print.
3. Enter the page range you want to extract.
4. Open the PDF menu in the print dialog.
5. Select Save as PDF.
6. Choose a file name and destination.
7. Save the new PDF.

Advantages

• Included with macOS
• No additional installation required
• Processes documents locally
• Suitable for extracting selected pages
• Simple for occasional use

Preview is useful for basic page extraction, but it does not provide the same advanced batch-splitting features as PDFsam or Adobe Acrobat.

Option 4: Split a PDF by Printing to PDF

Many operating systems include a virtual PDF printer. This feature can create a new PDF containing only a selected page range.

General Steps

1. Open the PDF in a browser or PDF viewer.
2. Select Print.
3. Choose a virtual printer such as:
   • Microsoft Print to PDF
   • Save as PDF
   • Print to PDF
4. Enter the pages you want to extract.
5. Select a destination and file name.
6. Save the new PDF.

For example, to extract pages 8 through 12, enter:

8-12

Limitations

Printing to PDF may not preserve every document feature.

The new file may lose:

• Interactive forms
• Bookmarks
• Hyperlinks
• Comments
• Layers
• Digital signatures
• Embedded attachments
• Accessibility tags
• Some metadata

Use a dedicated PDF splitter when these features need to remain intact.

How to Choose the Right Splitting Method

For a quick, non-sensitive task, an online tool is usually sufficient.

For confidential files, repeated workflows, large documents, or advanced splitting rules, desktop software is the better option.

Tips for Splitting PDF Files

Keep the Original PDF

Do not delete or overwrite the original document until you have reviewed all the resulting files.

Save the split files in a separate folder and keep the source PDF as a backup.

Check Page Numbering Carefully

The page number displayed by the PDF viewer may not always match the number printed on the document page.

For example, a report may include a cover page and table of contents before the printed page number 1.

Use thumbnail previews to confirm that you are selecting the correct pages.

Use Clear File Names

Give each output file a descriptive name.

Instead of:

split_1.pdf
split_2.pdf
split_3.pdf

use names such as:

Employee-Handbook-Introduction.pdf
Employee-Handbook-Benefits.pdf
Employee-Handbook-Policies.pdf

Clear file names make documents easier to find, share, and archive.

Review Every Output File

After splitting the PDF, check that:

• All required pages are included
• Pages appear in the correct order
• No pages are missing
• Fonts and images display correctly
• Forms and links still work
• The files open without errors
• Confidential pages were not accidentally included

Compress Files When Necessary

Splitting a PDF does not always reduce its total storage size.

If the resulting files are still too large, use a PDF compression tool after splitting them.

Avoid excessive compression when text clarity or image quality is important.

Protect Sensitive Output Files

The smaller PDFs may still contain confidential information.

Consider applying password protection or using a secure file-sharing system before sending them to others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Split a PDF for Free?

Yes.

Free options include:

• PDFsam Basic
• macOS Preview
• Online tools with free usage allowances
• Printing selected pages to a new PDF

Free online tools may have limits on file size, daily usage, or advanced features.

Can I Split a PDF Without Uploading It?

Yes.

Use an offline application such as:

• PDFsam Basic
• Adobe Acrobat
• macOS Preview
• Another trusted desktop PDF editor

Local processing is generally preferable for confidential documents.

Can I Extract Only One Page from a PDF?

Yes.

Select the required page and save or export it as a new PDF.

Most online tools, desktop applications, browsers, and PDF viewers can perform this task.

Can I Split Every Page into a Separate PDF?

Yes.

Many PDF splitters include an option such as:

• Extract all pages
• Split after every page
• One PDF per page

When many files are created, they may be provided in a ZIP archive.

Can I Split a Password-Protected PDF?

You may be able to split it when you know the correct password and have permission to modify the document.

Open the PDF with the password before processing it. Some files also include permissions restrictions that prevent page extraction or modification.

Do not attempt to bypass protection on a document you are not authorized to modify.

Does Splitting a PDF Reduce Its Quality?

A dedicated PDF splitter normally preserves the original page content without re-encoding it, so visible quality should remain unchanged.

Printing to PDF may recreate the document and can alter forms, links, fonts, image quality, signatures, metadata, or other features.

Does Splitting a PDF Reduce Its File Size?

Each resulting file is usually smaller than the original because it contains fewer pages.

However, the combined size of all split files may be similar to—or sometimes larger than—the original document due to duplicated fonts, metadata, and internal resources.

Use PDF compression when your main goal is to reduce storage or upload size.

Can I Split a Scanned PDF?

Yes.

A scanned PDF can be divided in the same way as a text-based PDF.

However, splitting the file does not automatically make the scanned text searchable. Optical character recognition, or OCR, is required to convert the scanned images into selectable and searchable text.

Can I Split a PDF on a Phone?

Yes.

Many online PDF splitters work in mobile browsers, and some PDF applications for iOS and Android provide page-extraction features.

For large or confidential documents, a desktop application may provide a more reliable and private workflow.

Can I Undo a PDF Split?

Splitting does not normally modify the original PDF unless you intentionally overwrite it.

You can also merge the resulting files again using a PDF merger, although bookmarks, metadata, forms, and other document structures may not be restored exactly as they appeared in the original.

Keeping the original file is the safest option.

Final Thoughts

Splitting a PDF is a simple way to make large documents easier to manage, share, upload, and organize.

For occasional, non-sensitive files, online services such as Smallpdf, iLovePDF, or PDF24 provide a quick browser-based solution.

For private documents, large files, or advanced splitting rules, PDFsam Basic provides a free offline option. Adobe Acrobat is better suited to professional workflows that require splitting by page count, file size, or bookmarks.

Whichever method you choose:

• Keep a backup of the original PDF
• Confirm the correct page ranges
• Use descriptive file names
• Review every generated file
• Protect confidential information
• Avoid uploading sensitive documents to unfamiliar websites

Choosing the right splitting method can save time and make your document-management workflow much more efficient.

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