How to Split a PDF or Extract Selected Pages
4 min read
To split a PDF, choose whether you want one new PDF containing selected pages or a separate one-page PDF for every source page. For selected pages, enter a range such as 1-3, 5, 8-; for a complete page-by-page split, choose Every page and download the resulting ZIP archive.
The Split PDF tool handles one PDF up to 200 MB entirely in your browser. It shows page thumbnails, validates the range against the actual page count, and copies original pages rather than replacing them with screenshots, so existing dimensions, text, vectors, and orientation are retained.
Choose Extract pages or Every page
Extract pages creates one PDF from the pages you select. Use it for a chapter, a signed page plus its terms, a set of invoices, or any subset that should remain together. The result uses the source filename with a -pages.pdf suffix. Selected pages appear in the order produced by the accepted range.
Every page creates one single-page PDF for each original page. Those numbered files are packaged into one ZIP with a -split.zip suffix, making it practical to download a long set without clicking a separate control for every page. The progress display advances page by page while the archive is prepared.
These modes answer different needs. Do not choose Every page if you want pages 4 through 9 in one document; use Extract pages for that. Do not type every page number when you specifically need individual files; Every page automates the one-file-per-page job.
Use the accepted PDF page range syntax
The Pages to extract field accepts individual page numbers, closed ranges, comma-separated combinations, and an open-ended final range. The placeholder demonstrates 1-3, 5, 8-, which means pages 1 through 3, page 5, and page 8 through the final page. Spaces around comma-separated parts are acceptable.
Other valid patterns include 2, 1-4, and 2, 6-9. Page numbers are one-based, matching the labels on the thumbnails. An open ending such as 8- is useful when the document may gain pages later because it always continues through the detected final page.
The field rejects zero, malformed values, reversed ranges, and page numbers beyond the document. Watch the hint below the field: it either reports the validation problem or states how many pages are selected. The Extract pages button remains unavailable until the range is valid.
3selects only page 3.1-3selects pages 1, 2, and 3.1-3, 5, 8-combines a closed range, one page, and an open-ended range.8-selects page 8 through the final page.- Do not enter page 0, a reversed range such as
7-4, or a page beyond the displayed total.
How to split a PDF with Tools on Deck
Use thumbnails when visual recognition is easier than reading page numbers. In Extract pages mode, each thumbnail has Select or Selected. Toggling a thumbnail updates the range field to a sorted, comma-separated list.
- Add one PDF no larger than 200 MB and wait for its page count and thumbnails.
- Choose Extract pages when selected pages should stay in one PDF, or Every page for separate PDFs in a ZIP.
- For extraction, enter a valid range or use the Select buttons on page thumbnails.
- Confirm the selected-page count or correct any validation message.
- Select Extract pages or Split every page, matching the active mode.
- Select Download to save the extracted PDF or page-by-page ZIP.
Delete pages with the rotate and reorder tool
Splitting is not always the shortest route when your real goal is to delete a few pages while keeping everything else. Open the source in the Rotate and Reorder PDF Pages tool, select the trash control on each unwanted thumbnail, and save the remaining pages. The Pages kept statistic shows how many will be included.
That editor also lets you move a page earlier or later and rotate isolated sideways pages before saving. Reset restores deleted pages, original order, and pending rotations if you make a mistake. Save PDF is disabled if you delete every page because a valid output must retain at least one.
Use Extract pages when it is clearer to name what you want, such as 2-5, 11. Use deletion when nearly the entire document should remain and only a cover sheet or blank scan must go. Both approaches make a new PDF and leave the original file unchanged.
Recombine extracted pages when plans change
You may split a packet for review and later need to put approved sections back together. The Merge PDF tool combines complete PDFs in the visible list order. Add at least two extracted files, move them up or down, check the total pages, and create merged.pdf.
Check filenames carefully because separate extraction runs can create similarly named outputs. Open the pieces before merging and verify their first and last pages. If exact page-level interleaving is required, organize the pages into suitable sections first, merge those sections, and use the page reorder editor for final small corrections.
Neither splitting nor merging is compression. Original PDF pages are copied, preserving content quality but also carrying their existing image data. A long scan divided into several files may be easier to distribute, yet the combined byte total will not necessarily become smaller.
Quick answers about extracting PDF pages
Use 1-3, 5, 8- for mixed selections, choose Every page for a ZIP of numbered one-page PDFs, and use the page editor when deleting a small number of pages is simpler than listing everything to retain.
Range parsing, thumbnails, page copying, and ZIP creation occur locally in the browser. Review the downloaded output before sharing it, particularly when the source contains confidential pages adjacent to the selection you intended to extract. Confirm the page count as well.