Split PDF breaks one source PDF into multiple smaller PDFs directly in your browser. It uses pdf-lib for assembly and PDF.js for thumbnail rendering, so your file is never uploaded. The tool offers three split methods to cover the most common scenarios: split by range, extract specific pages, and split every page into its own file.
What it does
Each output file is a self-contained PDF that preserves selectable text, embedded fonts, and images from the source. When the result contains more than one file, the tool packages everything into a single ZIP archive for a one-click download.
Who it is for
- Office staff splitting reports into chapters or sending only the relevant pages of a contract.
- Students extracting figures or specific exercises from textbooks.
- Designers and printers separating cover, content, and annex into separate plates.
- Lawyers, auditors, and HR teams isolating a single record from a multi-record export.
When and where to use it
Use it whenever a recipient needs only part of a PDF, when a file is too big to email, or when archives require chapter-by-chapter splits. The tool runs at /split-pdf in any modern browser. The 200 MB upload cap covers most reports; for huge documents, prefer a desktop browser to avoid mobile memory limits.
Why use a browser-side splitter
Cloud splitters upload your files and may rasterise them, breaking selectable text. This tool processes the document locally with pdf-lib's page copy primitives, keeping selectable text and embedded resources untouched. No upload. No watermark.
How to split a PDF
- Drop the PDF, click Upload PDF, or fetch one from a URL.
- Pick a split method: Split by range, Extract pages, or Split by every page.
- For range splits, configure the from/to numbers and filename for each row, drag rows to reorder, and click Add range for more.
- For extract, type pages like 1,3,5-8,10 or use the preview checkboxes.
- Optionally restrict the source to a custom range (Pages to split → Custom range).
- Click Preview PDF to inspect the first output, then Split PDF to download. Multi-file outputs arrive as a ZIP.
Every control, explained
1. Select PDF
- Upload PDF: opens a file picker for a single PDF.
- From URL: opens a popover to paste a PDF URL (CORS required).
- Drag and drop: drag a PDF from your OS file manager.
- Pages to split: choose All pages or Custom range to restrict the source pool used by the chosen split method.
- Output base name: stem used for ZIP filename and per-file names when individual filenames are blank.
2. Split Settings
- Split by range: define one or many page ranges. Each range becomes a separate output file with its own filename.
- Extract pages: produces a single PDF that contains only the pages you select via expression or checkboxes.
- Split by every page: produces N single-page PDFs (one per source page) and packages them in a ZIP.
- Add range: appends a new range row, defaulting to the next unused page.
- Drag handle on each range row: reorder ranges; the new order drives ZIP file order.
3. Preview
- Range badges: each tile shows which range owns the page (color-coded).
- Extract checkboxes: visible only in extract mode, mark which pages go into the single output.
- Grid / List view: toggle between thumbnail grid and compact list.
- Pagination: shows 12, 24, 48, or 96 thumbnails per bucket with arrows for navigation.
- Reset: restores the default split settings (3 even ranges, all pages selected).
- Preview PDF: opens a slide-over preview of the first output file.
- Split PDF: builds the outputs and downloads either a single PDF or a ZIP of all results.
Practical tips
- Use Custom range on the left to ignore intro or appendix pages before splitting.
- For large books, split-every-page can produce hundreds of small PDFs. Combine with custom range to scope the export and keep the ZIP small.
- Range filenames automatically receive the .pdf extension, but you can leave them blank — the output base name takes over.
- Preview before downloading so you can verify the first output without spending time on the full ZIP.