Chia PDF

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

1. Drop the PDF, click Upload PDF, or fetch one from a URL.
2. Pick a split method: Split by range, Extract pages, or Split by every page.
3. For range splits, configure the from/to numbers and filename for each row, drag rows to reorder, and click Add range for more.
4. For extract, type pages like 1,3,5-8,10 or use the preview checkboxes.
5. Optionally restrict the source to a custom range (Pages to split → Custom range).
6. Click Preview PDF to inspect the first output, then Split PDF to download. Multi-file outputs arrive as a ZIP.

Every control, explained

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.

Is this Split PDF tool free and private?

Yes. The split runs locally with pdf-lib and the Canvas API for thumbnails. Files are never uploaded, there are no watermarks, and no account is required.

How big can the input PDF be?

The current cap is 200 MB. Very large books can be slow to render thumbnails on mobile devices; prefer a desktop browser when possible.

Will text and links remain selectable?

Yes. pdf-lib copies pages directly without rasterising. Selectable text, vector graphics, embedded fonts, and links are preserved.

What happens with overlapping ranges?

Each range produces its own output file independently, so overlapping pages can appear in multiple outputs. Use the preview tiles to spot overlaps before downloading.

Can I rename the outputs after splitting?

Yes. Each range row has its own filename input. When the field is blank, the output base name is used with an auto-incrementing suffix.

Does it work with password-protected PDFs?

Encrypted PDFs cannot be split until they are unlocked. Remove the password in another viewer and try again.