You only need to send a few pages from a long PDF. Or you want to break a large document into chapters. In both cases, splitting the PDF gives you a file with just the part you need.
This guide shows you how to extract specific pages or split a PDF every few pages with the free PDF Split tool. Your file is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
Requests like “can you send me just page 3 of the contract?” come up more often than you’d think. I built this so I wouldn’t have to hunt for software every time.
Three ways to split a PDF
The tool offers three modes, depending on what you need:
- Extract a page range: pull out only the pages you need, such as “1-3, 5, 8-10”, into one PDF
- Fixed number of pages per file: split into separate files of the same length, such as every 5 pages
- One page per file: turn every page into its own file
The one you’ll use most is Extract a page range, which takes out just the pages you need.
What this tool does
- Extracts the pages you need into a single PDF
- Splits a PDF every few pages, or into single pages
- Saves multiple files together as one ZIP
- Keeps text selectable and searchable if it was in the original
How to use it
Step 1. Choose your PDF
Open PDF Split and choose the PDF you want to split. Once it loads, the total number of pages is shown.
Step 2. Choose how to split
Pick a mode. To take out specific pages, choose Extract a page range and enter the page numbers:
- Use a hyphen for consecutive pages, like “1-3”
- Use commas to separate pages or ranges, like “1-3, 5, 8-10”
This example extracts 7 pages: 1-3, 5 and 8-10
Step 3. Split and save
Click Split and download. If the result is a single file, you get a PDF; if it’s several files, you get a ZIP.
Step 4. Check the result
Open the saved PDF and make sure all the pages you need are there. For a ZIP, extract it first and then open each file.
Use the page numbers your PDF viewer shows (“page 4 of 10”), not the numbers printed on the pages. Printed numbers often start after the cover, so the two can differ.
When this comes in handy
- Sending only the pages that matter: share just the relevant pages of a contract or terms document
- Staying under email size limits: split a large document and send it in several emails
- Organizing by chapter: split a manual or report into one file per chapter or section
- Separating batch scans: split several documents scanned together into one page per file
FAQ
How is this different from “Print to PDF” with a page range?
You can extract pages by printing to PDF, but going through the print dialog can drop bookmarks and links and change how text is handled. This tool copies the pages as they are, so the result stays closer to the original PDF.
Can I put the split files back together in a different order?
Yes. Combine them in any order with PDF Merge. If you only want to rearrange pages within one PDF, PDF Page Reorder & Delete is quicker.
Things to watch out for
- Password-protected PDFs can’t be opened: remove the password first
- One page per file creates many files: for PDFs with hundreds of pages, split by a fixed number of pages or use a computer
- Check the extracted pages before sending: hide anything the recipient doesn’t need to see with the PDF Redaction Tool
Summary
With FlowPocket’s PDF Split, you can extract the pages you need or split a PDF every few pages right in your browser, without uploading anything.
Try it the next time you need to send “just this page”.
