Sometimes a PDF has too much in it: a 200-page scan when you need one chapter, a merged report when you only need the appendix, a form that has to be submitted one page at a time. Splitting fixes all of these, and it takes about as long as opening the file.
| Mode | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| One file per page | Every page becomes its own PDF | Forms needing individual pages submitted separately |
| Fixed-size chunks | Splits into equal groups (every 10 pages, say) | Breaking a long document into manageable parts |
| Custom page ranges | You specify exactly which pages go where (1–5, 6–12, 13–20) | When you know precisely which sections you need separated |
Go to the Split PDF page and add your file, up to 25 MB. Pick one of the three modes above, depending on what you need out the other end. Download the result — a ZIP containing your separate PDFs, or a single file if you only extracted one range.
Splitting vs. compressing
If a file is too big because it has too many pages, split it. If it’s too big because of large images on fewer pages, compress it instead. Long scanned documents often benefit from both: compress first to shrink the images, then split if it’s still too large to send as one piece. If the PDF is password-protected, an encrypted PDF can’t be read by any tool, including a splitter — remove the password first with Unlock PDF (you need to know it), then split.
Afterward: merge selected pieces back together in a different combination, delete pages instead if you just need to remove a few rather than split everything apart, or reorder pages before splitting if they’re currently out of sequence.
Only need one page or one range, not the whole document broken apart? How to Pull One Page (or a Few) Out of a PDF is the direct route — no ZIP, no leftover pieces. Splitting along the document’s own structure rather than at fixed intervals? How to Split a PDF by Chapter or Section covers finding the right page ranges first.
Split it with the free Split PDF tool — free, no account, file never retained.