How to split a PDF into separate files
Three ways to split a PDF — by page ranges, every N pages or page by page — and when to extract or delete pages instead.
· 1 min read
Splitting a PDF is useful when a single file contains several documents — a batch of scanned forms, a book with chapters, or a report where you only need to share one section.
Choose the right method
Custom ranges — type ranges like 1-3, 4-9, 10- in Split PDF. Each range becomes its own file; 10- means “from page 10 to the end”. Use this when documents have different lengths.
Every N pages — ideal for scanner batches where every document has the same number of pages. Twenty three-page forms scanned as one 60-page PDF become twenty PDFs with “every 3 pages”.
One file per page — handy for invoices, certificates or slides you want to send individually.
When there's more than one output, you can download everything as a single ZIP.
Split, extract or delete?
- If you want one new file containing a few pages, use Extract PDF pages and click the thumbnails you need.
- If you want the same document minus a few pages (blank pages, an internal appendix), use Delete PDF pages.
- If you want several files, use Split PDF.
Does splitting reduce quality?
No. Pages are copied as they are — text, fonts and images are not re-compressed. Each new file is usually much smaller than the original simply because it contains fewer pages.
Tip: name your files clearly
Split files are named after the original with the page range, for example report-pages-4-9.pdf. Rename them before sending (“Invoice-2026-03.pdf” is more helpful than a page range for the recipient).
Need to put parts back together later, perhaps in a different order? Use Merge PDF.