How to split a PDF: by page ranges, every page or equal chunks
By the fullpdftools team · Updated
Quick answer: open Split PDF, add your file, then pick a mode: By page ranges (type something like 1-3, 4-10, 11-), Every page (one PDF per page) or Every N pages (fixed-size parts). Click Split PDF and download the parts as a ZIP. Splitting copies the pages as they are, so nothing loses quality.
Splitting is the opposite of merging: one long PDF goes in, several shorter ones come out. It is useful when a scanner saved a whole stack of letters as one file, when an upload portal only accepts a few pages at a time, or when you need to send each person only their part of a report. The trick is choosing the right mode and writing the page ranges correctly.
Which split mode should you use?
| Mode | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| By page ranges | One PDF for each range you type | Chapters, separate invoices or letters scanned together, sending sections to different people |
| Every page | One PDF per page | Single-page forms, certificates, payslips, scans that need to be filed individually |
| Every N pages | Parts with the same number of pages | Two-page documents scanned in one batch, or portals that limit pages per upload |
If you want the selected pages in one new file rather than several, you don’t need to split at all: use Extract Pages. And if you just want to throw a few pages away, Remove Pages is quicker. Our guide on removing versus extracting pages compares the three.
How to write page ranges
Page ranges use a short, standard notation. Pages are counted from 1, exactly as your PDF viewer numbers them (not the numbers printed on the pages, which may start later).
| You type | Result |
|---|---|
1-3, 4-6, 7 | Three files: pages 1–3, pages 4–6, and page 7 on its own |
1, 2-5, 6- | Cover page alone, pages 2–5, then page 6 to the end |
8- | One file from page 8 through to the last page |
1-10, 11-20, 21-30 | Three ten-page parts (or use Every N pages with N = 10) |
Each comma-separated range becomes its own PDF. Pages you leave out are simply not included in any output file.
Split a PDF step by step
- Open Split PDF and add your file. It is processed in your browser and not uploaded.
- Choose the split mode. For ranges, type them as shown above; for chunks, enter the number of pages per file.
- Click Split PDF. The parts are packed into one ZIP file so you don’t have to save them one by one.
- Unzip the download (double-click it on Windows or Mac; on phones, the Files app can open ZIPs) and check each part.
Work out the ranges before you start
For a long scan with several documents inside, flick through the file once and note where each document starts. A list such as “letter A: 1–2, contract: 3–9, invoice: 10” turns directly into 1-2, 3-9, 10. If you find blank pages or a sideways page on the way, fix them first with Remove Pages and Rotate PDF; the page numbers will change after removal, so do that before writing the ranges.
Name the parts so they stay useful
The split files are numbered in order. Rename them as soon as you unzip them, while you still remember what each one is. A pattern like 2026-10-invoice-acme.pdf (date, type, who) sorts correctly in any folder and is easy to search later.
What splitting does not change
- Quality: pages are copied, not re-rendered, so text stays sharp and selectable and images are untouched.
- File size per page: each part keeps the fonts and images its pages need. Ten parts of a 10 MB file add up to roughly 10 MB or a little more, because shared fonts are stored in every part. If a part is still too large, use Compress PDF.
- Interactive extras: bookmarks, form fields and links between pages may not survive, because they often point to pages that are now in a different file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I split a PDF into individual pages?
Yes. Choose Every page and you get one PDF for every page, packed in a ZIP file.
Can I split a PDF in half?
Choose Every N pages and set N to half the page count (for a 40-page file, 20). Or type the two ranges, for example 1-20, 21-.
Is there a page limit?
There is no fixed limit. Splitting runs on your device, so very large files depend on your computer’s or phone’s memory.
Does splitting a PDF reduce quality?
No. The pages are copied exactly as they are; nothing is recompressed.
How do I split a PDF by file size instead of pages?
There is no size-based mode, but you can get close: split with Every N pages, check the part sizes, and adjust N. Compressing the file first also lets you fit more pages under a size limit.
Tools used in this guide
Split PDF
Separate one PDF into several files by page ranges, every page, or fixed chunks.
Extract Pages
Pull selected pages out of a PDF into a new document.