Split PDF
Extract specific pages or burst a PDF into chunks
When do you need to split a PDF?
Splitting is useful when a PDF contains more than you want to share — extract just the receipt page from a 30-page email export, pull a single chapter from a textbook, separate a multi-doc scan into individual files. The tool accepts page ranges in standard syntax (`1-3, 5, 7-9`) and exports either one PDF with the selected pages, or bursts the file into fixed-size chunks (set 'Pages per file' to 1 for one page each).
Splitting in the browser preserves original page quality: page content streams are copied without recompression, so pages look identical to the source — just in a smaller file.
Common use cases
- Extract just the receipt (page 5) from a long email-attached order confirmation.
- Split a multi-document scan (your ID, your spouse's ID, a utility bill) into three separate files.
- Pull one chapter from a 200-page textbook PDF for offline reading on a phone.
- Separate signed pages from a contract for archiving in different locations.
Frequently asked questions
How do I specify pages to extract?
Use the syntax `1-3, 5, 7-9` — comma-separated single pages or hyphen-separated ranges. `1-3` means pages 1, 2, 3 inclusive.
Can I split into individual pages?
Yes — use Burst mode with 'Pages per file' set to 1. Each chunk exports as a separate file named `original-part-01.pdf`, `original-part-02.pdf`, and so on.
Are pages recompressed?
No — pages are copied byte-for-byte from the source. Visual quality is identical to the original.
Are bookmarks updated for the split file?
Bookmarks are not carried into split files — `pdf-lib` copies page content only, not the outline tree. The page content itself is preserved exactly.
Are my files uploaded?
No — splitting runs in your browser. The source PDF and resulting files never leave your device.