PDFConvertersOnline.comHow to split a PDF
- Choose the PDF you want to cut up. A thumbnail of every page appears after a moment.
- Pick Custom ranges, Every N pages or Every page. The summary line tells you how many files you'll get.
- Press Split PDF. One result downloads directly; several results come as a list plus a single ZIP.
Three ways to split a PDF
Different documents need different cuts, so the tool offers three modes. You can switch between them at any time and the page thumbnails update instantly: each page shows a colored number for the file it will end up in.
| Mode | What you enter | Example result for a 12-page PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ranges | A list such as 1-3, 4-9, 10-12 | Three files with 3, 6 and 3 pages |
| Every N pages | A number, for example 4 | Three files with 4 pages each |
| Every page | Nothing | Twelve one-page files |
If the last group is shorter, it simply gets the pages that are left. Splitting 10 pages every 3 pages gives files of 3, 3, 3 and 1 pages.
How to write page ranges
In Custom ranges mode, commas separate the output files. Everything between two commas becomes one PDF. A few rules make this flexible:
- 1-5 means pages 1 through 5.
- 8- means page 8 up to the last page, handy when you don't know the exact length.
- 2 7 9 (spaces, no commas) puts pages 2, 7 and 9 together in a single file.
- 6-4 keeps the pages in reverse order: 6, 5, 4.
- The same page may appear in two ranges, for example a cover page you want at the start of every part.
Pages that aren't in any range are faded in the preview and are left out of the result. If you type a page number that doesn't exist, the tool tells you which part is wrong instead of guessing.
When splitting a PDF is useful
Many email services and upload forms cap the size of a single attachment. A long scanned document can blow past that limit, and cutting it into two or three parts is often the quickest fix that keeps full quality. Other common reasons:
- A scanner batch of invoices or forms where each document has the same number of pages. Every N pages turns the stack back into individual documents.
- A textbook or manual where each chapter goes to a different person or folder.
- A multi-page bank statement where only one month needs to go to a landlord or loan officer.
If you only need one piece of the document, Extract PDF Pages is quicker: click the pages you want and get a single file. To throw away a few pages and keep the rest, use Delete PDF Pages.
What the split files keep
Each part is built by copying the original page objects, so nothing is rasterized or re-compressed. Text remains searchable, vector drawings stay sharp and photos keep their resolution. The files are named after the original with the page numbers added, for example report-p1-3.pdf and report-p4-9.pdf, so they sort sensibly in a folder.
A few document-wide features don't carry over to the parts: the bookmark panel (outline) of the original is not copied, and links that jump to a page in a different part can stop working. Fillable form fields may also lose their interactivity. The printed look of every page is unchanged.
No upload, even for big files
The splitting is done by JavaScript inside this browser tab. Your PDF is read from your disk into memory, the parts are created locally, and the downloads are written back to your device. That makes it suitable for payslips, contracts and medical records, and it means a large file doesn't have to crawl through an upload first.
Frequently asked questions
How many files can I split a PDF into?
As many as it has pages. Every page mode creates one file per page, and the ZIP option lets you save hundreds of parts in one go.
Can I split a PDF into equal parts?
Yes. Choose Every N pages and type the page count per part. For a 40-page PDF, 10 gives four files of 10 pages.
Will the split files lose quality?
No. Pages are copied as they are, not converted to images, so text and pictures look identical to the original.
Why does the summary say my range is invalid?
Ranges can only use page numbers that exist in the file. Check that no number is higher than the page count and that you used a dash for ranges, like 3-7.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. Remove the password first with Unlock PDF, then split the unlocked copy.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It runs in mobile Safari and Chrome. Very large PDFs may be slow on older phones because all the work happens on the device.