Split PDF Online — Extract Pages Easily (Free & Secure)
Split a PDF into multiple files by page or by custom page ranges. Fast, simple and free.
What Is This Tool?
Split PDF breaks one PDF into several smaller files. Pull every page out as its own document, or define custom page ranges — like separating a scanned book into chapters, or pulling an invoice out of a larger statement — and download the results as a single ZIP.
Everything runs on our servers over a secure connection; your files are processed, made available for download, and then automatically deleted a short time later.
Why Split a PDF File?
A single large PDF isn't always convenient — sometimes you only need one chapter, one invoice, or one form out of a much bigger document. Splitting lets you pull exactly the pages you need without editing the original.
Benefits of Splitting PDFs
- Share only the relevant pages
- Break large documents into manageable files
- Keep the original document untouched
- No desktop software needed
Who Can Use a PDF Splitter?
- Students extracting a chapter from a textbook
- Accountants pulling one invoice from a statement
- Businesses distributing individual sections of a report
- Legal teams separating exhibits from a filing
- Researchers isolating specific pages for citation
A Few Real-World Examples
- An accountant extracts a single invoice from a 100-page bank statement to send to a client, without sharing all their financial data.
- A student isolates one chapter from a large textbook PDF for focused study.
- A paralegal splits exhibits out of a 200-page court filing so each one can be labeled and filed separately.
- A manager splits a company-wide report into per-department sections before distributing it.
- A researcher pulls the pages they need to cite out of a long paper instead of sharing the entire document.
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload the PDF you want to split.
Choose "Individual Pages" or "Custom Ranges".
Click "Split PDF".
Download a ZIP of your split files.
Using "Individual Pages" mode
Select "Individual Pages" and every page in your PDF becomes its own separate file — no extra input needed. This is the fastest option when you want each page split out on its own.
Using "Custom Ranges" mode
Select "Custom Ranges" and type the pages you want in the "Page Ranges" field. Use commas to separate single pages or ranges, and a hyphen for a range of pages — for example, 1,3-5,7 produces one file with page 1, one file with pages 3 through 5, and one file with page 7.
What you'll get
Once processing finishes, you'll download a single ZIP file containing every split PDF, named automatically (or using the custom name you set in "File Naming").
Comparison: Split Modes
| Individual Pages | Custom Ranges | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Splitting every page into its own file | Pulling out specific pages or sections |
| Setup needed | None — works instantly | Type page numbers/ranges first |
| Output | One PDF per page | One PDF per range you define |
| Example use | Turning a scanned book into single-page files | Pulling an invoice or a chapter out of a bigger PDF |
Features
- Free
- Easy to use
- No registration
- Split by page or custom range
- Secure processing — files are deleted automatically
Supported Formats
Best Practices
- Check your page count before entering custom ranges
- Name your output files clearly using the "File Naming" field before downloading
- Double-check comma-separated ranges (e.g. 1-3,5,7-9) before splitting
- Unzip the downloaded file right away so you don't lose track of it after auto-deletion
Troubleshooting
Problem: My custom range didn't work as expected
Solution: Double-check your range format (e.g. 1-3,5) and make sure every page number actually exists in the document. Ranges are 1-indexed and inclusive — "1-3" means pages 1, 2, and 3.
Problem: The file won't upload
Solution: Ensure your file is under 50MB and is a valid PDF. Password-protected files may need to be unlocked first with our Unlock PDF tool — or try a different browser if the upload keeps failing.
Problem: I can't find my downloaded ZIP file
Solution: Check your browser's default downloads folder. If the link has expired, simply upload the file again and re-run the split — outputs aren't kept indefinitely.
Split PDF FAQ
Is splitting PDFs really free?
Yes. Split PDF is completely free, with no sign-up, watermark, or hidden limits beyond the file size shown above.
What's the difference between "Individual Pages" and "Custom Ranges"?
"Individual Pages" gives you one PDF per page. "Custom Ranges" lets you define groups like 1-3,5,7-9, so each range becomes its own PDF.
Can I name the output files myself?
Yes — the optional "File Naming" field lets you set a custom base name; otherwise files are named page-01.pdf, page-02.pdf (or range-01.pdf for custom ranges).
Will my files be kept after splitting?
No. Both your uploaded file and the resulting ZIP are automatically deleted from our servers a short time after processing.
Does this work on mobile?
Yes, Split PDF works in any modern mobile or desktop browser — no app required.
Is there a limit on how many pages I can split?
No fixed page-count limit — the only constraint is the overall file size limit shown on the upload box.
What is the maximum file size?
You can upload a PDF up to 50 MB. There's no separate limit on the number of pages within that size.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Not directly — remove the password first using our Unlock PDF tool, then split the unlocked copy.
Will the quality be reduced?
No. Splitting copies the original pages exactly as they are, without re-encoding text or images, so quality is fully preserved.
Is registration required?
No. You can split PDFs without creating an account or providing any personal details.
Privacy & Security
Your files are handled securely
All uploads are transferred over an encrypted SSL/TLS connection and processed in an isolated job folder. No one at PDFCherry views, shares, or uses the content of your documents for anything other than completing the split you requested.
- Uploaded files are automatically deleted within 30 minutes.
- The split ZIP is automatically deleted within 1 hour after completion.
- Your original file is never modified — splitting always produces new output files; the PDF you uploaded is read, not altered.
Read our full Privacy Policy or Contact Us if you have any questions about how your files are handled.
Why Trust PDFCherry?
PDFCherry is built and maintained by a small, dedicated team and runs on established, industry-standard PDF libraries — not an anonymous "free tool" that resells your files or data. The privacy practices above apply across the whole site. More about PDFCherry.
Having issues or need help? Contact Us — we're here to help.
Ready to Split Your PDF?
It's free, secure, and takes just a few seconds. Upload your file and extract the pages you need now.
Upload Your File — Start Splitting