Split
Split a PDF into separate files
A batch scan of twenty receipts, a manual you only need one chapter of, a contract whose exhibits must go out separately: this guide shows how to break a PDF into several files – by ranges, into equal parts or page by page.
Jump right in: load your PDF into the PDF Werkstatt, switch to “Split”, enter ranges and download all parts as a ZIP.
Split PDFThe short version
- Load the PDF into the PDF Werkstatt.
- Under “Save” on the right, switch to Split.
- Choose: by page ranges (e.g.
1-3, 4-8, 9-), every N pages, or every page. - Download – several files arrive as one ZIP archive.
Three ways to split a PDF
| Mode | Result for 10 pages | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
Page ranges1-2, 3-7, 8- | 3 files: pages 1–2, 3–7 and 8–10 | Chapters, contract and exhibits, invoice and terms |
| Every N pages N = 2 | 5 files with 2 pages each | Batch scans of two-sided receipts, mail merges with a fixed page count |
| Every page | 10 files with 1 page each | Separate invoices, pages as individual attachments |
Important: page numbers refer to the current order on the workspace – the numbers under the thumbnails. If you delete, move or merge pages first, the new numbering applies.
Writing page ranges
In the “Ranges” field, separate parts with commas. Each range becomes its own file.
| Input | Meaning |
|---|---|
1-3 | Pages 1 to 3 in one file |
5 | Page 5 only |
9- | Page 9 to the end |
-4 | From the start to page 4 |
1-3, 4, 5- | Three files: 1–3, page 4 alone, 5 to the end |
Ranges may overlap – 1-5, 3-8 gives two files that both contain pages 3 to 5. If an entry is invalid, such as a page that doesn’t exist, the tool tells you right away.
Type the ranges, check the preview, download every part in one go as a ZIP.
Extracting only certain pages
If you just need a few pages as a new PDF, you don’t need ranges at all:
- Click the pages you want on the workspace. Shift + click selects a continuous range.
- Under “Save”, choose One PDF, then Selection only.
- Download – your original PDF stays untouched.
This also collects pages from several PDFs into one new file: load all files and select only the pages you need.
File names, ZIP and file size
- File names: parts are named after the original plus the range or number, e.g.
manual_1-3.pdf,manual_part-02.pdformanual_page-07.pdf. You can change the base name before saving. - ZIP: when there are several files, they’re packed into one ZIP archive so your browser doesn’t ask about each download. Windows and macOS open ZIP files with a double-click.
- Quality: pages aren’t recompressed. Text stays searchable and images keep their resolution.
- File size: each part contains the fonts and images its pages need, so all parts together are often a little larger than the original.
Alternatives: Mac, print to PDF, command line
Mac: Preview
Show thumbnails, select pages and drag them from the sidebar onto the desktop – this creates a new PDF with just those pages.
“Print to PDF”
Enter a page range in the print dialog and choose “Save as PDF” or “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the printer. Pages are regenerated in the process; links and bookmarks are often lost, and each run produces only one file.
On the command line, qpdf splits a PDF into single pages or fixed-size groups (%d is replaced by the number) and extracts ranges; pdftk’s burst splits into single pages:
qpdf --split-pages manual.pdf page-%d.pdf
qpdf --split-pages=2 receipts.pdf receipt-%d.pdf
qpdf manual.pdf --pages . 1-3 -- chapter-1.pdf
pdftk manual.pdf burstSplit your PDF now
By ranges, into equal parts or page by page – with a preview of every page and download as ZIP. Free, in your browser, no upload.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a PDF into single pages?
Load the PDF, choose “Split” under “Save” and set it to “Every page”. You get a ZIP with one PDF per page.
How do I save only certain pages of a PDF?
Click the pages you want, then choose “One PDF” and “Selection only” under “Save”. Alternatively, enter a single range like 4-6 in Split mode.
What does “5-” mean in page ranges?
Page 5 through the last page. Likewise, “-4” means from the first page to page 4.
Does splitting reduce quality?
No. Pages are copied unchanged, text stays searchable and images aren’t recompressed.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Splitting happens entirely in your browser; the file never leaves your device.
Why are the parts bigger than the original combined?
Each part has to include the fonts and images its pages use. Resources stored once in the original end up in several files.
Sources
- Add, delete, or move PDF pages in Preview on Mac, Apple Support.
- qpdf – Running qpdf, command-line documentation.
- pdftk man page, PDF Labs.
- pdf-lib and PDF.js – the open-source libraries the PDF Werkstatt uses in your browser.