Last updated 3 September 2026
Writing a page range
Separate each output file with a comma, and use a dash for a span of pages. 1-3, 4, 7-9 produces three separate files: pages 1 through 3 in one, page 4 alone in another, and pages 7 through 9 in a third. A single number on its own is just that one page.
What you get back
If your choices produce exactly one file, that PDF downloads directly. If they produce more than one — every page as its own file, or several custom ranges — everything comes back together in a single zip so you're not downloading files one at a time.
Related guide: Preparing artwork for print without a reprint
Splitting without re-encoding
Extracting pages copies the existing page objects into a new document along with the resources they depend on — fonts, embedded images, colour profiles. Nothing is redrawn or re-compressed, so text in the output stays selectable and searchable and images keep their original quality. That is the difference between splitting a PDF properly and the common workaround of exporting pages as images, which produces a larger file that cannot be searched or copied from.
One thing that surprises people: the resulting parts often add up to more than the original file size. If several pages share the same embedded font or a repeated logo, the original stored that resource once. Split across three documents, each one needs its own copy.
Choosing what to split
The most common reasons are practical. Email attachment limits, typically 20 to 25 MB, force a large report into parts. A scanned batch of separate documents needs breaking into individual files. Or a single chapter needs sending to someone without handing over the whole book.
That last case is worth thinking about carefully. Splitting is a good way to share only the relevant part of a document, but it is not a redaction tool. Removing pages 5 to 10 removes those pages, but any content that appeared elsewhere — a summary on page 2 referring to them, metadata in the document properties, an author name embedded at creation — travels with the extract. If the reason for splitting is confidentiality, check the remaining pages and the document metadata afterwards rather than assuming the split alone handled it.
Common questions
How do I write a page range?
Comma-separate the ranges you want as separate files, using a dash for a span: 1-3, 4, 7-9 produces three files — pages 1 to 3, page 4 alone, and pages 7 to 9.
Do I get one file back or several?
If your input produces exactly one output file, you get that PDF directly. If it produces more than one — splitting into every page, or several custom ranges — you get a single zip file containing all of them.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Splitting happens entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, which matters if the document is private.
Does splitting a PDF reduce quality?
No. The existing page objects are copied into a new file along with their fonts and images, with nothing redrawn or re-compressed. Text stays selectable and searchable, unlike the common workaround of exporting pages as images.
Why are the split files larger than the original combined?
Shared resources have to be duplicated. If several pages use the same embedded font or repeated logo, the original stored it once, but each new document needs its own copy. The overhead is normal and usually small relative to the page content.
Is splitting out pages a safe way to hide confidential content?
Not on its own. Removed pages are gone, but references to them elsewhere in the document, and metadata such as the author name or creation software, travel with the extract. Check the remaining pages and the document properties if confidentiality is the reason for splitting.