How to Split a PDF Into Separate Files
5 min read
Splitting is the other half of reorganizing a PDF: pulling out the three pages you actually need from a 200-page document, separating a combined scan back into individual letters, or shrinking an oversized attachment by removing what the recipient does not need.
This guide explains the two ways to split — by page range and every N pages — and how to choose between them.
Two ways to split
Splitting by page range means you choose exactly which pages go into each output file — for example pages 1–4 in one file and page 7 in another. This is the right choice when you are extracting specific content.
Splitting every N pages divides the document mechanically: every 1 page turns a 30-page scan into 30 single-page files, every 5 pages turns it into six 5-page chunks. This suits batch jobs like separating a stack of same-length forms.
Common use cases
- Extracting a signature page, filling it in, and sending back just that page.
- Pulling a single chapter or article out of a large compiled PDF.
- Separating a multi-document scan (bank statements, letters) into one file per document.
- Reducing a file under an upload limit by sending only the relevant pages.
How to split a PDF with AllDayPDF
Open the Merge & Split tool and choose Split. Drop in your PDF, then either enter the page ranges you want or choose to split every N pages. Up to 3 output files are free; Pro removes the limit for big batch jobs. Everything runs in your browser, so the document stays on your device.
Page numbers count from 1 at the cover, exactly as your PDF reader displays them. If the document has unnumbered front matter, count those pages too — a PDF reader's "page 1 of 50" always means the physical first page.
Splitting vs deleting pages
If your goal is simply "remove pages 12–15", splitting still does the job: split into the pages you want to keep and discard the rest. The output files are new PDFs — the original on your device is never modified.