To split a PDF by page range, you tell the tool exactly where each new file starts and ends. It's the most precise way to split: a 60-page course pack becomes one file per chapter, a contract becomes the main agreement plus its annexes, and a long report is cut into the sections different people need.
This page opens the tool with "A PDF per range" already selected. Upload your PDF, type your ranges separated by commas, and each range becomes its own file.
How to split a PDF by page range
- Upload the PDF Drop it on the tool and wait a moment for the page thumbnails.
- Type your ranges Enter ranges separated by commas, for example
1-4, 5-12, 13-. The thumbnails show a "Part" label where each new file begins. - Split and download Click Extract pages. Three ranges give you a ZIP with three PDFs — or download each one separately.
Page range syntax
| You type | You get |
|---|---|
1-4 | Pages 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
7 | Only page 7 |
13- | Page 13 to the last page |
-3 | Page 1 to page 3 |
10-6 | Pages 10 down to 6, in reverse order |
all | Every page |
Separate ranges with commas or spaces. Mistakes are caught as you type: ask for page 61 of a 60-page file and the tool tells you before you split.
One file per range, or all ranges in one file
"A PDF per range" is the classic split-by-range result: 1-4, 5-12 gives report_pages-01-04.pdf and report_pages-05-12.pdf. Switch to "One PDF" when you'd rather have the ranges stitched together into a single shorter document — for example pages 1–2 and 30–35 of a report as one summary. The ranges don't have to cover the whole file; pages you don't mention are simply left out.
Ranges are cut independently, so they can even overlap: 1-10, 5-15 gives two files that both contain pages 5 to 10.
Inside the ZIP, the files follow the order you typed the ranges, and each name carries zero-padded page numbers, so a folder sorted by name lists the parts in page order. Only need one of the ranges? After splitting, open "Download files one by one" and save just that part — handy when you only have to send the annex, not the whole contract.
Finding the right page numbers
The numbers in this tool are the physical positions of the pages in the file (1 is the first page), which can differ from the numbers printed on the pages. A book whose page "1" comes after twelve pages of front matter starts at position 13. The thumbnails show the position under each page, so check them while you plan your ranges.
Tip: open the document's table of contents, add the offset to each chapter's start page, and type all the chapter ranges in one go.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a PDF into multiple files by page range?
Upload the PDF, type the ranges separated by commas (for example 1-4, 5-12, 13-), make sure "A PDF per range" is selected and click Extract pages. Each range is saved as a separate PDF.
Can the ranges overlap?
Yes. Each range is cut independently, so 1-10 and 5-15 give two files that both contain pages 5 to 10.
What does 13- mean?
A range with no end number runs to the last page, so 13- means page 13 to the end. Likewise -3 means pages 1 to 3.
How many ranges can I use?
Up to 500 ranges in one split, and up to 1,000 output files in total.
Can I split several PDFs by the same ranges?
Split them one after another: the ranges box keeps what you typed while you upload the next file, so repeating the same split takes seconds. Pages that don't exist in a shorter file are reported before anything is split.
Why are my page numbers off by a few pages?
The tool counts physical pages from the start of the file. If the document has a cover or front matter, the printed page numbers start later — check the number under each thumbnail.
Last updated by The S-PDF team.