Table of Contents
Split vs Extract: Two Tools, Two Workflows
We offer two tools because the mental model differs:
- Split PDF — "Break this big PDF into smaller chunks." Output: multiple files (ZIP or individual).
- Extract PDF Pages — "Give me pages X, Y, Z as one new PDF." Output: single combined file.
Both are client-side, free, no upload, visual page selection.
Split PDF — Break Into Pieces
Step-by-step
- Open onlinepdfeditors.com/split-pdf
- Drag your PDF in
- Choose split mode:
- Page Ranges: Enter ranges like "1-5, 6-10, 11-15" → three files
- Every N Pages: "Every 10 pages" → chunks of 10
- Burst: Every page → separate file (Page_1.pdf, Page_2.pdf...)
- Even/Odd: Split by parity
- Preview shows the split plan
- Click Split PDF
- Download: ZIP with all pieces, or individual files
Page Range Syntax
1-5— pages 1 through 51, 3, 5— specific pages (each becomes own file in burst-ish mode)1-10, 15, 20-25— mixed rangeslast— last pagelast-5— last 5 pages
Extract PDF Pages — Pull Specific Pages
Step-by-step
- Open onlinepdfeditors.com/extract-pdf-pages
- Drag your PDF in
- Enter page range: "3, 7, 12-15" (or click thumbnails to select)
- Click Extract Pages
- Download single PDF with those pages in that order
When to Use Extract
- Pull one chapter from a textbook
- Extract exhibits from a legal filing
- Get specific pages for a client review
- Create a "pages 1-10 only" version for email
Visual Page Selection
Both tools show thumbnails of every page. Click to select (Shift+click for range, Ctrl/Cmd+click for multiple). See exactly what you're splitting/extracting. No mental page-counting. For large PDFs (200+ pages), thumbnails lazy-load — smooth scrolling.
Common Workflows
Chapter Extraction for Students
200-page textbook PDF. Need Chapter 4 (pages 45-67) for this week's reading. Extract PDF Pages → "45-67" → 23-page PDF. Annotate freely. Original untouched.
Legal Exhibit Separation
Filing package: 50-page main doc + 10 exhibits. Split PDF → ranges for each exhibit → individual PDFs. Bates number each (Add Page Numbers). File separately.
Email Size Limit Workaround
50 MB PDF. Gmail limit 25 MB. Split PDF → "Every 10 pages" → five ~10 MB files. Email separately. Or Compress PDF first, then split if still large.
Scan Cleanup — Burst Then Re-Merge
50-page scan with 5 blank pages and 3 duplicates. Split PDF → Burst → 50 individual files. Delete unwanted files in OS. Merge PDF → drag remaining 42 files → clean PDF.
Client Review Package
Large technical spec. Client only needs Section 3 (pages 22-35) and Appendix B (pages 88-95). Extract PDF Pages → "22-35, 88-95" → 22-page review PDF. Watermark PDF → "DRAFT — FOR REVIEW ONLY". Send.
FAQ
How do I split a PDF for free?
Open onlinepdfeditors.com/split-pdf. Drag file. Choose mode. Split. Download. Free, no limits, no account, no upload.
Can I split a PDF into individual pages?
Yes. Split PDF → Burst mode → every page becomes a separate file. Download as ZIP.
How do I extract specific pages from a PDF?
Use Extract PDF Pages. Enter range like "3, 7, 12-15" or click thumbnails. Download single combined PDF.
Can I split a PDF on my phone?
Yes. onlinepdfeditors.com/split-pdf works in mobile Safari/Chrome. Touch-friendly thumbnails.
Does splitting a PDF reduce quality?
No. Page streams copied byte-for-byte. No re-encoding. Visual fidelity identical.
Can I extract pages from a password-protected PDF?
If you know the open password: yes, enter it when prompted. If only permissions password: you can open but extracting may be blocked by permissions. Use Unlock PDF first (with permissions password).
What's the difference between split and extract?
Split → multiple output files (chunks). Extract → single output file (selected pages combined). Split for "break into pieces." Extract for "give me these pages."
Can I split a PDF by bookmarks?
Not currently — our tools split by page numbers/ranges. Bookmark-based splitting is on our roadmap.
Ready to split or extract? Open Split PDF or Extract PDF Pages — visual selection, batch download, free, private.