How to Split a PDF by Page Range for Free
To split a PDF by page range for free, upload it to myoffice, open the file's menu, choose PDF Tools…, then Split, and type one page range per line, for example 1-3 and 4-6. Each line becomes its own PDF, saved next to the original. You need a free account, but nothing to install and no credit card.
This guide shows how page ranges work, how to split a long document into chapters, and when to use Extract pages or Remove pages instead of Split.
How do I split a PDF into separate files?
- Sign in or create a free account, then upload the PDF (up to 50 MB).
- Open the file's ⋮ menu (or right-click it) and choose PDF Tools….
- Select Split.
- In the box, type one page range per line.
- Start the job. When it finishes, each range appears as a new PDF in the same folder.
For example, splitting a 10-page report with:
1-3
4-7
8-10
creates three PDFs: pages 1 to 3, pages 4 to 7 and pages 8 to 10. The new files are named after the original with a part number, such as report (part 1).pdf, and your original is left untouched.
How do page ranges work?
- Page numbers start at 1.
- A hyphen means a run of pages, and both ends are included:
3-6is pages 3, 4, 5 and 6. - You can combine ranges on one line with commas.
1-3,5makes a single PDF containing pages 1, 2, 3 and 5, in that order. - Pages that do not exist in the document are ignored, so
8-20on a 10-page file gives you pages 8 to 10.
Every line produces one output file, which is the difference between splitting and simply removing pages.
Should I use Split, Extract or Remove?
All three are in the same PDF Tools… menu, and they answer different questions:
| You want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Cut a document into several separate files | Split |
| Keep only some pages as one new file, leaving the original alone | Extract pages |
| Delete some pages and keep the rest as one file | Remove pages |
| Change the order of pages | Organize / reorder |
Extract and Remove take a single list such as 1-2,4, while Split takes several lines, one for each output file.
What can I use splitting for?
- Chapters. Turn a long manual or ebook into one file per chapter.
- One invoice from a batch. Pull a single statement out of a scanned bundle before sharing it.
- Email size limits. Send a large PDF in two or three parts instead of one heavy attachment.
- Privacy. Share only the pages someone needs to see. Extract those pages first, then protect the new file with a password if it is sensitive.
- Signing or printing. Separate the pages that need a signature from the rest.
Tips for cleaner results
- Open the PDF first and note the page numbers. Use the numbers your PDF viewer shows, counting from 1 at the very first page, including any cover.
- Split before you merge. If you plan to rearrange content from several documents, split them first, then merge the parts you want.
- Check the parts. Open each result and glance through it before deleting the original.
- Name things clearly. You can rename the outputs from the file menu once they exist.
Frequently asked questions
Does splitting change my original PDF?
No. Split creates new files and leaves the original as it is.
Is there a limit to how many parts I can create?
The limits are your storage quota (a reminder at 100 MB, blocked saves at 250 MB on the free plan) and the 50 MB limit per uploaded file. Within those limits, you can create as many parts as you have lines.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Unlock it first with the password using Unlock PDF, then split the unlocked copy.
Does splitting reduce quality?
No. Pages are copied as they are, so text and images stay exactly as in the original.
Do I need an account?
Yes, a free one. The tools work on files in your storage, so you upload first. It takes a few seconds.
Try it
Create a free account, upload a multi-page PDF and split off the first three pages. If you need the opposite, see how to merge PDF files.