How to split a PDF into multiple files for free: complete guide

Splitting a PDF means separating a PDF document into smaller parts: extracting specific pages, splitting by ranges, or separating each page into individual files.

Common situations:

• Send only a section: You have a 50-page PDF but only need pages 15-20.
• Extract a chapter: Separate a chapter from a digital book.
• Reduce size for email: A 25 MB PDF doesn't fit in email. Split it into 5 MB parts.
• Separate invoices: A file with multiple scanned invoices — each one separate.
• Remove pages: Strip the first pages (cover, index) before sharing.

Split PDFs instantly with the free NexTools PDF splitter — 100% browser processing.

Using the NexTools PDF splitter:

Step 1: Open the tool. No registration needed.

Step 2: Upload your PDF by dragging or clicking.

Step 3: Select pages or ranges to extract (e.g., 1-5, 8, 12-15).

Step 4: Click "Split" and download the results.

Split modes:

• By range: Extract pages 5-10 as a new PDF.
• Every N pages: Split a 30-page PDF into 6 files of 5 pages each.
• Individual pages: Each page as a separate file.
• Custom selection: Choose specific pages (1, 3, 7, 12).

Privacy: Everything is processed in your browser. No file leaves your computer.

pdftk:

• Extract pages 5-10: pdftk input.pdf cat 5-10 output section.pdf
• Burst each page: pdftk input.pdf burst
• Specific pages: pdftk input.pdf cat 1 3 7 12 output selection.pdf

Python (PyPDF2):

from PyPDF2 import PdfReader, PdfWriter
reader = PdfReader("input.pdf")
writer = PdfWriter()
for page in range(4, 10):
  writer.add_page(reader.pages[page])
writer.write("section.pdf")

For quick use, the NexTools online splitter is the most practical option.

Split: Separate a PDF into multiple files. 20-page PDF → 2 PDFs of 10 pages.

Extract: Pull specific pages into a new file, leaving the original intact. Extract pages 5 and 7 → new 2-page PDF.

Delete: Remove pages from a PDF. Delete pages 1-3 from 20-page PDF → 17-page PDF.

Technically, "split" and "extract" are the same operation. "Delete" is extracting all pages except those you want removed.

For the reverse operation, use the NexTools PDF merger.

1. Legal. An 80-page contract needs each signee to receive only their section.

2. Education. A textbook PDF is split by chapters for weekly downloads.

3. Printing. A 100-page magazine PDF is split for different printers.

4. Document migration. Splitting large PDFs into individual documents for CMS indexing.

5. Compliance. GDPR may require removing pages with personal data before sharing.

1. Rotated pages. Some pages may appear rotated after splitting. Fix with the NexTools PDF rotator.

2. Scanned PDF. Can only split by page number, not by content.

3. Interactive forms. Form fields may lose functionality if JavaScript depends on cross-page references.

4. Broken internal links. Links pointing to other pages in the document break when those pages are in a different file.

Compress: Use the NexTools image compressor to reduce image-heavy pages.

Rotate: Fix orientation with the PDF rotator.

Remove metadata: PDFs may contain hidden metadata (author, date, software, edit history). Clean before sharing sensitive documents.

Most online tools upload your files to servers. NexTools processes directly in your browser.

Golden rule: If the PDF contains confidential information (personal, financial, medical, legal data), ALWAYS use a tool that processes locally.

Test: disconnect internet and try the tool. If it still works, it processes locally.