How to Split a PDF and Extract Pages Online for Free
Sending a whole 80-page report when the client only needs three pages is slow and risky. Splitting a PDF lets you keep just the pages you need, or break a long file into single pages. This guide shows how to split and extract PDF pages online with ToolTiny, how to write page ranges, and what a real example looks like: pages 1 to 3 taken from a 10-page file.
When You Need to Split a PDF
- Sharing only part of a document. Send one chapter, one invoice or one signed page, not the whole file.
- Removing private pages. Extract everything except the pages you should not share.
- Reducing file size. Smaller parts are easier to email or upload.
- Separating combined scans. Turn one big scan into individual documents.
- One file per page. Save every page separately, for example for forms or certificates.
Watch the Whole Process
The recording extracts pages 1-3 from a 10-page PDF and checks the new file in a PDF reader.
How to Split a PDF, Step by Step
-
Open Split PDF
In the top bar open PDF Tools and choose Split PDF, or go to tooltiny.com/split-pdf.html.
PDF Tools → Split PDF -
Find the upload box
The page is titled Split & Extract PDF Pages Free Online. The box says Select a PDF file to split and shows the limit Max 20MB file size. The Split button stays grey until a file is added.
Select a PDF file to split -
Choose your PDF
Click the box and pick the PDF, or drag it in. Our example is
sample-split-pdf.pdf, a 10-page file made of four colored chapters.
sample-split-pdf.pdf -
Decide how to split
The question How do you want to split this file? offers two options: Custom pages to extract (selected pages become one new PDF) and Extract all pages separately (every page becomes its own file, downloaded as a ZIP).
Two ways to split -
Type the pages you want
With Custom pages selected, type the range in the box. The hint shows the format
1-5, 8, 11-13. We typed 1-3 to keep the first three pages.
Pages 1-3 -
Click Split PDF
Click the red Split PDF button. A progress bar appears for a moment.
Split PDF -
Download the extracted PDF
The page shows Done! 100% and Your PDF has been split!. Click Download Extracted PDF. To work on another file use Split Another PDF.
Download Extracted PDF -
Save the file
The browser asks where to save it. The suggested name is
sample-split-pdf_extracted.pdf: your original name plus_extracted. The original file is not changed.
The new file name -
Check the first page
Open the new PDF. It has 3 pages (the reader shows 1/3) and starts with Chapter 1 - Introduction, Page 1 of 10, the first page of the original.
Page 1 of 3 -
Check the last page
Go to the last page. The reader shows 3/3 and the page is Page 3 of 10 of the original. Pages 4 to 10 are not in the new file, exactly as requested.
Page 3 of 3
How to Write the Page Range
In Custom pages to extract, separate parts with commas and use a dash for a range. All selected pages are combined into one new PDF, in the order you type them.
| You type | You get |
|---|---|
1-3 | Pages 1, 2 and 3 (the example in our test) |
5 | Only page 5 |
1-3, 8 | Pages 1 to 3 and page 8 |
1-5, 8, 11-13 | The format shown on the page: pages 1 to 5, page 8 and pages 11 to 13 |
Need every page as its own file? Choose Extract all pages separately. Each page is saved as a separate PDF and you download them together as a ZIP. We did not record that option, so check the ZIP contents after you try it.
Limits and What to Expect
- Size: the upload box shows a maximum of 20 MB per file. Compress a bigger PDF first with Compress PDF.
- Output: the original is never changed. You get a new file named
original_extracted.pdf. - Quality: selected pages are copied as they are, so layout and images stay the same.
- Privacy: files are permanently deleted from the servers after processing.
- Cost: free, with no sign-up.
Tips for Splitting PDFs
- Check the page numbers first. Use the page numbers of the PDF reader (1, 2, 3...), not the numbers printed on the pages, which may start later.
- Open the result. Check the page count and the first and last page before you send it.
- Keep the original. You can always extract again with a different range.
- Combine the parts later. Put extracted pages from several files together with Merge PDF.
- Still too large? Reduce it with Compress PDF.
- Mind confidentiality. Files are uploaded for processing. Do not upload documents you are not allowed to share, and remember that extracting is not the same as redacting: the extracted pages still contain all their content.
Type a page range or split every page. Free, no sign-up.