How to split a PDF into separate files
Split one PDF into several smaller ones: every page on its own, equal parts of any size, or exactly the page ranges you choose. When there’s more than one file, they arrive together in a single ZIP so nothing gets lost.
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Add your PDF
Drop your file onto the box above or tap “choose a file”. Every page appears as a preview, so you can see exactly where to split.
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Mark where to split
Click the scissors under a page to start a new file after it. Each color is one output file, and a badge shows where each file begins. Click the scissors again to undo a split.
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Or use a quick option
Enter a number and press Apply to split every N pages, choose “One file per page”, or switch to “Custom ranges” and type ranges such as 1-3, 4-8, 9-12.
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Download
Press Split. Several files download as one ZIP named after your PDF; a single range downloads as a plain PDF. Each file is named after its pages, like report-pages-4-8.pdf.
Good reasons to split a PDF
Large PDFs are awkward to send and slow to open, and upload forms often have strict limits. Splitting solves most of these problems in seconds:
- Email attachment limits. Many email services cap attachments at around 20–25 MB. Splitting a big scan into parts lets you send it in a few emails instead of fighting with file-sharing links.
- Upload portals. Job applications, visa and government forms, insurance claims and university systems often accept only small files, or one document per upload field.
- Batch scans. If you scanned a stack of paperwork into one file, split it back into individual documents.
- Sharing with different people. Send each chapter, section or invoice to the person who needs it.
- Archiving. Store monthly statements or reports as separate files that are easy to search later.
Splitting to fit a size limit
This tool splits by pages rather than megabytes, but it’s easy to work out how many pages to put in each part. Divide the file size by the number of pages to get the average size of a page. For example, a 60 MB scan with 120 pages is about 0.5 MB per page, so parts of 30 pages will be roughly 15 MB each, comfortably under a 20 MB email limit.
Scanned pages vary in size (a page with photos is heavier than a page of plain text), so leave some headroom. If one part still comes out too big, split that part again. Our guide on splitting a large PDF into smaller files covers this in more detail.
How the files are named
Every file is named after your original document plus the pages it contains, for example contract-pages-1-5.pdf or contract-page-6.pdf. That keeps the parts in a sensible order when you sort them and makes it obvious what each one contains when you attach it to an email.
If two of your ranges cover exactly the same pages, the second file gets a number added rather than replacing the first, so you never lose a part.
Private by design
Your PDF is split by your own browser, and even the ZIP file is created on your device. Nothing is uploaded to PDFCocoon or anywhere else, which matters when the document you’re splitting is a medical record, a court bundle or a client’s financial statements. When you close the tab, the file is cleared from memory.
Want just one section rather than many files? Extract PDF Pages creates a single PDF from the pages you pick.
Frequently asked questions
How do I save every page as a separate PDF?
Press “One file per page”. You’ll get one PDF per page, bundled into a single ZIP file.
Can I split a PDF into equal parts?
Yes. Enter the number of pages each part should have, for example 10, and press Apply. The last part contains whatever pages are left over, and you can still move the split points by hand afterwards.
Why do I get a ZIP file?
When the split creates several files, they’re bundled into one ZIP so your browser doesn’t ask about lots of separate downloads. Windows, macOS and most phones open ZIP files with a double-click or tap.
Can my ranges overlap?
Yes, with “Custom ranges”. Each range becomes its own file, so the same page can appear in more than one of them, for example a cover page you want at the start of every part.
Will splitting reduce the quality?
No. Pages are copied as they are, so text stays sharp and searchable and images keep their original resolution.
Is there a limit on file size or pages?
There’s no page limit. Files up to 200 MB are supported; very large documents depend on your device’s memory.