Quick Answer
Upload your PDF, select "Split by ranges," enter ranges like 1-3, 4-6, 7-10, and click "Split." Each range becomes a separate PDF file.
What You'll Need
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these 5 simple steps to get the job done in about 1-2 minutes. Check off each step as you go.
Open the Split Tool
Go to the PDFly Split PDF tool page. The interface shows an upload zone where you'll add the PDF you want to split.
Upload Your PDF
Drag and drop your PDF file into the upload zone, or click to browse. The file loads instantly and page thumbnails appear.
Choose Split Method
Select how you want to split: by individual pages, by page ranges (e.g., 1-3, 4-6), every N pages, by file size, or by bookmarks. Enter the relevant parameters for your chosen method.
Preview the Split
Review the split preview to confirm which pages will go into each output file. Adjust ranges or methods if needed before proceeding.
Split and Download
Click the "Split" button. Each portion is generated as a separate PDF file. Download them individually or as a ZIP archive.
Key Takeaways
Multiple split methods available: by pages, ranges, size, or bookmarks
Download split files individually or as a ZIP archive
Use Extract mode when you only need specific pages
Splitting happens in your browser — your file never leaves your device
Pro Tips & Best Practices
Use "Split by bookmarks" for documents with clear chapter divisions — each section becomes a named file.
When splitting by file size, set your target slightly below the actual limit to account for PDF overhead.
Extract mode is faster than full split when you only need a few specific pages.
Download as ZIP when splitting into many files — it's significantly faster than individual downloads.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using overlapping page ranges
Ensure each range is unique (e.g., 1-3, 4-6, 7-10) — overlapping ranges create duplicate pages.
Splitting without checking the preview
Always review the split preview to confirm page assignments before clicking "Split."
Forgetting to download as ZIP for many files
When splitting into 5+ files, use ZIP download — it's faster and keeps everything organized.
Ready to Try It Yourself?
That's it! You now know how to split a pdf by page ranges using PDFly. The entire process takes less than a minute and runs entirely in your browser — your files are never uploaded to a server. Ready to try it yourself? Use the Split PDF tool below to get started right now.
Open Split PDF — Free, No SignupFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. Enter the password when uploading the file, then proceed with splitting as normal. The split files will not retain the password unless you re-apply it.
There is no file size limit. Since processing happens in your browser, the only constraint is your device's available memory. We've tested with PDFs up to 2GB.
Yes. Use the "Split by ranges" option and enter ranges like 1-3, 4-6, 7-10. Each range becomes a separate PDF file.