How to split a pdf into equal-sized page batches
- Step 1Open the Split (Fixed) tool and drop your PDF — Load the document into PDF Split (Fixed). It accepts a single PDF; the page count appears once the file is read. Non-PDF files are rejected before anything runs.
- Step 2Decide pages-per-batch from your reviewer count — If you have 6 reviewers and 120 pages, 20 pages per chunk gives each person one batch. The tool does not auto-balance by reviewer — you pick the number, it does the arithmetic of where to cut.
- Step 3Enter the number in Pages per chunk — Type the value into the single Pages per chunk field (default
5, minimum1). There are no preset buttons — any whole number is valid. Leaving it at or below your total page count is what produces multiple batches. - Step 4Click Process — This tool requires you to confirm options, so it does not auto-run on drop — press Process. The split runs in your browser; large documents take a moment while pages are copied.
- Step 5Check the result tiles before downloading — The result panel shows Input pages, Output files, Output size, and Input size. Confirm Output files matches what you expected (pages ÷ chunk, rounded up) so a typo in the chunk size doesn't surprise you.
- Step 6Download and hand out the batches — Click Download. Multiple batches save one after another (staggered ~200 ms apart) as
name.split-fixed.1.pdf,name.split-fixed.2.pdf, .... Distribute the numbered files; recipients can later recombine them with PDF Merge.
What you get for a given Pages-per-chunk value
Worked examples on a 100-page document. The last batch absorbs the remainder; batch count is ceil(total ÷ chunk).
| Pages per chunk | Batches produced | Pages in each batch | Pages in last batch |
|---|---|---|---|
10 | 10 | 10 | 10 (divides evenly) |
15 | 7 | 15 | 10 (100 − 6×15) |
25 | 4 | 25 | 25 (divides evenly) |
33 | 4 | 33 | 1 (100 − 3×33) |
1 | 100 | 1 | 1 (one PDF per page) |
Split (Fixed) — real options and behaviour
The full control surface for this tool. There is exactly one option; everything else below is fixed behaviour, not a setting.
| Item | Value / behaviour | Configurable? |
|---|---|---|
| Pages per chunk | Single number input, default 5, minimum 1, no maximum enforced in the form | Yes — the only option |
| Cut points | Always sequential and equal (1–N, N+1–2N, …); last batch = remainder | No — use Split by Range for custom cuts |
| Page fidelity | Pages copied with copyPages — no re-compression, no re-render | No (always lossless) |
| Output naming | name.split-fixed.1.pdf, name.split-fixed.2.pdf, … | No — rename after download if needed |
| Packaging | Separate files (no zip), downloaded with a ~200 ms stagger | No |
| Processing location | Entirely in-browser; 0 bytes uploaded | No (always local) |
Cookbook
Common distribution splits and the exact Pages-per-chunk value that produces them.
120 pages → 6 reviewers, one batch each
You want six equal slices for six reviewers. 120 ÷ 6 = 20, so set Pages per chunk to 20 and you get six 20-page batches with no remainder.
Input: report.pdf (120 pages) Pages per chunk: 20 Output files panel: 6 report.split-fixed.1.pdf pages 1-20 report.split-fixed.2.pdf pages 21-40 ... report.split-fixed.6.pdf pages 101-120
A page count that doesn't divide evenly
95 pages at 20 per chunk gives four full batches and a fifth short one — the remainder is never lost.
Input: handbook.pdf (95 pages) Pages per chunk: 20 Output files panel: 5 ...4.pdf pages 61-80 (20 pages) ...5.pdf pages 81-95 (15 pages, the remainder)
Burst to single pages
Set the chunk to 1 to explode a document into one PDF per page — useful for assigning individual pages as separate review tasks.
Input: forms.pdf (12 pages) Pages per chunk: 1 Output files panel: 12 forms.split-fixed.1.pdf ... forms.split-fixed.12.pdf
Chunk larger than the document
If Pages per chunk is greater than or equal to the total, only one batch exists, so the tool returns the original as a single file (no .1 suffix).
Input: memo.pdf (8 pages) Pages per chunk: 50 Output files panel: 1 memo.split-fixed.pdf (all 8 pages, single file)
Re-assemble batches after review
Reviewers send marked-up batches back; recombine them in order with the merge tool. Drop them in 1..N order so page order is restored.
Tool: PDF Merge (/pdf-tools/pdf-merge)
Add: report.split-fixed.1.pdf
report.split-fixed.2.pdf
... in numeric order
Merge → one 120-page PDF againEdge cases and what actually happens
Total pages not divisible by the chunk size
By designThe final batch simply contains the leftover pages. A 100-page document at 30 per chunk yields batches of 30, 30, 30, 10. No page is dropped and none is padded with blanks — the loop stops at the real page count.
Pages per chunk ≥ total page count
Single fileOnly one chunk is produced, so the tool returns a single PDF (downloaded as name.split-fixed.pdf with no numeric suffix) rather than a numbered set. Effectively a no-op copy of the original.
Pages per chunk left blank or set to 0
Falls back to 5The processor reads Number(opts.pagesPerChunk) || 5, so a blank, zero, or non-numeric value falls back to the default of 5 pages per chunk rather than erroring. Set the number deliberately to avoid an unexpected split.
Free tier — file over 2 MB
blocked (upgrade prompt)Free handles PDFs up to 2 MB. A larger file is blocked at upload with an upgrade prompt before any split runs. Pro raises this to 50 MB; higher tiers go further. The block happens client-side the moment the file is added.
Free tier — more than 50 pages
blocked (upgrade prompt)Free caps PDFs at 50 pages. A 120-page reviewer deck exceeds that and is blocked with an upgrade prompt. Pro lifts the cap to 500 pages, Pro+Media to 2,000, Developer to 10,000. The page count is checked when the file is read, before you click Process.
A non-PDF (image, zip) is dropped
rejectedThe dropzone validates file type first. Anything that isn't a PDF is rejected with a "not supported" message naming the expected type. To turn images into a PDF first, use the image-to-PDF tool, then split.
No bookmarks or tags carried into batches
ExpectedEach batch is a fresh PDF built from copied pages, so document-level outline (bookmarks), tags, and original Title/Author metadata do not propagate to the batches. The page content itself — text, images, fonts, links inside the page — is preserved.
Password-protected PDF
Often supportedThe file is loaded with ignoreEncryption: true, so many protected PDFs split fine. If the PDF uses encryption pdf-lib cannot parse, the run errors out — remove the password first with PDF Remove Password, then split.
You wanted uneven cut points
wrong toolFixed split always produces equal batches. For cut points at arbitrary places — say 1–12, 13–40, 41–95 — use PDF Split by Range, where each comma- or semicolon-separated token becomes one output PDF.
Very large multi-batch download
ExpectedBatches download as separate files staggered ~200 ms apart, not zipped. A browser may prompt to allow multiple downloads the first time. Allow it, or split into fewer, larger batches if your browser blocks the burst.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to the remaining pages if the total doesn't divide evenly?
The final batch contains whatever pages are left over — nothing is lost or discarded. For example, 100 pages at 30 per chunk produces batches of 30, 30, 30, and 10. The split loop stops at the real page count, so the last file is simply shorter than the others.
How do I split a 100-page PDF into 10-page batches?
Set Pages per chunk to 10 and click Process. The tool creates 10 PDFs containing pages 1–10, 11–20, and so on, named report.split-fixed.1.pdf through report.split-fixed.10.pdf. The result panel will show Output files: 10 before you download.
Can I make every batch exactly equal with no remainder?
Only if your page count divides evenly by the chunk size. There is no "pad with blank pages" option in this tool. If you need every batch identical in length, choose a chunk size that divides your total (e.g. 25 for a 100-page file), or add blank pages to the source first using a separate editor before splitting.
Is there a maximum value for Pages per chunk?
The form enforces a minimum of 1 and no maximum. If you enter a number greater than or equal to the document's page count, you simply get one file back (the whole document), since only one chunk is produced.
Does splitting reduce quality or re-compress my pages?
No. Pages are copied object-for-object with pdf-lib's copyPages — there is no rasterising, no JPEG re-encoding, and no re-rendering. Text stays selectable and any embedded images keep their exact original bytes. For deliberate size reduction, that's a separate step with PDF Compress.
Are the batches delivered as a single zip?
No. Each batch downloads as its own PDF, one after another with a small stagger. There is no zip packaging. If your browser blocks multiple simultaneous downloads, approve the prompt the first time, or use fewer/larger batches.
How are the output files named?
Multiple batches are named after your source file with a sequential suffix: report.split-fixed.1.pdf, report.split-fixed.2.pdf, and so on. If only one chunk results, the file is report.split-fixed.pdf with no number. Rename them in your file manager afterwards if your workflow needs different labels.
Can I reassemble the batches later?
Yes — use PDF Merge to combine the batches back into one document. Add them in numeric order (1, 2, 3, …) so the original page sequence is restored, then merge and download.
Will the original bookmarks and metadata survive?
The page content does, but document-level bookmarks (outline), tags, and the original Title/Author fields generally do not carry into each batch, because every batch is a brand-new PDF built from copied pages. If you need clean metadata anyway, run the batches through the Metadata Scrubber.
Is my document uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is parsed and split entirely in your browser with pdf-lib, and the result panel literally prints "0 bytes uploaded". This matters for confidential drafts being parcelled out for review — the file never leaves your machine.
What's the difference between this and Split by Range?
Fixed split cuts at equal intervals you don't have to spell out — just a pages-per-chunk number. Split by Range lets you name exact ranges (1-5, 6-10, 11-15), where each token becomes one output PDF. Use Fixed for uniform batches, Range for chapter- or section-shaped cuts.
How big a PDF can I split?
On Free, up to 2 MB and 50 pages. Pro raises that to 50 MB and 500 pages, Pro+Media to 500 MB and 2,000 pages, Developer to 2 GB and 10,000 pages. Limits are checked the moment you add the file, so an oversized document is flagged before you configure anything.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.