Split a PDF with Adobe Acrobat
Short answer
In Acrobat, use Organize Pages → Split to divide a PDF by page count, size or bookmarks. It needs Acrobat Pro — the splitter below extracts any page range free.
Choose a PDF to split
or drop your file here.
Each range becomes a separate PDF
Runs in your browser — your file is never uploaded.
Acrobat Pro's splitter lives under Tools → Organize Pages → Split. You can split every N pages, at each top-level bookmark, or by maximum file size, and the Output Options button decides where the parts are written and how they are named. It is genuinely good at bulk work — splitting a 400-page report into chapters is one click.
Two things push people to look elsewhere. Split is in Acrobat Pro, not Standard and certainly not Reader; and for the common case — 'I need pages 4 to 9 out of this' — it is a lot of dialog for one range. The splitter on this page takes the range directly, gives you a new PDF with just those pages, and runs in your browser so the original file is never uploaded.
How to split a PDF with Adobe Acrobat
- 1Open Organize Pages. Tools → Organize Pages with your PDF open.
- 2Click Split. Choose to split by page count, file size or bookmarks.
- 3Set output options. Pick the destination folder and filename pattern, then Split.
- 4No Acrobat Pro?. Enter the page range on this page and download just those pages, free.
Frequently asked questions
Can I split a PDF in Acrobat Reader?+
No — splitting needs Acrobat Pro. Reader can only view, annotate and print. The splitter on this page needs no software at all.
How do I split a PDF at every bookmark?+
In Acrobat Pro choose Split → Top-level bookmarks, which writes one file per chapter. There is no bookmark-aware equivalent here — this tool splits by the page range you type.
Does splitting reduce quality?+
No. The pages are copied into the new file exactly as they were, so text stays selectable and images keep their original resolution.