How to Split a PDF by Chapters
1. Upload Your PDF
Select a PDF that has a bookmark-based table of contents.
2. Choose Bookmark Level
Select the bookmark level (e.g., Level 1 for main chapters) to split on.
3. Split by Chapters
Our tool automatically creates a new PDF for each chapter.
4. Download Your Files
Download all the new chapter-based PDFs in a ZIP file.
Key Features
- Automatic Chapter Detection: Intelligently splits your document based on the bookmark structure (table of contents).
- Multi-Level Splitting: Choose to split by top-level chapters (Level 1), sub-sections (Level 2), and so on.
- Preserve Metadata: Optionally carry over the original document's metadata (Title, Author, etc.) to each new file.
- Batch Download: All generated chapter files are conveniently packaged into a single ZIP archive for download.
- Secure & Private Processing: Your documents are processed locally in your browser and are never uploaded to a server.
Use Cases
Break down a large textbook or academic journal into individual chapters or articles for easier study and reference.
Split a long annual report or business plan into its component sections to share with different departments.
Divide a large user manual or technical specification into standalone chapters for different user groups or product features.
Tips & Best Practices
Ensure Your PDF Has Bookmarks
This tool relies on an existing table of contents (bookmarks) in the PDF. If your document doesn't have one, you can create one first using our "Edit Table of Contents" tool.
Start with Level 1
For most documents, splitting by Level 1 bookmarks will divide the file by its main chapters. Use higher levels for more granular splitting into sub-sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Tools
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