How to Extract Pages from PDF for Free

A coworker sends a 200-page manual, but only pages 45-52 apply to your project. Your accountant needs pages 1-3 and 15 from a long statement. A professor wants just the relevant chapter, not the whole textbook PDF. These situations need surgical precision — extract exactly the pages you need without wading through everything else.

PDFGadget's extract tool lets you specify page ranges using simple notation like "1-5, 8, 12-15" and creates a new PDF containing only those pages. Everything happens in your browser — the original document stays private and unchanged, and you get a fresh file with just the content you need.

💡 When extracting pages makes sense

Pulling specific chapters from a large report or manual
Isolating relevant pages to share without sending the whole document
Creating a subset of a contract with only the sections for a particular party
Extracting a signature page or specific form from a package
Building a custom reference document from selected pages across sections

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Extract Pages Tool

Navigate to pdfgadget.com/extract-pages-pdf in any browser. Works on desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone with no plugins or downloads needed.

💡 Pro tip: Open the original PDF in a separate tab or viewer to identify page numbers before extracting. Most PDF readers show page numbers at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

Click the upload area or drag your PDF onto the page. The document loads into your browser without uploading to any server. You'll see a confirmation with the total page count.

Step 3: Enter Page Numbers

Type the pages you want in the input field. Use commas to separate individual pages and dashes for ranges. Examples: "5" for just page 5, "1-10" for pages 1 through 10, or "1-3, 7, 12-15" for a mix.

Step 4: Extract and Download

Click Extract. The tool creates a new PDF with only your specified pages. The result downloads automatically. Your original file remains completely unchanged.

Page Range Examples

The notation is flexible and intuitive:

"5" — Just page 5
"1-10" — Pages 1 through 10 (continuous range)
"1, 5, 10" — Pages 1, 5, and 10 (individual pages)
"1-5, 10-15" — Pages 1-5 and 10-15 (multiple ranges)
"1-3, 7, 12-15, 20" — Mix of ranges and individual pages
"50-" — Page 50 to the end (some tools support this)

Pages appear in the extracted PDF in the order you specify. "10, 5, 1" would produce a PDF with page 10 first, then 5, then 1.

Extract Pages vs Split PDF

PDFGadget offers two tools for pulling pages from documents:

Extract Pages — Type page numbers/ranges. Best when you know exactly which pages you need. Always outputs a single combined PDF.
Split PDF — Visual thumbnail selection. Best when you need to see pages before selecting. Can output separate files or combined PDF.

Use Extract Pages when you have a page list ready. Use Split PDF when you need to browse and select visually.

Why Use PDFGadget?

Extracting pages from a PDF should be simple. Here's why this approach works better than alternatives:

Complete Privacy — Processing happens in your browser. Your PDF never uploads to any server.
No Quality Loss — Pages extract exactly as they exist in the original. No recompression or degradation.
No Watermarks — The extracted PDF comes out clean. No branding added.
No Limits — Extract from any size PDF. No page caps or daily quotas.
No Account Required — Start immediately without signing up.
Works Offline — After loading once, functions without internet.

After Extracting

Your new PDF downloads automatically. From there:

Share the subset — Email or message just the relevant pages
Merge with other files — Combine extracted pages with other PDFs using Merge PDF
Compress if needed — Shrink file size with Compress PDF
Extract again — Need a different selection? The original file is unchanged

Troubleshooting

Invalid page number error

You specified a page number higher than the document's total pages. Check the page count shown after upload and adjust your range.

Pages in wrong order

Pages appear in the order you type them. "10, 5, 1" extracts in that sequence. Reorder your input for a different result.

Missing pages

Double-check your page numbers. The notation "1-5" includes pages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Make sure ranges include all intended pages.

Extracted PDF looks different

Some PDF viewers number pages differently (starting from 0 or using section numbering). Check the actual page numbers displayed in your viewer, not section or chapter numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extract pages from a password-protected PDF?

Only if it's unlocked. You'll need to enter the password in another viewer first, save an unprotected copy, then extract from that.

Are my files uploaded to your servers?

No. All processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF never leaves your device.

Is there a page limit?

No artificial limit. Your device's memory sets the practical ceiling. Most devices handle documents with hundreds of pages.

Will extraction affect page quality?

No. Pages are copied exactly as they exist in the original — same resolution, same formatting, same everything.

Can I reorder pages while extracting?

Yes. Pages appear in your extracted PDF in the order you specify them. "5, 3, 1" produces a PDF with those pages in that sequence.

What's the difference between Extract and Remove Pages?

Extract Pages creates a new PDF with only the pages you specify. Remove Pages creates a new PDF with everything except the pages you specify. Opposite approaches to the same goal.

Pull Out the Pages You Need