Split by Bookmarks
Split by Bookmarks cuts a PDF at its own bookmarks, so each chapter becomes a file named after it. Choose top-level bookmarks or go deeper, and download the pieces as a ZIP.
- Input
- One PDF that has bookmarks
- Output
- A ZIP with one PDF per bookmark
- Runs
- In your browser. The file never leaves your device.
- Cost
- Free. No sign-up, no watermark.
Choose a PDF file
or drop it here
How to split a PDF by bookmarks
Choose a PDF with bookmarks
Select a document that shows an outline in a PDF reader. Chapters of books, reports and manuals usually have one.
Choose how deep to cut
Level 1 makes one file per chapter. Levels 2 and 3 also cut at the sections inside them.
Download the ZIP
Each file is numbered and named after its bookmark, in the order they appear in the document.
Chapters into files, by the document's own outline
Uses the bookmarks that exist
Nothing to type: the cut points come from the outline already in the file, however it links to its pages.
Three levels
Split at chapters, or at chapters and sections, down to level 3.
Named and ordered
Files are numbered 01, 02 and so on and named after their bookmark, with characters that are not allowed in file names removed.
No page left behind
Pages before the first bookmark are saved as their own file rather than dropped.
Frequently asked questions
What if my PDF has no bookmarks?
The tool says so and stops. Use Split PDF to cut by page ranges instead.
What if two bookmarks point to the same page?
They make one file, named after the first. A file always starts on a page.
Do the pieces keep their bookmarks?
No. Each piece is a fresh document holding only its own pages, so the outline is not carried over.
Is the file uploaded anywhere?
No. The document is split in your browser and never sent to a server.
Can I put the pieces back together?
Yes. Unzip the files and choose them in Merge PDF, which joins them in the order you set. The numbers at the start of each file name keep them in order.
How do I split a PDF that has no bookmarks?
Use Split PDF to cut by page ranges, or by a fixed number of pages, instead.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. Split by Bookmarks runs entirely in your browser: the file is opened and processed on your own device and is never sent to our server. More in the privacy policy.
Is Split by Bookmarks free to use?
Yes. Split by Bookmarks is free, with no account to create and no software to install — open the page in a modern browser and start.