Split PDF by Bookmarks
If your PDF has a bookmark outline, this tool turns it into separate files: one per chapter, from one bookmark to the next. Check the list, then download the parts.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Choose or drop a PDF with bookmarks.
- Pick the bookmark level and check the list of files.
- Press Split and download all.
How it works
The bookmark tree is read with pdf-lib. Bookmarks up to the chosen level are put in page order, and each chapter is the pages from its bookmark to the page before the next one. Every file is built by copying those pages, so text stays selectable. Names look like report-03-Setup.pdf.
Example
A 10-page file has bookmarks Intro on page 1, Method on page 4, Notes on page 4 and Results on page 8. The files are Intro (pages 1–3), Method (4–7) and Results (8–10). Notes is skipped as it shares a page with Method.
Tips
- If chapters come out wrong, check the bookmark pages in a reader.
- Named destinations that cannot be resolved are counted and shown as a note.
Frequently asked questions
What are bookmarks?
Bookmarks are the clickable table of contents in the side panel of a PDF reader, also called the outline. Word and many other programs create them from headings when saving to PDF.
How are the chapters cut?
A chapter starts on the page its bookmark points to and ends on the page before the next bookmark. The last chapter ends on the last page. When two bookmarks point to the same page, the first one is used.
What does the level do?
Level 1 splits at top-level bookmarks only. Level 2 also splits at the bookmarks one step down, and so on up to level 3.
What happens to pages before the first bookmark?
They become an extra file called "Front matter" unless you untick that option, in which case they are left out.
Why do I get many downloads?
Each chapter is a separate file, saved one after another. Your browser may ask to allow multiple downloads.