You have a 200-page PDF, but you only need pages 45-52. Don't email the whole thing — extract just the pages that matter and create a focused, smaller document that's actually useful to your recipient.
This guide shows you how to extract pages efficiently, including page ranges and non-consecutive selections.
When to Extract Pages
Sharing Relevant Sections
Send just the chapter, section, or appendix someone actually needs, not the entire document.
Creating Summaries
Pull executive summary pages, key findings, or important charts for quick review documents.
Isolating Content
Need a specific table, diagram, or page for reference? Extract it into its own file.
Meeting Attachments
Attach only the agenda page or relevant slides, not the whole presentation.
Submission Requirements
Some portals have page limits. Extract only the required pages for upload.
How to Extract Pages
- Upload: Go to our Extract Pages tool and select your PDF
- Select pages: Enter page numbers (1, 3, 5-10) or click thumbnails to select visually
- Extract: We create a new PDF containing only your selected pages
- Download: Save your focused document
Extract vs. Delete: What's the Difference?
- Extract: Creates a new file with only selected pages. Original stays unchanged. You're saying "give me these pages."
- Delete: Creates a new file WITHOUT selected pages. You're saying "remove these pages."
Same result can often be achieved either way, but extraction is faster when you want fewer pages than you're removing.
Tips for Better Extractions
Preview Pages First
Skim through thumbnails to confirm page numbers. What you think is "around page 50" might actually be page 54.
Include Context
Extracting a chart? Consider including the page before or after that explains it.
Combine After Extraction
Need pages from multiple PDFs? Extract from each, then merge the extracted pages into one document.
Related Tools
- Delete pages — remove unwanted pages
- Split PDF — divide into multiple files by range
- Reorder pages — rearrange page sequence
- Merge PDFs — combine extracted pages with other docs
- Compress PDF — shrink extracted document if needed
Common Questions
Does extracting affect the original PDF?
No. Extraction creates a copy. Your original document remains complete and unchanged.
Can I extract from a scanned PDF?
Yes. Scanned pages extract just like any other pages. The result is still an image-based PDF unless you run OCR afterward.
What's the maximum number of pages I can extract?
There's no strict limit. Extract as many pages as you need.
Get exactly the pages you need. Extract pages now — free.