How do I split a scanned book PDF into single pages?

Drop the PDF, keep "Left and right" selected, keep the covers whole if they were scanned on their own, and click Split pages in half. Each spread becomes two pages in order.

Can I split the page somewhere other than the middle?

Yes. Move the cut position slider anywhere from 10% to 90% of the page width (or height for a top/bottom cut).

Does it work for right-to-left books?

Yes. Tick "Right-to-left book" and the right half of each spread is placed before the left half.

Is the other half deleted?

No, it is cropped: hidden from view but still in the file, which is why the file size stays about the same. To remove it completely, convert the result to images with Compress PDF to a set size.

No. The pages are split in your browser and the new PDF is created on your device. Nothing is sent to our server.

Can it split by bookmarks or chapters?

No. This tool cuts pages in two. To split a PDF into separate files by page range, use Split PDF.

Split PDF Pages in Half

Turn each two-page spread into two separate pages. Cut left and right for scanned books, or top and bottom for stacked handouts, and move the cut if the spine is off-centre. Your PDF is processed in your browser and never uploaded.

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Will this split my PDF?

Scanned two-page spreads or 2-up sheets

Cut left/right or top/bottom at any position from 10% to 90%.

Removing the hidden half from the file

Halves are cropped, not deleted. Convert pages to images to remove what is outside the crop.

Compress PDF to a set size

Splitting into separate files, or by bookmarks

This tool makes one PDF with more pages. Split by page range instead.

Split PDF

Keeping bookmarks and fillable form fields

Bookmarks are not carried over and form fields may stop being editable.

Password-protected PDFs

Remove the password first, then split.

Unlock PDF

Features

Left/right or top/bottom cut
Adjustable cut position, 10% to 90%
Right-to-left order for Arabic, Urdu, Hebrew and manga
Keep the first and last pages (covers) whole
Auto mode: only cuts pages that are wider than tall
Follows page rotation and existing crop, so it cuts what you see

When you need to split pages in half

Scanned books and notes

Scanning an open book captures two pages per image. Split them into single pages for reading on a phone or printing.

2-up handouts

Slides or notes printed two per sheet become one per page again.

A3 sheets to A4

An A3 page cut in half gives two A4-sized pages.

How splitting pages in half works

What happens to each page

Each page is used twice. The first copy shows only the left (or top) part and the second only the right (or bottom) part, so one spread becomes two pages in reading order. Nothing is re-rendered: text stays selectable and scans keep their resolution.

The cut follows the page as you see it. A spread saved as a rotated page, or a page that was already cropped, is cut along its visible width, not its stored size.

Books with covers and mixed pages

Covers are often scanned as single pages. Tick "Keep the first page whole" and "Keep the last page whole".
When a file mixes single pages and spreads, the tool switches on auto mode for you, so only pages wider than tall are cut.
For books read right to left, tick "Right-to-left book" so the right half comes first.

The hidden half is still in the file

Each half is cropped, not deleted: the other half is hidden but still inside the PDF, and some editors can reveal it. If that matters, run the result through Compress PDF to a set size, which turns each page into an image of just the visible part.

Related PDF tools

Split a PDF into separate files by page range: Split PDF.
Trim margins or a scanner border: Crop PDF.
Do the opposite and put two pages on one sheet: Pages per Sheet.
Scanning a book with your phone? Scan to PDF first.