How to Split a PDF Page in Half (Vertically or Horizontally)

"Split a PDF in half" can mean two different things:

1. Cut every page down the middle, so each page becomes two. This is what you want for a scanned book spread, an A3 scan holding two A4 sheets, or handouts printed two-to-a-page.
2. Split the document at its middle page, so a 40-page file becomes two 20-page files.

Both take under a minute. Here's how to do each.

Cut each page in half (vertically or horizontally)

1. Open Split PDF and drop in your file.
2. Choose Cut each page in half.
3. Pick the direction:
   • Left | right cuts each page vertically down the middle. Use it for book spreads and side-by-side scans.
   • Top / bottom cuts each page horizontally across the middle. Use it for two receipts or tickets scanned one above the other, or a sheet printed with two slides stacked.
4. If the first page is a cover that shouldn't be cut, tick Keep the first page whole.
5. Click Split PDF. You get one PDF with twice as many pages, in reading order: left then right, or top then bottom.

The cut follows the page as you see it, even if the PDF has rotated pages inside it, so "left" is always the left half on your screen.

Nothing is uploaded. The split happens in your browser, which matters for scanned contracts, ID documents and anything personal.

What happens to quality?

None is lost. The tool doesn't re-render or re-compress anything; it only changes which part of each page is visible. Text that was selectable stays selectable, and scans keep their full resolution.

One thing to know: because nothing is removed, each half still contains the other half's content, just hidden outside the visible area. That's harmless for books and handouts. But if you're cutting a page in half to get rid of the other half, say to share one person's details from a page holding two, the hidden part is still in the file. Use Redact PDF to permanently remove content instead.

When the cut isn't in the right place

The tool cuts exactly through the middle of each page. That works for most scans, but not when:

• The spread is off-centre. If the book was placed to one side of the scanner glass, the middle of the page isn't the gutter, and the cut can slice through words. Re-scan with the book centred.
• There's a wide margin on one side. Trim even margins first with Crop PDF, then cut in half.
• Only some pages are spreads. Cut the whole file, then delete the half-pages you don't want in Organize Pages. Or split the spread pages out into their own file first with a page range.

Split the document into two halves instead

If you meant "split a 40-page PDF into two 20-page files":

1. Open Split PDF. It shows the page count after you add the file.
2. Choose Split into parts of equal length and enter half the page count, like 20 for a 40-page file. For an odd number, round up: 21 for a 41-page file gives parts of 21 and 20 pages.
3. Click Split PDF. Both halves download together in a .zip.

You can also use Extract pages twice: pages 1–20, then 21–40.

FAQ

How do I split a PDF page in half vertically? In Split PDF, choose Cut each page in half, then Left | right. Every page becomes a left page and a right page.

How do I split a PDF page in half horizontally? Choose Cut each page in half, then Top / bottom. Each page becomes a top page followed by a bottom page.

Will splitting pages in half reduce quality? No. Nothing is re-rendered or compressed; only the visible area of each page changes.

My book has a cover page. Will that be cut too? Not if you tick Keep the first page whole. The cover stays as one page and every page after it is cut.

Can I split a scanned PDF into two pages online for free? Yes. Split PDF is free with no watermark, and it works in your browser without uploading the file.