How to remove pages from a PDF
- Drop a PDF onto the drop zone above, or click to choose it.
- In Pages to delete, type the page numbers you want to get rid of, for example
2, 4-6. - Click Remove pages.
- Download the new PDF. Your original file is not modified, so you can start again if you made a mistake.
Pages are removed by pdf-lib running in your browser. The document is not uploaded, which is useful when the pages you are deleting contain sensitive information you don't want to share.
Writing page numbers and ranges
Page numbers refer to the position of the page in the file, starting at 1. That may differ from the number printed on the page: front matter such as a cover, contents or preface often uses Roman numerals or no numbers at all. Check the page counter in your PDF viewer if you are unsure.
| You type | Pages deleted from a 10-page PDF | Pages left |
|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 2–10 |
2, 4-6 | 2, 4, 5, 6 | 1, 3, 7–10 |
9-10 | 9, 10 | 1–8 |
Separate entries with commas, and use a hyphen for a continuous run of pages. All page numbers refer to the original document, so you don't need to worry about pages shifting as earlier ones are removed.
Common reasons to delete PDF pages
- Blank pages left by double-sided scanning of single-sided originals.
- Cover sheets, fax headers and separator pages that add nothing to the document.
- Irrelevant sections, such as terms and conditions or appendices, before forwarding a document to someone who only needs the main part.
- Duplicates created when the same page was scanned twice or two versions of a file were merged.
Like the other page tools on this site, removal works on whole pages and leaves the pages you keep exactly as they were: text stays selectable and images are not recompressed. If the remaining document is still too large to send, try Compress PDF.
Tips and limitations
- If you want to keep only a few pages of a long document, it is easier to list those pages in Split PDF using the extract mode.
- Bookmarks or internal links that pointed to a deleted page will no longer lead anywhere.
- If the remaining pages carry printed page numbers, they will now have gaps. You can stamp fresh, continuous numbers with Add Page Numbers to PDF.
- Password-protected or encrypted PDFs are not supported. Unlock it first with Unlock PDF (you need its password), then come back.
- You cannot delete every page; a PDF needs at least one page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove several non-consecutive pages at once?
Yes. Separate them with commas, for example 3, 7, 12-14.
Will the quality of the remaining pages change?
No. The pages you keep are copied as they are, with text, images and fonts unchanged.
Can I undo a deletion?
Your original PDF is untouched, so simply reload it and try again with different page numbers.
Can I reorder pages as well?
This tool only deletes. To change the order, split the document into parts and combine them in the order you want with Merge PDF.