Crop PDF
Crop PDF pages to remove margins and borders
PDF file
Loading the page preview…
Drag on the page to select the area to keep. With the selection focused, arrow keys move it by 1 px (Shift: 10 px) and Alt + arrow keys resize it.
Cropped PDF
Every page is cropped the same way.
About Crop PDF Pages
Our free Crop PDF tool lets you precisely trim and adjust the page boundaries of any PDF document online. With three crop modes (visual selection, custom margins, and a fixed 10% trim on every side), you have complete control over how your pages are trimmed for optimal viewing and printing.
PDF cropping is essential for removing unwanted margins from scanned documents, trimming excess white space around content, and adjusting page layouts for specific display requirements. Trim the wide margins of an A4 paper so it reads larger on an e-reader, cut the dark scanner edge off every page, or tighten slides into handouts.
This online PDF crop tool features an interactive visual selector that lets you drag to select exactly the area you want to keep, with a preview of the first page of your PDF. The crop settings are applied to all pages consistently, ensuring a uniform result throughout your document while preserving the original content quality.
Key Features
- Visual crop selection with interactive drag-to-select on PDF preview
- Custom margin controls for precise top, bottom, left, and right adjustments
- Fixed trim mode that removes 10% of the shorter page side from every edge
- Live PDF page preview with crop area dimensions displayed
- Crop area applied uniformly to all pages in the document
- Preserves original PDF quality, text, images, and embedded content
- Handles large multi-page documents
- Drag-and-drop file upload with real-time progress tracking
- No watermarks added to your cropped output files
- Supports PDF files up to 50MB in size
How to Use
- Upload your PDF: Drag and drop your PDF file or click "Choose a PDF" to select a file from your device.
- Choose crop mode: Select "Visual selection" to drag a crop area, "Custom margins" for precise margin control in points, or "Trim 10% on every side" for a quick uniform trim.
- Define crop area: For visual mode, click and drag on the preview to select the area to keep. For margins mode, adjust the sliders for each side.
- Verify selection: Review the highlighted crop area on the PDF preview to ensure it captures the content you want.
- Process & download: Click "Crop PDF" and download your cropped PDF once processing is complete.
Use Cases
- Scanned document cleanup: Remove scanner borders and excess margins from scanned paperwork for cleaner digital files.
- E-reader optimization: Crop away large margins to maximize content display on e-readers and tablets.
- Presentation preparation: Trim PDF slides to remove unnecessary whitespace for tighter, more professional presentations.
- Academic paper formatting: Adjust page boundaries for research papers that need specific margin requirements.
- Print optimization: Remove excess margins to reduce wasted paper when printing documents.
- Image extraction: Crop to isolate specific diagrams, charts, or images within PDF pages.
- Legal document trimming: Remove headers, footers, or margins from legal documents for focused content review.
- Batch page standardization: Apply uniform cropping across all pages for consistent page sizing throughout a document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cropping affect text quality?
No, cropping only adjusts the visible page boundaries. The original content within the crop area retains its full quality, including text, images, and vector graphics.
Is the crop applied to all pages?
Yes, the crop settings you define are applied uniformly to all pages in your PDF document, ensuring a consistent result.
What does the 10% trim do?
It removes 10% of the shorter page side from every edge of every page, the same amount on all four sides. It does not look at the page content, so check the dashed box on the preview before you crop.
What is the maximum file size supported?
The tool supports PDF files up to 50MB in size, which covers most standard documents and scanned files.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use visual selection for precision: The drag-to-select mode gives you the most control over exactly which area of the page to keep.
- Try the 10% trim on scans: Scanned pages often carry an even border, and the 10% trim removes it in one step. Check the dashed box on the preview first.
- Leave a small margin: When cropping manually, leave a small buffer around your content to avoid cutting off any text or images near the edges.
- Check the preview carefully: Review the highlighted crop area on the preview before processing to ensure all important content is within the selection.
- Keep the original file: Always save a copy of your original PDF before cropping, as the process permanently changes the page boundaries.
- Use custom margins for uniform trimming: When you need to trim the same amount from all sides, the margin sliders provide the fastest and most consistent approach.