PDF Crop
Trim margins off every page of a PDF. Adjust top, bottom, left, and right with live preview. Perfect for tightening scanned documents, removing whitespace, or prepping for print. Runs in your browser.
Drop PDF here or click to upload
Any PDF · Margins cropped in your browser
PDF Crop runs 100% in your browser
Your files are never uploaded to any server. All processing happens locally on your device using modern browser technology. Private, fast, and free.
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How to Crop Margins from a PDF Online
Open the PDF Crop tool
Navigate to the tool. No signup, no upload to a server.
Upload your PDF
Drop the file — any size, any number of pages. The tool reads page dimensions immediately.
Set the crop margins
Enter how much to trim from each side (top, bottom, left, right) in points (72 pt = 1 inch). Live preview shows the new bounding box.
Apply and download
Hit Crop — every page is uniformly trimmed. Download the cropped PDF in seconds.
Pro Tips
- •PDF measurements use points: 1 inch = 72 points, 1 cm ≈ 28.3 points. Most PDFs are 612×792 (US Letter) or 595×842 (A4).
- •Cropping doesn’t delete content — it tells PDF viewers to display a smaller visible area. The underlying content is preserved.
- •For scanned PDFs with thick black borders or excessive whitespace, cropping makes a much bigger visual difference than expected.
- •Crop uniformly across all pages — if individual pages need different crops, use a dedicated PDF editor.
- •Common preset: trim 36 pt (0.5 in) off each side to tighten generous margins without cutting content.
Who needs PDF Crop?
Students
Academic work and assignments
Professionals
Business and office tasks
Creatives
Design and content creation
Everyone
Personal everyday tasks
When to Use PDF Crop
Tighten scanned documents
Old scans often have generous borders. Crop them to focus on content and look more professional in print or sharing.
Remove sticky note borders
PDFs with annotation tool borders or printer-added margins can be trimmed for a cleaner final document.
Match presentation aspect ratios
Crop tall PDF pages to widescreen ratios for embedding in slide decks or social media posts.
Print-shop prep
Match your PDF to specific print bleed or trim sizes by cropping margins before sending to the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Cropping happens entirely in your browser using pdf-lib. Your document never leaves your device.
Does cropping delete content permanently?
No — cropping adjusts the visible area (the crop box). The original content stays in the file and can be un-cropped later with PDF tools. For permanent deletion, use a PDF redaction tool.
What’s the unit of measurement?
PDF points. 1 inch = 72 points. 1 cm ≈ 28.3 points. The tool shows you the current page size in points.
Can I crop different amounts on different pages?
Not in this tool — the crop applies uniformly across all pages. For per-page cropping, you’d need a dedicated PDF editor.
Will the file size shrink after cropping?
Slightly, since metadata changes. But the underlying content is preserved, so the savings are small. For real size reduction, follow up with our PDF Compressor.
PDF Crop vs Alternatives
Cropping PDFs is common when working with scanned documents and oversized pages.
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Industry standard
Key difference: Visual interactive cropping but requires a paid subscription. Powerful but heavy for one-off jobs.
Preview (macOS)
Built-in Mac tool
Key difference: Free and good for Mac users — but Windows users have no equivalent built-in option.
Online PDF services
Smallpdf, iLovePDF, etc.
Key difference: Convenient but require uploading your file — risky for confidential documents.
Browser-only processing, simple numeric inputs, live preview, no upload, no signup, instant download.
Good to know
- All processing happens in your browser. Very large files may be slower on mobile devices or older computers.
- Results depend on the quality and format of your input. For best results, use high-quality source files.
- Once you close the browser tab, all data is gone. Make sure to download your results before closing.
Key Features
100% Free
No hidden fees, no premium tiers, no limits on how much you use it. Free today, free tomorrow, free forever.
Complete Privacy
Your files never leave your device. Everything is processed locally in your browser — we physically cannot access your data.
No Registration
Start using the tool immediately. No account, no email, no personal information required. Just open and use.
Works Everywhere
Compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on desktop and mobile. Works offline once the page has loaded.
Full Step-by-Step Guide
Detailed walkthrough with pro tips and best practices for getting the best results every time.
Read guideFrequently Asked Questions
Every common question answered — file limits, privacy, supported formats, compatibility, and more.
View FAQCompare Alternatives
See how PDF Crop stacks up against Adobe, Smallpdf, and other paid and free alternatives.
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