Set each edge on its own
Left inset, Bottom inset, Right inset and Top inset are four separate fields. Each one says how far that edge moves toward the center of the page. Leave a field at 0 to keep that edge where it is.
No file open
Crop PDF
or drop a file anywhere here
Dropbox
Google Drive
Files other than PDF are converted first. Signing in raises the size limit.
Or start from a blank IRS form
Browse all IRS forms →- You add
- One PDF
- You set
- The four insets and the pages to crop
- You get
- The PDF with cropped pages
Cropping a PDF moves the edges of a page inward so that margins, borders or unwanted strips fall outside the visible area. On this page you type four numbers, one for each edge: left, bottom, right and top. The numbers are in points, and 72 points make one inch. You can crop every page or name the pages you want, such as 1-3,5. The content that remains keeps its size and position. Cropping hides what lies outside the new edge and leaves it stored in the file, so use redaction when something has to be removed for good.
What can you do when you crop a PDF?
Measure in points
Insets are in points, the unit PDF pages are measured in. One inch is 72 points and one centimeter is about 28 points, so a half-inch trim is 36.
Crop all pages or only some
Leave Pages to crop empty to apply the same insets to every page. To target part of the document, type page numbers and ranges separated by commas, such as 1-3,5.
Keep the document's structure
The tool changes page boundaries and nothing else. Form fields, bookmarks and file attachments stay in the PDF, and the page count stays the same.
What cropping keeps and changes
Stays the same
- The page count and the page order.
- Text and images inside the new edges, at the same size and position.
- Form fields, bookmarks and attachments. Pages you did not list keep their size.
- The file on your device. You download a new copy.
Changes
- Each selected page gets a smaller visible area, because its page boundary moves inward on every edge you set.
- Content outside the new edges is hidden, not deleted. It stays in the file.
- The file does not get smaller, because the hidden content is still stored.
How to crop a PDF in 3 steps
Add your PDF
Put a PDF in the upload area at the top of the page by dropping it or by clicking to choose it.
Enter the insets and pages
Type the points to trim in Left inset, Bottom inset, Right inset and Top inset. Fill Pages to crop with a range such as 1-3,5, or leave it empty for every page.
Run the crop and download
Press Run Crop PDF. When the job is done, download the file and look at the first cropped page.
Why crop a PDF with indox?
Typed insets give you a crop you can repeat. The same four numbers give the same trim on every page and in every later file, which is hard to match when you drag a box by eye. You choose which pages are affected, and the rest of the document is left alone, including form fields, bookmarks and attachments. One document runs without an account. Files move over HTTPS, and the free tier clears them automatically within 24 hours after the job finishes. The page also states the catch plainly: a crop hides content and does not erase it. Knowing that up front keeps you from sharing a file that still carries what you meant to remove.
- Exact trims in points on each edge
- Every page or a chosen range
- Form fields, bookmarks and attachments kept
- No account for a single crop
- Automatic deletion on the free tier within 24 hours
What are the limits when you crop a PDF?
- Size
- Guests have a lower file size limit. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
- Formats
- This tool works on PDF files. To change a file's type, use the PDF converter.
- Privacy
- Files are encrypted in transit and processed on indox infrastructure.
- Deletion
- Free-tier files are deleted automatically within 24 hours after the job finishes. Signed-in output stays in your history for your plan's retention period.
Limits worth knowing
- There is no preview and no drag box on this page. You type numbers, so test your insets on one page before you crop a long document.
- Cropping hides content and does not delete it, and a PDF editor can bring the hidden area back. Do not use a crop to remove confidential information.
- One set of insets applies to every selected page in a run. If some pages need a different trim, run the tool again on the result with another page list.
- Insets follow the page's stored orientation. On a page that was turned with a rotation setting, including one turned with the rotate tool here, the edge the form calls left can be a different edge on screen.
- The form accepts any inset from 0 up and does not compare it with the page size. Keep the total for opposite edges below the page width or height. Negative values are refused, so a crop cannot add margin.
When the crop is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing changed | All four insets are 0 | Enter a value above 0 for at least one edge and run it again. |
| Cut-off content can still be found | Cropping hides content and does not delete it | For anything sensitive, use Redact Text instead of a crop. |
| The wrong edge was trimmed on a turned page | Insets follow the page's stored orientation | Swap the fields, and test the crop on one page first. |
| The job stops with an error naming an entry | Pages to crop holds a page number outside the file or a bad range | Correct it, for example 1-3,5, and run it again. |
| The file is not smaller | The hidden content is still stored | Use Compress PDF when size is the goal. |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
What else can you do with a PDF?
Who crops PDFs?
Readers on small screens
A scanned book or paper with wide margins shows tiny text on a tablet or e-reader. Trim the margins so the text fills more of the screen.
People tidying scanned pages
Scanners often leave a dark band or punch-hole shadows along one edge. Enter an inset for that edge to move it out of view.
Anyone preparing pages to print or present
Slides and handouts can carry a header strip or footer line you do not want on paper. Crop the top or bottom of the pages that have it.
When to crop a PDF
- A scan has a black border along the binding edge.
- Wide margins make a document hard to read on a phone or e-reader.
- Only pages 1-3 of a file carry a letterhead you want out of view.
- Printer's marks around a proof need to sit outside the visible page.
- Several files need the same trim, and you want to reuse the same four numbers.
Where can I read more?
Sources
- Cropping and Transforming PDFspypdf documentation
- PageObjectpypdf documentation
Facts checked on October 16, 2026
Do it all with indox
No tool matches that search.
Crop PDF FAQs
What unit are the insets in?
Points. There are 72 points in an inch, so multiply inches by 72, or centimeters by about 28.35.
How do I crop only certain pages?
Type them in Pages to crop as numbers and ranges separated by commas, for example 1-3,5. An empty field crops every page.
Does cropping delete the content I cut off?
No. The page edge moves and the content outside it stays in the file, where an editor can reveal it again. Use a redaction tool for anything sensitive.
Can I draw the crop area with my mouse?
This page has no visual selector. You set the crop with four number fields, one per edge.
Why do my pages look the same after cropping?
All four insets start at 0, and a crop of 0 on every edge changes nothing. Enter a value above 0 for at least one edge and run it again.
What happens if I type a page number that does not exist?
The job stops with an error that names the bad entry, and no file is produced. Correct the range and run it again.
Will cropping make the file smaller?
Do not count on it. The hidden content is still stored, so use the compress tool when size is the goal.
Can I crop a password-protected PDF?
Only after you remove the password. The crop form has four insets and a page list, and no password box.