How to Delete Blank Pages From a PDF (Automatically)
Scanners and document feeders often introduce blank pages — the back of single-sided originals, sheet-feeder hiccups, end-of-batch flushes. A 200-page scan can have 30 blank pages. PDFShed detects and removes them automatically.
The problem
You scanned a 200-page contract bundle. The scanner ran in duplex mode but half the pages are single-sided originals — so half your output is blank backs. You need to delete every other blank page without scrolling through 200 pages.
Use the tool now
Open the remove blank pages tool and follow the steps below.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open the Remove Blank Pages tool
Drop your PDF in. The tool analyzes each page.
- 2
Pick a sensitivity threshold
"Strict" only removes truly blank pages (pure white). "Moderate" removes near-blank pages (faint scan artifacts allowed). "Aggressive" removes pages with very little ink (e.g., a single page number).
- 3
Preview which pages will be removed
The tool shows thumbnails of what it considers blank. Untick any page you want to keep.
- 4
Confirm and download
Click Remove → Download. New PDF has the blanks gone, page numbering re-flowed.
- 5
Verify page count
Compare the new PDF's page count to the expected total. If too aggressive, re-run with Strict.
Pro tips
- •For legal/audit work, keep an "as-scanned" original copy. The blank-removed copy is for sharing/upload.
- •If your scanner adds page numbers to blank backs, those count as "non-blank" and will be kept. Use Aggressive mode to remove those too.
- •For mostly-blank pages with a watermark or letterhead, the tool may keep them. Manual deletion via [Delete Pages](/en/tools/delete-pages) is more precise.
- •Run [Compress PDF](/en/tools/compress-pdf) after removal — fewer pages = smaller file.
Frequently asked questions
How does the tool decide what's "blank"?
It analyzes pixel density on each page. Pages with less than X% ink coverage (where X depends on sensitivity setting) are flagged.
What if a "blank" page is actually a section break?
Section break pages (intentional blanks) are common in legal docs. Use the preview step to untick them before removing.
Will page numbering update?
PDF page numbers (the metadata) reflow automatically. Visible page numbers (printed on each page) do not — those are part of the page content. Re-run [Page Numbers](/en/tools/page-numbers) to re-add fresh numbering.
Does this work on text PDFs?
Yes, but it's rare for text-export PDFs to have blank pages. This tool shines on scans.