Free and Built-In
Preview comes pre-installed on every Mac-no extra software purchases needed.
How to Crop PDF Using Preview on Mac
Learn how to use the built-in Preview app on your Mac to crop PDF pages, remove margins, and clean up documents without installing extra software.
Why Use Preview to Crop PDFs?
Preview is a free built-in app on every Mac that includes basic PDF editing capabilities, including cropping.
Preview is a powerful, free tool included with macOS. It allows you to view, annotate, and edit PDFs without purchasing additional software.
While Preview's cropping feature is limited compared to professional tools, it works well for basic PDF cropping tasks like removing margins, white space, or scanner borders.
How to Crop a PDF Using Preview on Mac
Follow these steps to crop PDF pages using the Preview app on your Mac.
1. Open PDF in Preview
Right-click your PDF file and select Open With > Preview, or open Preview and go to File > Open to select your document.
2. Show the Markup Toolbar
Click the Show Markup Toolbar button (the pencil icon) in the top-right corner of the Preview window to access editing tools.
3. Select the Rectangular Selection Tool
Click the Rectangular Selection tool from the toolbar to enable selection mode.
4. Draw the Crop Area and Apply
Drag a rectangle around the area you want to keep. Then go to Tools > Crop to apply the crop. Save your cropped PDF.
Benefits of Using Preview for PDF Cropping
A free, built-in solution for Mac users.
Simple to Use
Basic cropping is straightforward and can be done in just a few clicks.
No Internet Required
Crop PDFs offline without needing an internet connection.
Quick Edits
For simple cropping tasks, Preview is faster than downloading other tools.
Preview Limitations and Alternatives
While Preview is convenient for basic cropping, it has limitations. You cannot crop multiple pages at once or crop specific pages while leaving others unchanged. For advanced cropping needs like batch processing, specific page selection, or complex crops, consider using an online PDF crop tool instead.
When to Use Preview for PDF Cropping
Preview works best for simple, quick cropping tasks.
Remove margins from one PDF
Crop a single scanned page
Quick document cleanup
Offline PDF editing
Basic page trimming
Remove white space quickly
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about this tool.
Need More PDF Cropping Features?
Try an online PDF cropper for advanced features like batch cropping, specific page selection, and more.