How to Print A4 Designs at the Right Scale

Whether you are printing planner pages, journal inserts, wall art, or digital stationery, getting the scale just right is crucial — especially when working with A4-sized designs. One common frustration? Printing something that is supposed to be A4, only to find it shrunk, cropped, or misaligned.

In this guide, you will learn how to print A4 designs to ensure they look exactly the way you intended — both in scale and in quality.

What Is A4 and Why Scale Matters

A4 is a standard international paper size: 210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27" × 11.69"

If you've downloaded or created a digital design in A4 dimensions, printing it at 100% scale ensures that it appears exactly as designed. But here's the catch: printer settings, margins, and default scaling options can throw everything off.

Step-by-step: How to Print A4 Designs at the Right Scale

1. Start with a Proper A4 File

Make sure your design matches A4 dimensions before printing:

• In design programs: Set the canvas to 210 × 297 mm or 8.27" × 11.69"
• Export the file in PDF or high-resolution JPG/PNG (300 DPI)

Tip: PDFs tend to preserve layout and print dimensions more accurately than images.

2. Open Your file in a Suitable Program

Use software that allows complete control of print settings, like:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader (for PDFs)
• Preview (on Mac)
• Microsoft Word or Google Docs (if inserting images)
• Design software (Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator)

3. Go to Print Settings and Check the Scale

The most crucial part!

Look for these settings: 

• Page Scaling: Set to Actual Size or 100%.
• Do not use settings such as Fit to Page, Shrink Oversized Pages, or Scale to Fit.
• Paper Size: Choose A4, not Letter or custom sizes unless you know what you're doing.

If you use Fit to Printable Area, the printer may shrink your design to fit within the margins, resulting in incorrect sizing.

4. Adjust for Printer Margins (Optional but Helpful)

Most home printers do not print edge-to-edge — they leave a small white margin around the page. To avoid design elements from being cut off:

• Leave a margin of at least 5-10 mm around the edges
• Or, add bleed areas and trim after printing.

If your printer supports borderless printing, enable that option(usually found under Advanced settings).

5. Test Print Before Final Output

Always test print one page first:

• Use draft paper
• Measure the printed design with a ruler
• Make sure dimensions match A4 (210 mm x 297 mm)

If it looks too small or off-centered, revisit your scaling settings.

Common Troubleshooting Tips

• My design prints are too small. Ensure that Fit to Page or Shrink Oversized Pages is NOT selected.

• The page cuts off part of the design: Increase margins or enable borderless printing.

• I am printing on Letter-sized paper: Resize your file to fit a US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) or print using a custom scale (approx. 94%)  

Bonus Tip: Printing A4 on Letter Paper (for US users)

If you are in the US and cannot find an A4 paper:

• Choose the Custom Scale option and enter around 94% when printing on Letter-sized paper.

• You might need to trim the paper for an exact fit.

Quick A4 Printing Checklist

Need a fast way to double-check your settings before printing? Here is a simple checklist you can follow every time to avoid sizing issues and make sure your A4 designs print perfectly. 

 

✔️ Before You Print:

    Is your design sized to A4 dimensions? (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 × 11.69 inches)

    Did you export your file at 300 DPI or high resolution?

    Are you opening the file in a print-friendly app (like Adobe Reader or Preview)?

    Is Page Scaling set to Actual Size or 100%?

    Did you avoid from selecting Fit to Page or Shrink to Printable Area?

    Is the paper size in your printer settings set to A4, not Letter?

    Are you accounting for printer margins or enabling borderless printing?

    Did you do a test print and measure it with a ruler?

Tip: Keep a printed copy of this checklist near your printer or planner so you never miss a step!

Check Your Printer with the A4 Print Test Page

Before printing your final design, use this test page to ensure your printer is scaling correctly.

👉 Download the A4 Print Test Page (PDF)

Print the page and measure the borders with a ruler. If everything matches up, you're ready to print your designs!

Final Thoughts

Printing A4 designs at the correct scale doesn't have to be complicated — it just takes a few mindful clicks in your print settings. Whether you're printing planner pages, art prints, or journal templates, following these steps ensures your designs come out looking professional and perfectly sized.

Happy printing!