Every print job can involve three paper-size settings: the document page size, the print dialog paper size, and the size the printer thinks is loaded in the tray. If they disagree, content shifts, shrinks, or gets cut off.
Does this affect you?
Use this when Letter, A4, Legal, or another size keeps printing wrong even though the paper in the tray looks correct.
Match the print dialog to loaded paper
This is the most common fix.
- Open File > Print or press Ctrl + P / Command + P.
- Find Paper Size under Preferences, More settings, or the main Mac print dialog.
- Choose the exact paper in the tray, such as Letter in the US or A4 where appropriate.
- Set scaling to Actual Size or 100 percent unless you intentionally need Fit to Page.
- Check preview before printing.
Adjust tray guides and printer settings
Some printers sense paper size from the tray.
- Pull out the tray and square the paper stack.
- Slide width and length guides snugly against the paper without bending it.
- On printers with screens, check Setup > Tray Settings or Paper Handling.
- Set the tray paper size to match the loaded paper.
- Reload the paper fully seated against the tray stops.
Check the document page setup
The file itself may be designed for a different size.
- Open Page Setup or Page Layout in the app.
- Check whether the document is Letter, A4, Legal, or another size.
- Change it to match the paper if needed.
- For PDFs, use the PDF viewer Page Sizing or Fit settings because PDFs can carry a fixed page size.
More control
Set defaults
On Windows, printer defaults can be adjusted in Printer properties. On Mac, regional settings often influence whether apps default to Letter or A4.
PDFs can override expectations
Downloaded forms and templates often have their page size baked in, so the PDF print dialog matters as much as printer settings.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Fix Paper Size and Layout Printing Problems (2025)
- Apple Support – Change Paper Size and Print Settings on Mac (2025)
- HP Support – Printer Uses the Wrong Paper Size (2025)
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