Waxfinch / Guides
Printing coloring pages on A4 or Letter
Short answer: if the file and your paper do not match, choose "Fit" (or "Fit to page") in the print window. The whole picture prints, a little smaller. If they match, choose "Actual size" or 100%.
The two sizes
| Paper | Millimetres | Inches | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 216 x 279 | 8.5 x 11 | US, Canada and a few neighbours |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.27 x 11.69 | Almost everywhere else |
A4 is about 6 mm narrower and 18 mm taller than Letter. That small difference is why a page can lose its edges.
What goes wrong, and the fix
| File | Paper | At "Actual size" | With "Fit" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | A4 | About 3 mm is lost on the left and on the right; empty space at the bottom | Whole picture, at about 97% |
| A4 | Letter | About 9 mm is lost at the top and at the bottom | Whole picture, at about 94% |
| Letter | Letter | Prints as drawn | Same, or very slightly smaller |
| A4 | A4 | Prints as drawn | Same, or very slightly smaller |
The millimetres come from the two paper sizes. Most home printers also leave a few millimetres unprinted at every edge, so the real loss can be a little more.
Step by step
- Check which paper is in the printer. The size is printed on the pack.
- If the download offers both sizes, open the file that matches. Both of our packs and both free pages come as Letter and A4.
- In the print window, look for the size or scaling choice. It is usually called "Actual size", "100%", "Fit", "Fit to page" or "Scale to fit".
- Matching file and paper: Actual size. Not matching: Fit.
- Check that the paper size named in the print window is the paper you really have. A printer set to Letter with A4 loaded will cut the page whatever you choose.
Does a smaller picture matter?
Not for coloring. At 94% a picture that was 180 mm wide prints 169 mm wide. The lines are just as thick to a child's eye, and the margin is a little wider.
Questions
Why is my coloring page cut off at the edges?
Usually the file is one paper size and the printer is set to, or loaded with, the other. Choose "Fit" in the print window, or open the file made for your paper.
Is A4 the same as 8.5 x 11?
No. 8.5 x 11 in is US Letter. A4 is 210 x 297 mm, which is 8.27 x 11.69 in: slightly narrower and taller.
Can I print an A4 PDF on Letter paper?
Yes. Choose "Fit" and the page prints whole at about 94% of its size.
Pages to try it with
Two free full-size pages, Letter and A4, no sign-up: a pair of Christmas mittens and Ladybug, Ladybug. The full packs are Cute Christmas Coloring Pages and My First Nursery Rhymes Coloring Book (Printable), $7 each.