Why are the edges cut off when printing?
Cut-off edges usually mean content extends outside the printer’s printable area, or the document is being printed on a smaller or differently proportioned sheet. A correct paper size does not guarantee edge-to-edge printing. Borderless photo modes can enlarge the image slightly and trim its outer edges, while ordinary document modes leave unprintable margins.
The three settings that must agree
- Document page size: the dimensions saved in the file or application.
- Printer driver paper size: the destination sheet requested by the print job.
- Sheet physically loaded: the actual paper in the selected tray, including its registered size on the printer.
For a paper-size or mismatch warning, one of these three usually disagrees; check them before assuming a fault. For cropped or incomplete output, check printable margins, the application's print area and scaling too. If you intentionally print onto a different size, select that destination and scale the source document to fit.
Fix it on Windows
Check whether the preview is already cropped
Open the document’s File > Print preview. In Word, inspect Layout > Size and Layout > Margins. If content is already outside the page there, correct the document before changing the printer.
Match the Windows driver to the loaded sheet
In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printing preferences. In Windows 10, use Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Manage > Printing preferences. Select the loaded Paper Size and Paper Source. Drivers may place these under Paper/Quality, Layout or Advanced.
Fit the page or reduce borderless expansion
In Acrobat Reader, open File > Print > Page Sizing & Handling > Size > Fit. For photos, inspect the driver’s Borderless or Expansion setting; select a bordered layout if preserving every image edge matters more than filling the sheet.
Send one fresh test page
Cancel the old job in the print queue and send one page again after changing the settings. A queued job can retain the earlier size. Check the preview and printed margins before printing the remaining copies.
Fix it on macOS
Match the macOS print job to the loaded sheet
Open File > Print, select the intended printer and choose Paper Size. Expand Show Details if your version displays that button. Under Paper Feed or the manufacturer’s printer options, select the tray holding that sheet. These controls vary by application, driver and AirPrint support.
Fit inside the printable area
In Preview, open File > Print > Scale to Fit and choose Print Entire Image if offered, rather than Fill Entire Paper. In other applications, use Paper Handling > Scale to Fit Paper Size and confirm the destination sheet.
Check borderless and document margins
In File > Print, check whether Paper Size is a borderless variant. Choose a bordered size to preserve photo edges, or move document content inward using the application’s page or margin settings.
Send one fresh test page
Cancel the old job in the print queue and send one page again after changing the settings. A queued job can retain the earlier size. Check the preview and printed margins before printing the remaining copies.
If it still will not print
- Rest the tray guides against the stack without bowing the sheets. Use one size and type per stack.
- Check the selected tray. An automatic source can choose a different stack from the one you checked.
- For custom paper, confirm that the size is defined in the driver and supported by the chosen tray. A custom preset cannot make a narrow paper path wider.
- If the settings agree and a simple test still fails, check the manufacturer's support page for your exact model's driver and firmware updates. Follow its update instructions and keep power connected throughout.
Some models allow a mismatch override or Continue option. That may let the job print, but the margins can sit unevenly on the sheet or content can be cut off. Use it only after checking what will be printed; it is not a replacement for matching the settings.
Check the actual paper dimensions
A4 vs Letter: dimensions and print scaling
A4 → Letter: use 94% to fit the full sheet in portrait orientation, rounded down. Printer margins may require a smaller scale. The A4 vs Letter comparison explains both directions.