Free Printer Test Page

Print Scale Test (Actual Size Check)

Many printouts come out slightly smaller than they should, because the print dialog quietly shrinks the page to fit the printable area. That is fine for a letter, but not for patterns, templates, labels or anything you need to measure. This page lets you check the scale in a few seconds.

Print Scale Test (Actual Size Check) – free printable PDF

In the print dialog choose 100% / Actual size, and turn off “Fit to page”.

It has an inch ruler, a centimeter ruler, 1 inch, 2 inch and 5 cm squares, a credit-card outline you can check without a ruler, a 100 mm line and a vertical ruler for the other direction.

How to print it

  1. Pick the paper size above, and add the printer name and date if you want to keep the printout.
  2. Click Print test page (or Download PDF and open it).
  3. In the print dialog, choose your printer and set the scale to 100% or Actual size.Use plain paper unless you are testing photo paper.

How to read the printout

Rulers
Lay a real ruler along the printed one. At 100% the marks line up over the whole length; at 97% the 6-inch mark ends about 3/16 in short.
Squares
The 1 in, 2 in and 5 cm squares should measure exactly that in both directions.
Card outline
No ruler? A credit card, debit card or driver’s license should fit the outline exactly.
Vertical ruler
Checks the scale from top to bottom. Some printers scale the two directions slightly differently.

Something wrong on your print?

Tap the problem you see for the usual causes and what to try.

Page printed too small, too large or cut off

Usual causes: The print dialog is scaling the page, or the paper size setting does not match the paper.

  1. Set Scale to 100% or “Actual size”, and turn off “Fit to page” or “Shrink oversized pages”.
  2. Make sure the paper size in the dialog (Letter or A4) matches the paper in the tray.
  3. Print the Print Scale Test page and measure the rulers.

More test pages

Printer Test Page previewPrinter Test PageColor Printer Test Page previewColor Printer Test PageBlack and White Test Page previewBlack and White Test PageCMYK Test Page previewCMYK Test PageNozzle Check Page previewNozzle Check PagePrinter Alignment Test Page previewPrinter Alignment Test PagePhoto Test Print previewPhoto Test PrintHP Printer Test Page previewHP Printer Test PageEpson Printer Test Page previewEpson Printer Test PageCanon Printer Test Page previewCanon Printer Test PageBrother Printer Test Page previewBrother Printer Test PageLabel Printer Test Page previewLabel Printer Test PageWeekly Inkjet Maintenance Page previewWeekly Inkjet Maintenance Page

Frequently asked questions

How do I print at actual size?

In the print dialog, set Scale to 100% or choose “Actual size”, and turn off “Fit to page”, “Shrink oversized pages” or “Fit to printable area”. In Chrome and Edge, open More settings → Scale → Custom 100.

Why is my printout slightly smaller than it should be?

“Fit to page” is on, or the paper size in the dialog does not match the paper (A4 printed on Letter or the other way round). Both shrink the page by a few percent.

What if it is still off at 100%?

A difference of under 1% can come from the paper feed. Measure over the longest ruler to be sure. If the error is always the same, some apps let you print at, say, 101% to compensate.