PRINT AT HOME

Best paper and printer settings for printables

Updated

Short answer

Print from the PDF at Actual size (100%) on paper the size of the page. Use plain 20 to 24 lb (75 to 90 gsm) paper for puzzle pages and games played once, and card stock for cards and signs you want to keep. Set the paper type to match what's in the tray and use Standard quality for most pages.

The settings that matter

  1. Print from the PDF itself, not a screenshot or a photo of the page: the PDF prints sharp at any size.
  2. Scale: choose Actual size or 100% when your paper is the page's size (most of our pages are US Letter), so cut lines and card sizes come out as designed. Choose Fit to page only when your paper is smaller, such as A4.
  3. Paper size: pick the size that's really in the tray (US Letter, 8.5 × 11 in, or A4).
  4. Paper type (also called Media type): tell the printer what you loaded, such as Plain, Matte or Card stock. It changes how much ink goes down and how fast the paper moves.
  5. Quality: Standard is right for most pages. Use High or Best for color-heavy pages on matte paper, and Draft for test prints.
  6. Pages: type only the pages you want (for example 2-5, 9) so you don't print instructions or extra copies by accident.

Paper for each kind of printable

  1. Puzzle pages, planners, worksheets and activity books: plain copy paper, 20 to 24 lb (75 to 90 gsm).
  2. Bingo cards and game sheets played once: plain paper, or slightly heavier 28 to 32 lb (105 to 120 gsm) so markers don't show through.
  3. Cards, table signs, place cards, invitations and props: card stock, 65 to 80 lb cover (176 to 216 gsm) for most home printers (see the card stock guide).
  4. Coloring pages: plain paper for crayons and colored pencils; card stock or heavier paper for markers, which can bleed through thin paper.

Saving ink

  1. Use grayscale or black-and-white printing for practice copies and answer keys.
  2. Where a printable includes printer-friendly copies (white backgrounds, much less ink), print those for everyday use and save the full-color pages for the ones on display.
  3. Leave borderless printing off: it enlarges the page a little, which can trim the edges and change card sizes.

Tips

  • Fill in a fillable PDF on the screen first (names, dates), save it, then print the saved copy.
  • If the colors look dull, check the paper type: plain-paper settings on matte paper often print lighter than they should.
  • A copy shop can print large runs or heavier card stock than a home printer takes; bring the PDF and ask for actual size.

From our printables

47 printables are fillable PDFs: type names and details in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, save, then print.

5 printables include printer-friendly copies that use much less ink.

Page sizes and page counts are read from each printable's PDF; quoted lines are from its listing.

Questions

What does Actual size mean?

It prints the page at its real size, with no shrinking or enlarging. Your print window may call it 100%, Actual size or No scaling.

Glossy or matte paper?

Matte is easier for most printables: it takes pen and pencil, doesn't glare, and dries faster in an ink-jet printer. Glossy suits photos more than games and cards.

Why did my page print smaller than expected?

The print window was set to Fit to page or Shrink oversized pages while the paper was US Letter. Switch Scale to Actual size or 100% and print again.