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How to Print a Word Document on A5 Paper
Question details
The user wants to print a Microsoft Word document on A5 paper, either by natively formatting the document to A5 size or by scaling down an existing A4 layout.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting a document or adjusting printer settings to successfully print onto A5 paper without disrupting the desired layout.
- Observed behavior
- Users need the correct layout dimensions or scaling percentages in Word's print properties to output the document on a smaller A5 page.
Ensure that your printer hardware supports A5 paper and that you have loaded the A5 sheets into the correct printer tray before adjusting your software settings.
Change the Document Layout Size to A5
Use this method if you are creating a new document or do not mind the text and formatting adjusting to fit a narrower page width.
Changing the page size directly in Word will alter your document's layout. Text will reflow to fit the new margins, and images may shift positions. This is the best approach for starting a fresh document.
Open your Word document and click on the 'Layout' tab located on the ribbon.
Click 'Size' in the Page Setup group and select 'A5' from the dropdown menu.
If A5 is not listed, select 'More Paper Sizes' at the bottom of the menu. Manually set the width to 14.8 cm and the height to 21 cm, then click 'OK'.
Go to 'File' > 'Print', ensure your printer is selected, and click the 'Print' button.
Scale an A4 Layout to A5 via Printer Properties
Use this method if you already have a perfectly formatted A4 document and want to shrink it to fit A5 paper without changing margins or text wrapping.
Save as PDF and Scale to Print
If your printer driver lacks a scaling option, exporting your Word document to PDF provides an easy workaround using a PDF reader's built-in scaling features.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Formatting
If you find Microsoft Word's print scaling and page layout settings too complex, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. It provides an intuitive interface for editing and printing documents in any size, ensuring your formatting stays intact.
- 1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document without losing any formatting.
- 2. Adjust the Layout: Navigate to the Page Layout tab and click Size to easily select A5 from the preset options.
- 3. Print with Ease: Go to Menu > Print, configure your scaling options in the clear interface, and print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is A5 not showing up in my Word paper size options?
The available paper sizes in Word are directly tied to your selected printer's driver capabilities. If the active printer does not natively support A5, Word will hide the option. You can bypass this by selecting 'More Paper Sizes' and manually entering the A5 dimensions: 14.8 cm width and 21 cm height.
Will changing the paper size to A5 mess up my document formatting?
Yes, changing the layout size directly in Word alters the page width, causing text to reflow and potentially shifting tables or images. To avoid this and keep your exact layout, keep the document size as A4 and use your printer's 'Scale to Fit' option (or scale to 71%) during printing.
What are the exact dimensions of A5 paper?
Standard A5 paper dimensions are 148 x 210 millimeters, or 14.8 x 21 centimeters. In inches, this translates to approximately 5.8 x 8.3 inches.
