Printing Problems

How to Print an A1-Sized Document in Microsoft Word

Camila Milosovich Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to print a document on A1-sized paper using Microsoft Word, despite the software's inherent page dimension limitations.

How to Print an A1-Sized Document in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to create and print a large-format A1 document directly from Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word enforces a maximum page size of approximately 55.88 cm by 55.88 cm, which is smaller than the standard A1 dimensions (59.4 cm by 84.1 cm), preventing users from setting the page size directly to A1.

Before you start

Ensure that you are connected to a large-format printer or plotter that physically supports A1 paper, and that the appropriate printer drivers are fully installed and updated.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Printer Driver Scaling Settings

Because Word restricts native page sizes, you can design your document at half the size of A1 and then use your printer's scaling feature to enlarge it to the correct dimensions during printing.

Microsoft Word has a hard limit for page dimensions at 22 x 22 inches (approx. 55.88 cm x 55.88 cm). A standard A1 sheet is 59.4 cm x 84.1 cm. By creating a proportional smaller document, the printer driver can do the heavy lifting to scale the output without losing quality.

Set a proportional page size

Go to the Layout tab, click Size, and select More Paper Sizes. Set the document dimensions to exactly half of A1 (e.g., 29.7 cm width by 42.05 cm height).

Open the Print dialog

Press Ctrl + P or click File > Print, and select your A1-capable large format printer from the printer list.

Access Printer Properties

Click the Printer Properties link below the printer name to open the specific driver settings for your device.

Scale the document to 200%

Navigate to the Layout or Effects tab within Printer Properties, find the scaling options, and either set it to scale by 200% or choose 'Fit to Paper' with A1 selected as the destination paper size. Click OK and Print.

Printer Capabilities: Not all printer drivers have advanced scaling features built-in. If you do not see a scaling or 'Fit to Page' option in Printer Properties, you may need to use the PDF export method.

Solution 2

Export to PDF and Print

Saving your document as a PDF allows you to bypass Word's print dialogue entirely and use a dedicated PDF reader with robust large-format scaling options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the absolute maximum page size I can set in Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word supports a maximum page dimension of 22 inches by 22 inches (approximately 55.88 cm by 55.88 cm). You cannot enter a custom size larger than this limit in the Page Setup menu.

Why is my document getting cut off when I print to a large format printer?

This usually happens if the page size in Word does not proportionately match the destination paper size, or if the printer driver is not configured to scale the document properly to fit the larger paper.

Can I save my Word document natively as an A1 size PDF?

No, because Word limits the initial page dimensions. You must create the document at a proportionately smaller size (like A3 or half of A1), export it as a PDF, and then use PDF software to scale the print output up to A1.

Document & File Issues