Formatting Issues

How to Set Correct Portrait and Landscape Dimensions in Word

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 8, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to configure custom page sizes correctly so that the document prints in the intended orientation without the dimensions being unexpectedly swapped.

How to Set Correct Portrait and Landscape Dimensions in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a document with a custom paper size (like an 8.5 x 5.5-inch receipt) for printing in a specific orientation.
Observed behavior: Word prints the custom receipt sideways or automatically changes its dimensions because the width and height values conflict with the selected page orientation.

Before you start

Before modifying your page layout settings, verify the exact physical dimensions of your paper and decide whether you want the final document printed vertically (portrait) or horizontally (landscape).

Solution 1Recommended

Match Custom Dimensions to the Page Orientation

Enter the width and height values based on the orientation you want, ensuring the smaller dimension is the width for portrait and the larger dimension is the width for landscape.

When entering custom page dimensions, Word interprets the values based on the selected orientation. If you specify a custom width that is larger than the height, Word assumes that a landscape orientation is intended. To prevent your document from printing sideways, you must align your dimension inputs with standard orientation rules.

Open Page Setup

Navigate to the 'Layout' (or 'Page Layout') tab on the Word ribbon and click the small dialog box launcher arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group.

Set Dimensions for Portrait

To print in Portrait mode, go to the 'Paper' tab and enter your custom sizes ensuring the Width is the smaller number and the Height is the larger number (e.g., Width: 5.5 inches, Height: 8.5 inches).

Set Dimensions for Landscape

To print in Landscape mode, enter the smaller dimension as the width and the larger as the height first, then switch to the 'Margins' tab and select 'Landscape'. Word will automatically reverse the dimensions to fit the orientation.

Apply and Preview

Click 'OK' to apply the changes. Press 'Ctrl + P' to open the Print Preview screen and verify that the document is no longer sideways before printing.

Match Custom Dimensions to the Page Orientation

Automatic Dimension Swapping: If you manually enter a width larger than the height while Portrait orientation is selected, Word may automatically swap the dimensions or change the orientation to Landscape to compensate.

Efficient Page Setup

Easily Set Custom Page Dimensions in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive and highly visual page setup interface, ensuring your custom receipts and documents print exactly as intended without unexpected dimension swapping or sideways printing.

1. Open Page Layout: Open your document in WPS Writer, navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the top menu, and click on 'Size'.
2. Access Custom Paper Size: Scroll to the bottom of the drop-down menu and select 'More Paper Sizes' to open the Page Setup dialog.
3. Enter Dimensions: Under the Paper tab, input your exact Width and Height. Keep the width smaller for a Portrait layout, or larger for a Landscape layout.
4. Confirm Orientation: Switch to the Margins tab to confirm your Portrait or Landscape orientation matches your inputted dimensions, then click 'OK'.

Easily configure custom paper sizes and orientations in just a few clicks.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and page layout settings.Accurate print preview prevents sideways or cropped printing errors.Free and lightweight office suite for everyday document editing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my custom-sized Word document print sideways?

This usually happens when the printer settings conflict with Word's page orientation. If you set a custom size with a width larger than the height but leave the orientation as Portrait, the printer may automatically rotate it. Ensure your width and height match the chosen orientation.

How do I print an 8.5 x 5.5 inch receipt correctly?

In the Page Setup dialog, enter 5.5 inches for the width and 8.5 inches for the height, then select Landscape orientation. Word will automatically adjust the dimensions to fit a landscape view for proper printing.

Can I save a custom paper size for future use in Word?

Yes. Once you configure your custom dimensions in the Page Setup dialog, you can click 'Set As Default' at the bottom of the window to apply this custom size to all new documents created from the Normal template.

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