Office Settings & Configuration

How to Set a Custom 5 x 8 Inch Page Size in Microsoft Word

Khadija Khan Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to configure a custom 5 x 8 inch page layout, but the size may be missing from the default options menu.

How to Set a Custom 5 x 8 Inch Page Size in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document that requires specific 5 x 8 inch dimensions, such as custom booklets, index cards, or invitations.
Observed behavior: The 5 x 8 inch size is unavailable in the standard page setup list because Word inherits its available paper sizes directly from the active printer driver's capabilities.

Before you start

Verify that your connected printer physically supports printing on 5 x 8 inch paper, as Word will not let you apply or print dimensions that your current printer driver does not support.

Solution 1Recommended

Set a Custom 5 x 8 Inch Page Size in Page Setup

Manually input the 5-inch width and 8-inch height directly into Word's Page Setup dialog box.

By bypassing the default paper size list, you can force Word to adopt any dimension, provided your printer allows it.

Open Page Setup

Open your document in Microsoft Word, navigate to the 'Layout' tab on the top ribbon, and click on 'Size' in the Page Setup group.

Select More Paper Sizes

Scroll to the bottom of the drop-down menu and click on 'More Paper Sizes...' to open the Page Setup dialog box.

Enter Custom Dimensions

Under the 'Paper' tab, select 'Custom size' from the Paper size drop-down menu. Enter '5' in the Width box and '8' in the Height box.

Apply Changes

Click 'OK' to apply the new 5 x 8 inch dimensions to your document.

Set a Custom 5 x 8 Inch Page Size in Page Setup

Check Page Orientation: If the dimensions appear reversed on your screen, return to the Layout tab and switch the Orientation setting between Portrait and Landscape.

Solution 2

Add the Custom Size via Printer Properties

Configure the custom dimension directly in your printer settings if Word rejects the manual entry.

Advanced Document Formatting

Easily Set Custom Page Sizes with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to configure custom page dimensions, including 5 x 8 inches, completely free. It provides high compatibility with Microsoft Word documents and handles custom printer dimensions seamlessly.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your text document in the WPS Writer application.
2. Navigate to Page Layout: Click on the 'Page Layout' tab located on the top ribbon.
3. Set Custom Dimensions: Click 'Size', select 'More Paper Sizes', and type 5" for the width and 8" for the height in the Page Setup window.
4. Apply and Print: Click 'OK' to format your document, then proceed to the print menu to print your 5x8 design.

Free and lightweight office suitePerfect compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive Page Layout interface for quick custom sizingRobust printer driver recognition

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word keep changing my custom paper size back to Letter?

Word may automatically revert to a default size like Letter if your active printer driver does not support 5 x 8 inch dimensions. To fix this, change your default printer to 'Microsoft Print to PDF' before adjusting the page size.

How do I print a 5x8 document on standard 8.5x11 inch paper?

You can print your 5x8 layout on standard Letter paper by keeping the document size at 5x8 in Word. In your printer settings, select the option to print at actual size and center the print. You can then trim the excess paper manually.

Is a 5x8 inch page considered Portrait or Landscape?

By default, if the width is 5 inches and the height is 8 inches, the document is in Portrait orientation. If you want the page to be wider than it is tall (8 inches wide and 5 inches high), you should set the orientation to Landscape.

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