PDF Printing Issues

How to Print a PDF on 8.5 x 17-Inch Paper

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to print a PDF document or a converted Excel file specifically on an 8.5 x 17-inch sheet of paper.

How to Print a PDF on 8.5 x 17-Inch Paper

Product: PDF Reader
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a document with a non-standard or custom paper size.
Observed behavior: The user needs instructions on how to locate and select the 8.5 x 17-inch paper size in the printing options.

Before you start

Ensure your physical printer actually supports 8.5 x 17-inch paper (often configured as a custom size) and that the paper is properly loaded into the correct printer tray.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Custom Paper Size via Printer Driver Settings

Paper sizes are controlled by your printer driver rather than the PDF application itself. You need to access the advanced printer properties to set a custom size.

PDF readers generally rely on the underlying printer driver for available paper sizes. If 8.5 x 17 inches is not listed in the default dropdown, you can configure it directly through the printer's specific properties menu.

Open the print dialog

Open your PDF document and press Ctrl + P (or Command + P on Mac) to bring up the Print dialog box.

Select the correct printer

From the printer dropdown menu, choose the printer hardware that physically supports 8.5 x 17-inch paper.

Access Printer Properties

Click the "Printer", "Properties", or "Advanced" button within the print dialog. If a warning prompt appears after clicking, select "Yes" to proceed to the system print dialog.

Set the paper size

Navigate to the "Paper/Quality" or "Page Setup" tab in the driver properties, select "Custom", and input 8.5 for width and 17 for length/height. Click OK to confirm and print your document.

Configure Custom Paper Size via Printer Driver Settings

Printer Compatibility: If you cannot set custom dimensions in the properties menu, your specific printer model or its current driver version may not support paper sizes as large as 17 inches in length.

Print Custom Sized PDFs Easily

Print PDFs with Custom Paper Sizes using WPS PDF

WPS Office includes a powerful built-in PDF reader that makes printing on custom sizes like 8.5 x 17 inches straightforward. Access advanced printer settings, scale your documents seamlessly, and preview your print jobs accurately all in one free tool.

1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you wish to print.
2. Access the Print Menu: Click on "Menu" in the top-left corner and select "Print", or simply press Ctrl + P.
3. Open Printer Properties: Choose your desired printer from the "Name" dropdown list, then click on the "Properties" button to open the driver settings.
4. Define the Custom Size: In the printer properties window, navigate to the Paper size settings and define your custom 8.5 x 17-inch dimensions, then click OK.
5. Preview and Print: Verify the document layout in the WPS Print Preview pane to ensure it scales correctly, then click "Print" to start the job.

Easily scale and print PDFs on custom paper sizes like 8.5 x 17 inchesFully compatible with standard Adobe PDF formats and extensionsLightweight application with fast rendering for large documentsAdvanced print preview ensures your document fits the page perfectly

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't 8.5 x 17 inches appear in my paper size dropdown?

The paper sizes listed in the print dialog are dictated by the installed printer driver, not the PDF software. If your printer hardware does not support this size, or if you are using a generic driver, the option will not be available in the dropdown menu.

How do I force my PDF content to fit onto an 8.5 x 17-inch paper?

In your print dialog box, look for the "Page Sizing & Handling" or "Scaling" section. Select "Fit" or "Shrink oversized pages" to automatically scale the PDF content so it fits cleanly onto your selected 8.5 x 17-inch paper without cutting off the edges.

Can I print an 8.5 x 17-inch Excel spreadsheet to PDF?

Yes. Before saving or printing to PDF from Excel, go to the Page Layout tab, click "Size," select "More Paper Sizes," and create a custom 8.5 x 17-inch size. Once configured, export the file to PDF or use "Print to PDF" to preserve these exact dimensions.

PDF Troubleshooting