GulluHow to Print Coloring Pages at Home — Paper, Settings and Sizes
Short answer: For most home printers, print coloring pages on everyday copy paper in the size your printer uses (US Letter or A4), with the print dialog set to Fit or Scale to fit and black and white or grayscale turned on. Use heavier cardstock for markers, paint or pages you want to keep, but check your printer's paper-weight limit first.
Step by step: printing a coloring page
- Open a free printable page from the coloring pages library and choose Print (or download it first, then print).
- Pick your printer and check the paper size: US Letter in the US and Canada, A4 in most other countries.
- Set scaling to Fit (sometimes called "Fit to page," "Fit to printable area" or "Scale to fit").
- Choose portrait or landscape to match the picture's shape.
- Switch to black and white or grayscale to save color ink.
- Preview, then print one copy before printing a stack.
Which paper size should I use: Letter or A4?
Use whatever is in your printer tray. The two common sizes are close but not the same:
| Size | Dimensions | Where it's standard |
|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm) | United States and Canada |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm (8.27 × 11.69 in) | Most of the world (ISO 216) |
A4 is a little narrower and taller than Letter. If the paper size selected in the print dialog doesn't match the paper in the tray, edges can be cut off or the picture can shift, so check this first.
Fit to page or Actual size?
This one setting fixes most printing problems.
- Fit reduces or enlarges the page to fit the printable area of your paper. This is the safest choice for coloring pages.
- Actual size prints without scaling. Anything that doesn't fit on the paper gets cropped.
- Shrink oversized pages shrinks large pages but doesn't enlarge small ones.
These are Adobe Acrobat's descriptions (Adobe). Other apps use similar names.
On a Mac: Choose File > Print, open the print options menu, choose Paper Handling, then select Scale to fit paper size and pick your paper under Destination Paper Size. "Scale down only" shrinks the page only if it's too big (Apple Support).
Why are the edges still cut off? Most home printers can't print right to the edge of the paper. With Fit selected, the picture shrinks slightly so the outline stays inside the printable area.
How do I print in black and white to save ink?
Look for a Color setting in the print dialog or your printer's own settings panel, and choose Black and white, Grayscale or Mono. The name and location vary by printer driver. For example, Brother's Windows driver has a Color/Grayscale option on its Basic tab, and notes that grayscale printing is faster than color (Brother).
Coloring pages are line art, so grayscale prints look the same and save your color cartridges. A draft or fast quality setting can save more ink, but check that lines stay dark enough to see.
What paper is best for coloring pages?
| Paper | Typical weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday copy paper | 20–24 lb bond (about 75–90 gsm) | Crayons, colored pencils, everyday printing |
| Light cardstock | About 65 lb cover (about 170 gsm) | Markers, gifts, cards, pages for display |
| Heavier cardstock | 80 lb cover and up (about 216 gsm and up) | Paint, glue, crafts, if your printer accepts it |
Weights are approximate. Sources: 4OVER4 paper weight guide.
Paper "pounds" depend on the paper category, so 20 lb bond and 20 lb cover are very different sheets. Grams per square meter (gsm) is the more reliable number to compare. Before loading cardstock, check your printer's manual for its maximum paper weight and whether it needs the rear or manual feed.
Tips by coloring tool:
- Crayons: Any copy paper works. A slightly textured paper grabs more color.
- Markers: Use cardstock or put scrap paper underneath, since markers can bleed through thin paper.
- Watercolor or paint: Use the heaviest stock your printer accepts and keep the paint light.
- Glitter and glue: Cardstock keeps the page from curling.
Can I print two pages on one sheet, or one page across several?
Smaller (two per sheet): Most print dialogs have a Pages per sheet or Multiple option. Two per sheet gives half-size pages, which are handy for quick activities, place cards or little hands that tire quickly.
Bigger (poster size): Adobe Acrobat's Poster option tiles one page across several sheets. You can set the scale, overlap and cut marks, then tape the sheets together (Adobe). A giant coloring page makes a great group project. See more ideas in our classroom coloring activities.
Printing coloring pages from a phone or tablet
Phones and tablets can print to most wireless printers. Open the page, tap the Share or menu button, and choose Print. Check the paper size and, if your printer offers it, choose black and white. If the picture prints too small or cut off, download the page and print it from a computer where you have more scaling options.
Printing for a classroom
- Print one test copy first, then photocopy. Copiers often handle stacks faster and cheaper.
- Mix difficulty levels. Print a simple page, like the circle from shapes or the zero from numbers, alongside a more detailed one, like the firefighter from community helpers.
- Know the license. Gullu's free printable pages (one in each theme) are free for personal and classroom use, but they may not be resold.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely fix |
|---|---|
| Edges cut off | Choose Fit or Scale to fit; match paper size to the tray |
| Picture tiny in the corner | Turn off "Actual size" or 100% scaling; choose Fit |
| Faint or gray lines | Switch off draft mode; check ink or toner |
| Paper jams with cardstock | Check the printer's weight limit; use the rear or manual feed |
| Colors print instead of black | Select grayscale or black and white in printer settings |
FAQ
What's the best setting to print a coloring page?
Choose Fit (or Scale to fit), portrait or landscape to match the picture, and black and white or grayscale. Preview before printing.
What paper should I use for markers?
Light cardstock, around 65 lb cover (roughly 170 gsm), is a good choice. Thin copy paper lets markers bleed through, so put scrap paper underneath if that's all you have.
Why does my coloring page print with the edges cut off?
Usually the scaling is set to Actual size, or the paper size in the dialog doesn't match the paper in the tray. Switch to Fit and check the paper size.
Can I print your coloring pages for my class?
Yes. Gullu's free printable pages, one in each theme, are free for personal and classroom use. Please don't sell them or include them in products for sale.
Sources
- ISO, "ISO 216:2007 — Writing paper and certain classes of printed matter — Trimmed sizes — A and B series": https://www.iso.org/standard/36631.html
- Adobe, "Set up page size and print PDFs" (Acrobat help): https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desktop/print-documents/set-up-and-print-pdfs/page-size.html
- Adobe, "Print posters and banners using Acrobat": https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/print-posters-banners-acrobat-reader.html
- Apple Support, "Set printing options for paper size, paper feed, and more on Mac": https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mh26678/mac
- Brother, printer driver settings (Windows) user guide example: https://support.brother.com/g/s/id/htmldoc/mfc/mfc1800dw/use/html/GUID-87F8EBB7-47F8-4BF9-B410-E6BC2ACBBD93_1.html
- 4OVER4, "Paper Weight Guide: Understanding GSM, Points & Thickness": https://www.4over4.com/guide/understanding-paper-weight-for-printing-projects
