A4 vs US Letter (8.5×11): What’s the Difference — and Which One Should You Print?

If you’ve ever downloaded a printable PDF and thought “why is it slightly cut off?” or “why are the margins weird?”, there’s a good chance you’re running into a paper size mismatch: A4 vs US Letter.

In this guide, you’ll learn the exact size differences, what happens when you print one on the other, and the best print settings to avoid cropping—especially for printable coloring pages.

Quick links (printable PDFs to try):

A4 vs US Letter: size comparison (inches + mm)

Here’s the simple truth:

US Letter is the standard paper size in the United States (and common in Canada/Mexico for home printing).
A4 is the standard paper size in most other countries (Europe, UK, Australia, many parts of Asia, etc.).

Dimensions table

Paper size Inches Millimeters (mm) US Letter 8.5 × 11 in 216 × 279 mm A4 8.27 × 11.69 in 210 × 297 mm

What’s the difference?

A4 is slightly narrower than Letter (210mm vs 216mm).
A4 is noticeably taller than Letter (297mm vs 279mm).

So A4 is “skinnier and longer,” while Letter is “wider and shorter.”

Is A4 bigger than US Letter?

Overall, A4 has more area than US Letter.

That extra height is the main reason a PDF designed for A4 can get cropped when printed on Letter—unless your printer scales it down automatically.

What happens if you print A4 on Letter (and vice versa)?

Printing an A4 PDF on US Letter paper

Common outcomes:

Bottom gets cut off (because Letter is shorter).
Or the printer/app auto-scales (“Fit to page”), which can make content slightly smaller than intended.

Printing a US Letter PDF on A4 paper

Common outcomes:

You usually get extra whitespace at the bottom (because A4 is taller).
Less likely to crop, but margins can look different.

If your printable has important content near the edges (borders, page numbers, cut lines), mismatches show up fast.

Best print settings to avoid cropping (for PDFs)

The “right” setting depends on the PDF and what you care about (exact size vs no cropping). These tips work for most printers and PDF viewers (Chrome, Preview, Adobe Acrobat).

1) Use “Fit” / “Scale to fit” when you want no cropping

Look for options like:

Fit
Fit to page
Scale to fit
Shrink oversized pages

This is the safest choice if you just want the whole design printed.

2) Use “Actual size / 100%” only when the PDF matches your paper size

Choose Actual size if:

The PDF was designed for your exact paper size (A4 on A4, Letter on Letter)
You need accurate sizing (less common for coloring pages)

If you choose 100% but your paper size doesn’t match, cropping is more likely.

3) Check orientation (Portrait vs Landscape)

Sounds obvious, but it’s a top cause of “why is this cut off?” complaints. Make sure:

Portrait for most coloring pages
Landscape only if the page layout is wide

4) Disable “Borderless” unless you really need it

Borderless printing can expand the content slightly, which may:

Cut off edges
Change margins unpredictably

5) If your PDF has a border, expect different margins across printers

Many home printers can’t print edge-to-edge. A border that looks perfect on one printer may crop on another. “Fit to page” helps.

Printing tips specifically for coloring pages

If you’re printing coloring pages for kids, classrooms, or quiet time, prioritize clean lines + full page visibility.

Recommended:

Print setting: Fit / Scale to fit
Paper: US Letter or A4, whichever your printer uses
Optional: slightly thicker paper (e.g., 90–120 gsm) if using markers

Try a few ready-to-print PDFs here:

FAQ

What does “US Letter” mean?

US Letter is a common American paper size: 8.5 × 11 inches (216 × 279 mm). It’s the default in many US printers and home/school settings.

What size is A4 in inches?

A4 is 8.27 × 11.69 inches.

What size is US Letter in mm?

US Letter is 216 × 279 mm.

Why is my PDF getting cut off when I print it?

Most of the time, it’s one of these:

The PDF is designed for A4, but you printed on Letter (or vice versa)
You printed at 100% instead of Fit to page
Your printer can’t print to the very edge (non-printable margins)

Which is better for printing?

Neither is “better”—it depends on where you are:

In the US: US Letter is standard
Most other countries: A4 is standard If you’re sharing printables globally, offering both A4 and Letter-friendly PDFs (or designing with safe margins) reduces support issues.

Final takeaway

A4 and US Letter are close—but not close enough to ignore. If you want a frustration-free print, use Fit to page, and pick the paper size your printer is built around.

Want something fun to print right now?