How to Add a Paper Size in Excel

To change the paper size in Excel, go to the Page Layout tab, click Size and pick a size such as Letter, Legal, A4 or A3. If the size you need isn’t in the list, click More Paper Sizes to see everything your printer supports. Excel doesn’t let you type in your own width and height. To add a truly custom size, you create it in Windows (or in your printer’s settings) first, and it then appears in Excel’s list. Here’s how to do both.

Why Excel’s paper size list changes

Excel gets its list of paper sizes from the printer that’s currently selected. A label printer, an office laser printer and Microsoft Print to PDF each offer different sizes. If a size seems to be missing, first check that the printer you’ll actually use is selected under File > Print > Printer.

Method 1: Choose a paper size on the Page Layout tab

1. Open the worksheet you want to print.
2. Go to Page Layout > Size in the Page Setup group.
3. Click the paper size you want.
4. Go to File > Print and check the preview.

The paper size is saved with that worksheet, so it’s still set the next time you open the file.

Set the size for several sheets at once

Hold Ctrl and click each sheet tab to group the sheets, then choose the size. Right-click a tab and choose Ungroup Sheets when you’ve finished, so later edits don’t affect every sheet.

Method 2: Use More Paper Sizes

1. Go to Page Layout > Size > More Paper Sizes.
2. On the Page tab of the Page Setup dialog, open the Paper size list. It shows every size the printer driver supports, including envelopes and photo sizes.
3. Choose a size and click OK.

You can also set the orientation and scaling in the same dialog.

Method 3: Create a custom paper size in Windows

For a size that isn’t listed, such as a custom label or a ticket, create a new paper “form” in Windows:

1. In Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and click Print server properties under Related settings. In Windows 10, it’s under Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. On the Forms tab, tick Create a new form.
3. Type a name, such as Ticket 3×8.
4. Choose Metric or English units, and enter the paper width and height. Leave the printer area margins at 0 unless your printer needs them.
5. Click Save Form, then Close.
6. Restart Excel, then go to Page Layout > Size > More Paper Sizes and look for your new size.

Whether it appears depends on the printer driver. Many drivers only offer sizes they can physically print. If the new form doesn’t show up, use Method 4.

Method 4: Set a custom size in the printer’s own settings

1. Go to File > Print and choose your printer.
2. Click Printer Properties.
3. Look for a paper size option called Custom, User Defined or similar, and enter the width and height there.
4. Click OK and check the preview.

The wording varies by manufacturer, so check your printer maker’s support site if you can’t find it.

On a Mac

1. Go to File > Page Setup.
2. Open the Paper Size menu and choose Manage Custom Sizes.
3. Click +, name the size, enter the width, height and margins, and click OK.
4. Choose the new size from the Paper Size menu.

Make the sheet fit the paper

Changing the paper size doesn’t resize your data. To make it fit:

• Go to Page Layout and, in the Scale to Fit group, set Width to 1 page. Set Height to Automatic, or to 1 page for a single sheet.
• Switch to Landscape under Page Layout > Orientation for wide tables.
• Reduce the margins under Page Layout > Margins > Narrow.

For more on this, see how to stretch an Excel spreadsheet to fill a printed page. To print only part of a sheet, see how to print a selection in Excel.

Troubleshooting

The printer ignores my paper size

Some printers use the size set on the paper tray instead. Check the tray setting on the printer’s control panel, and make sure it matches the paper you loaded.

The size is greyed out or missing in Excel for the web

Excel for the web offers fewer options. Open the file in the desktop app with Editing > Open in Desktop App to choose custom sizes.

The PDF has the wrong page size

When you save as PDF, Excel uses the paper size set for the sheet. Set the size first, then choose File > Save As > PDF.

Summary

1. Select the printer you’ll use.
2. Go to Page Layout > Size, or More Paper Sizes for the full list.
3. For a custom size, create a form in Print server properties or the printer’s own settings.
4. Use Scale to Fit so the sheet fits the new paper.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.