How to Change Paper Size in Google Docs Quickly (5 Steps)

While many of the documents we produce will print on the standard paper size for our geographic location, you might eventually need to know how to change paper size in Google Docs if your document requirements shift for one reason or another.

For many Google Docs users, the size of the document they create is something that won’t get much consideration. Our focus is often on adding content and making formatting changes, such as figuring out how to flip an image on Google Docs.

Google Docs creates new documents with a default page size and, if it’s the one that a user wants, they may never have a reason to change it.

But if you don’t need to create a letter sized (or A4 sized) document, then you may wonder how to change the size of the paper in Google Docs.

You can change the size of a Google Doc page by clicking the File tab, choosing Page setup, clicking Paper size, then select the desired one.

Now, assuming that you have the correct size paper in your printer, you should be able ot create a physical copy of your document that fits on to the page size you specified.

Fortunately, this is a setting that you can adjust to any of several different options. Our guide below will show you how to change the page size in Google Docs.

How Big is a Google Doc Page? – Switching Google Doc Page Size

1. Open the document.
2. Click File.
3. Choose Page setup.
4. Select Paper size.
5. Click the desired size.

Our guide continues below with more information on how to change the Google Doc size of a page, including pictures of these steps.

Read our tutorial on how to clear formatting in Google Docs if your doc has a ton of weird formatting that is proving to be difficult to fix.

How to Use a Different Paper Size in Google Docs (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this article were performed in the desktop version of the Google Chrome Web browser, but will work in other desktop browsers like Firefox or Edge as well.

Step 1: Sign into Google Drive and open your document.

Step 2: Click File at the top-left of the window.

Step 3: Choose the Page setup option at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4: Click the Paper size dropdown menu.

Step 5: Select the desired paper size.

Step 6: Click the OK button.

The next section of this tutorial discusses whether or not you can use a Google Doc custom page size.

Do you need your text to go up and down instead of left to right? Our article on how to type vertically in Google Docs will show you how.

Can I Use a Google Docs Custom Page Size?

While the Paper size drop down menu includes things like executive size paper measurements, a legal page size, and A4, you could be struggling if you are trying to figure out how to customize page size in Google Docs.

Unfortunately, you are limited to using the paper sizes that are listed on that dropdown menu, so you can’t create a custom page size in Google Docs.

If this is something that you really need, then you can try using Microsoft Word instead, as that provides options for custom page sizes.

One other option, especially if you are creating something with a limited amount of text, is to use Google Slides. You can use custom slide sizes in Google Slides which would allow you to create the file in the dimensions that you require.

Our tutorial continues below with more information on how to change some page settings for Google Docs.

Printing a document can be tricky, especially when you have information printing that you don’t need. Our how to print Word document without comments tutorial will show you how to print a document without the comment markup.

More Information – What Size is a Google Doc?

Now that you know where to go to change your paper size, you can also use this to see the current size of a document. To find this information, simply open the Page setup menu, then take note of the current setting listed under “Paper size.”

Note that other Google apps like Slides have less comprehensive options, so you may have difficulty printing in Google Slides if you need anything complicated.

If you would like to make the current selection the default paper size for future documents, then be sure to click the Set as default button on this menu.

Note that the page size will apply to the entire document, including any new pages that you may add.

The available paper sizes in Google Docs are:

• Letter (8.5″ x 11″)
• Tabloid (11″ x 17″)
• Legal (8.5″ x 14″)
• Statement (5.5″ x 8.5″)
• Executive (7.25″ x 10.5″)
• Folio (8.5″ x 13″)
• A3 (11.69″ x 16.54″)
• A4 (8.27″ x 11.69″)
• A5 (5.83″ x 8.27″)
• B4 (9.84″ x 13.90″)
• B5 (6.93″ x 9.84″)

Frequently Asked Questions About Using a Different Paper Size in Google Docs

Conclusion on Google Docs Paper Size

Knowing how to change paper size in Google Docs means that when you need to create a document that prints on legal paper or A4 paper you won’t wind up making a mistake that affects the layout of your entire document.

It’s also useful in case you run into a situation where you don’t have any of the paper that the current document size requires, but you desperately need to print the document.