Colouring NestHow to print colouring pages at the right size
For the best result, print the PDF rather than the web page, choose the PDF that matches your paper (A4 in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and most of the world; US Letter in the US and Canada), and print at 100%, called "Actual size" in most print dialogs. If you only have the other paper size, choose "Fit" or "Shrink oversized pages": the picture shrinks by about 3 to 6% and nothing gets cut off. Use 100% whenever the size matters, such as handwriting lines or a chart a child will measure against.
A4 vs Letter: what is the difference?
A4 is 210 × 297 mm, part of the A series of paper sizes defined in the international standard ISO 216. US Letter is 8.5 × 11 inches, or 215.9 × 279.4 mm. So Letter is about 6 mm wider and A4 is about 18 mm taller. They look almost the same, which is why a page made for one can quietly lose its edges on the other.
| Paper | Size | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Europe, most of the world |
| US Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) | United States, Canada and a few other countries |
Which PDF should I download?
Every page on our site has two PDFs: one for US Letter and one for A4. Pick the one that matches the paper in your printer. Each one has the picture centred inside margins of about 10 mm (0.4 in), which most home printers can print without trimming.
Print scaling options explained
Adobe's help page on page sizing for printing describes the options most PDF readers offer:
- Actual size (100%). Prints without scaling. If the page is bigger than the paper, the edges are cropped. Best when the PDF matches your paper.
- Fit. Enlarges or shrinks each page to fit the printable area of the paper. Safe when the sizes don't match.
- Shrink oversized pages. Shrinks pages that are too big but leaves smaller ones alone.
- Custom scale. Prints at a percentage you choose.
On a Mac, Apple's guide to print options shows the same idea under Paper Handling: choose "Scale to fit paper size" and pick your printer's paper in Destination Paper Size, or "Scale down only" to leave smaller documents as they are.
How much does a page shrink if I fit A4 onto Letter?
Fitting an A4 page onto Letter paper scales it to about 94% (the height has to shrink from 297 to 279 mm). Fitting a Letter page onto A4 scales it to about 97% (the width has to shrink from 216 to 210 mm). For a colouring picture that's barely noticeable. For handwriting paper or a chart, it changes the measurements slightly, which is why we say "print at 100%" on those pages.
When size matters
- Handwriting paper. Our line heights (24, 18, 12 and 9 mm) are measured on the Letter PDF; the A4 version is about 3% smaller. Printing either at 100% keeps the lines consistent from sheet to sheet.
- Multiplication and hundreds charts. Print at 100% so the squares stay big enough to write in.
- Double-sided flash cards. Print both sides at 100% and choose "flip on long edge" so each answer lands behind its question.
- Certificates and labels. Print at 100% so they line up with frames or label sheets.
Printing from a phone or tablet
- Tap "Download PDF" for your paper size and open the file.
- Use the Share button, then Print.
- Check the paper size shown matches what's in the printer.
- If there's a scaling option, leave it at 100% or "Actual size". If there isn't, the phone will usually fit the page to the paper, which is fine for colouring pictures.
Which paper to use
- Everyday copy paper (about 80 gsm) is fine for crayons and coloured pencils.
- Heavier paper (about 100 to 120 gsm) stops felt-tip markers soaking through. Put a scrap sheet underneath either way.
- Card (about 176 to 300 gsm, if your printer accepts it) is best for cards, door signs, flash cards and certificates. Check your printer's manual for the heaviest paper it takes.
Fixes for common printing problems
- Edges cut off: you're probably printing an A4 PDF on Letter paper (or the reverse) at 100%. Download the other PDF or choose Fit.
- Picture is small with a wide white border: you printed the web page, not the PDF, or the scale is set below 100%.
- Lines look grey or patchy: turn off draft or economy mode, or choose "Black and white" or "Greyscale" printing with normal quality.
- Web address and date printed at the top: that's the browser's header. Print the PDF instead, or turn off "Headers and footers" in the browser's print settings.
- Printer says the wrong paper is loaded: set the paper size in the print dialog to match the tray.
