Google Docs uses US Letter paper (8.5 x 11 inches) by default in the US and A4 in many other countries. If you are printing a legal document, a flyer, a booklet, or a paper for a school that requires A4, you will need to change the page size. This guide covers changing the paper size on a computer and in the mobile apps, which sizes are available, making a size your default, custom sizes, and pageless mode.
Quick Answer
Go to File > Page setup, make sure the Pages tab is selected, choose a size from the Paper size menu, and click OK. Click Set as default before OK if you want every new document to use that size.
How to Change Page Size in Google Docs (Computer)
- Open the document at docs.google.com.
- Click File > Page setup.
- If the document is in pageless format, click the Pages tab. Paper size only applies to documents with pages.
- Open the Paper size menu and choose a size.
- Optionally change Orientation, Margins, and Page color.
- Click OK.
The change applies to the whole document. Google Docs does not support different paper sizes for different pages in the same file.
Available Paper Sizes
| Size | Dimensions | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5 x 11 in | Standard US documents |
| Legal | 8.5 x 14 in | Contracts and legal forms (US) |
| Tabloid | 11 x 17 in | Posters, newsletters, spreadsheets on paper |
| Statement | 5.5 x 8.5 in | Booklets, half-letter handouts |
| Executive | 7.25 x 10.5 in | Business stationery |
| Folio | 8.5 x 13 in | Some international forms |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 cm | Posters and diagrams |
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 cm | Standard in most countries outside North America |
| A5 | 14.8 x 21 cm | Notebooks, flyers |
| B4 / B5 | 25 x 35.3 cm / 17.6 x 25 cm | Books and some academic formats |
Make a Page Size Your Default
- Open File > Page setup.
- Choose the paper size, orientation, and margins you want.
- Click Set as default, then OK.
New documents you create use these settings. Existing documents don’t change.
Custom Page Sizes
Depending on your account, the Paper size menu may include a Custom option where you can type the width and height. If you don’t see it, you have a few choices:
- Use a Google Workspace Marketplace add-on for page sizes (Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons, then search “page size”).
- Design the file in Google Slides, which supports custom slide dimensions under File > Page setup > Custom, and download it as a PDF.
- Download the document as a Word file and set a custom size in Microsoft Word.
Change Page Size in the Google Docs App
Android
- Open the document and tap the pencil icon to edit it.
- Tap ⋮ (More) > Page setup.
- Tap Paper size and choose a size.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the document and tap ⋯ (More).
- Tap Page setup > Paper size.
- Choose a size and go back to the document.
If Page setup is missing, turn off Print layout or switch the document from pageless to pages on a computer first.
Pages vs. Pageless Format
Pageless removes page breaks so text flows continuously, like a web page. It is good for on-screen reading and wide tables. However, pageless documents don’t have a paper size, headers, footers, or page numbers. If you plan to print or export a PDF, switch to File > Page setup > Pages.
Printing and Exporting Tips
- Check File > Print preview after changing the size. Your printer’s paper setting must also match, for example A4 paper in the tray for an A4 document.
- When you download as PDF (File > Download > PDF document), the PDF uses the document’s paper size.
- Changing from Letter to A4 (or back) can move page breaks and images. Check the layout afterward.
Related: Convert a Google Doc to pageless format.
Related: How to set A4 paper size in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Google Doc A4 when I wanted Letter?
The default depends on your account’s language and region, or on a default someone set earlier. Change it in Page setup and click Set as default.
Can one page be landscape and the rest portrait?
Yes. Google Docs supports orientation per section. Insert a section break (Insert > Break > Section break), then use Page setup and choose Apply to: This section. Paper size still applies to the whole document.
How do I make a half-page (5.5 x 8.5) booklet?
Choose Statement paper size. For folded booklets, print with your printer’s booklet option.
Summary
- Open File > Page setup and select the Pages tab.
- Choose a Paper size and click OK.
- Click Set as default to use it for new documents.
- Use Page setup in the mobile app’s More menu on phones.
- For unusual sizes, use Custom if available, an add-on, or Google Slides.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.