Most printers cannot print right to the edge of the paper, so Word warns you when margins are smaller than the printer allows. To print with no margins, you need a printer that supports borderless printing, margins set to zero, and the borderless option turned on in the printer settings.
Quick Answer
Set Layout, Margins, Custom Margins to 0 on all sides, choose Ignore when Word warns you, then in the Print dialog open Printer Properties and turn on Borderless printing if your printer supports it.
How to Print Without Margins in Word
- Open Layout, Margins, and choose Custom Margins.
- Set Top, Bottom, Left, and Right to 0 and click OK.
- When Word warns that margins are outside the printable area, click Ignore.
- Choose File, Print, then Printer Properties, and turn on Borderless or Edge-to-edge printing (the name varies by printer).
- Print a test page. If the edges are still white, the printer does not support borderless printing on that paper size.
Borderless Printing Requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Printer support | Many photo and inkjet printers; few laser printers |
| Supported paper size | Often photo sizes and letter or A4 |
| Borderless setting on | In Printer Properties |
| Margins at 0 | In Word’s Page Setup |
| Background elements | Extend images past the page edge |
Troubleshooting
- Word keeps resetting margins: click Ignore instead of Fix on the warning.
- White edges remain: enlarge background images so they extend past the page edges, and confirm borderless is on.
- To add a full-page blank sheet first, see how to add a blank page in Word.
- If the view looks odd afterward, read how to get Word back to normal view.
Related: Use different margins on different pages in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word say margins are outside the printable area?
Your printer’s hardware cannot print that close to the edge.
Can I get borderless prints on a laser printer?
Usually not. Print larger and trim the edges instead.
Does borderless printing enlarge the content?
Some printers slightly enlarge the image to avoid white edges.
Summary
- Set all margins to 0.
- Click Ignore on the warning.
- Turn on borderless printing.
- Print a test page.
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.