How to Set A4 Size in Word

A4 (210 × 297 mm, or 8.27 × 11.69 inches) is the standard paper size in most of the world, while Word in the United States and Canada starts with Letter (8.5 × 11 inches). If you’re printing on A4 paper or sending a document to someone abroad, switching sizes keeps your layout from being cut off or shrunk. This guide shows how to change one document to A4, how to make A4 the default for every new document, and how to fix printing problems when sizes don’t match.

Quick answer

Go to the Layout tab, click Size, and choose A4. To make it permanent, open Size > More Paper Sizes, choose A4, and click Set As Default.

Change the current document to A4

1. Open the document.
2. Click the Layout tab (called Page Layout in older versions).
3. Click Size in the Page Setup group.
4. Choose A4 from the list.

Word reflows the text to fit the new page. A4 is slightly narrower and taller than Letter, so check page breaks, tables, and images afterward.

Make A4 the default for new documents

1. On the Layout tab, click Size > More Paper Sizes.
2. On the Paper tab, choose A4 in the Paper size menu.
3. Make sure Apply to is set to Whole document.
4. Click Set As Default at the bottom left.
5. Click Yes to confirm that you want to change the Normal template.

Every new blank document now starts at A4. Existing documents keep their own size.

If A4 isn’t in the list

Word shows paper sizes your printer supports. If A4 is missing, open More Paper Sizes and enter the size manually: Width 21 cm and Height 29.7 cm (or 8.27″ × 11.69″). You can also change your default printer to one that supports A4, or select Microsoft Print to PDF, which supports all standard sizes.

Change only part of a document

To use A4 for some pages and Letter for others, insert a section break first (Layout > Breaks > Next Page). Click in the section you want to change, open More Paper Sizes, choose A4, and set Apply to to This section.

Printing A4 documents on Letter paper (or the reverse)

If the document size and the paper in your printer don’t match, the printout may be cut off or have uneven margins. In File > Print, click the 1 Page Per Sheet menu, choose Scale to Paper Size, and pick the paper you’re printing on. Word shrinks or enlarges the pages to fit without changing your document.

You can also turn on Scale content for A4 or 8.5 x 11″ paper sizes in File > Options > Advanced > Print.

Word for Mac

Go to Layout > Size and choose A4. For the default, go to Format > Document, click Page Setup, choose A4, and click Default in the Document dialog.

Tips

• Margins don’t change automatically with paper size. Check them in Layout > Margins after switching.
• Set A4 before you design a complex layout, like a flyer or newsletter, to avoid rearranging it later.
• For other paper sizes, see changing paper size in Word.
• Working in Google Docs? See changing page size in Google Docs.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Word keep switching back to Letter?

Your Normal template is still set to Letter, or a template you’re using has its own size. Use Set As Default as shown above. If you open documents created by someone else, they keep the size they were saved with.

Will changing to A4 mess up my formatting?

Usually only slightly. Text reflows because the page is a little narrower and longer, so a line or two may move to the next page. Tables set to a fixed width might stick out past the margin. Right-click the table, choose AutoFit, and then AutoFit to Window to fix it.

How do I check what size a document is?

Open Layout > Size. The current size is highlighted at the top of the list.

Summary

1. Layout > Size > A4 changes the current document.
2. More Paper Sizes > A4 > Set As Default changes new documents.
3. Enter 21 × 29.7 cm if A4 isn’t listed.
4. Use Scale to Paper Size when the printer paper doesn’t match.