Set Up Custom Paper Sizes in Printer Driver

Why you need custom paper sizes

Standard paper sizes such as Letter, A4, and Legal cover most everyday printing. But many print projects use non-standard media: index cards, shipping labels, banner paper, or photo sheets with tear-off tabs. The printer driver often includes a handful of preset sizes, yet it cannot anticipate every sheet you may feed.

A custom paper size lets you tell the printer exactly how wide and how tall a sheet is. The driver then uses those measurements to lay out the printable area and to adjust margins, so your content lands where you expect it. This is especially important for label sheets and cards that have fixed cut lines.

Modern printers that support IPP Everywhere accept a wide range of media dimensions defined by the standard. According to the Printer Working Group, IPP Everywhere printers support a "full range of print media," which includes custom sizes. Even so, you still define the size in the driver for your specific job.

• Cards and invitations that are smaller than a standard sheet
• Label sheets with multiple labels per page
• Banner paper that is longer or wider than typical office paper
• Pre-punched or pre-scored paper that must align with your design

Define a custom paper size on Windows

Windows gives you two ways to set a custom paper size: through the print dialog when you send a job, or through the printer's preferences for future use. The steps are similar for most printer models, but the exact labels may vary depending on the driver.

For a one-off job, open the print dialog from any application. Look for a button labeled "Properties," "Preferences," or "Printer Properties." Inside, find the paper or media section. Some drivers have a "Custom" field directly, while others ask you to select "Custom Size" from a dropdown and then enter width and height. Type the dimensions in the units the driver expects, usually inches or millimeters, and confirm.

To save a custom size so it appears in every print dialog, go to Windows Settings, then Devices and Printers (or Printers & scanners in modern Windows), right-click your printer, and choose "Printing preferences." Navigate to the paper or media tab, select "Custom," and enter the size. Give it a name if the driver allows. After you save it, the custom size shows up in the list of paper sizes for any app.

• In the print dialog, click Properties or Preferences
• Find the Paper/Media or Paper Size section
• Choose Custom Size and enter the width and height
• Save the size with a descriptive name if possible

Define a custom paper size on macOS

macOS handles custom paper sizes through the print dialog's Paper Size dropdown. When you are ready to print, click the Paper Size pop-up, then choose "Manage Custom Sizes." A sheet appears where you can define a new size. Enter the width and height, set the non-printable area if you know it, and name the size. Click OK, and it becomes available in that dialog moving forward.

If your printer uses Apple's standard driver or an IPP Everywhere driver, the custom size option is built in. The Printer Working Group notes that IPP Everywhere clients include macOS, so the operating system can support the full range of media that the printer advertises. You do not need a separate driver from the manufacturer to create custom sizes.

For printers that appear in System Settings under Printers & Scanners, you can also set a default custom size. Open System Settings, select your printer, then choose Options & Supplies. Some drivers expose a "Paper Size" setting there, where you can pick the custom size you created.

Match the driver size to the physical paper

The custom size you enter must match the actual sheet you load in the tray. If the driver says the paper is 100 millimeters wide but you load a 102-millimeter sheet, the printer might print off-center or clip content. Measure the width and height with a ruler before you define the size.

Also consider the printable area. Most printers cannot print edge to edge, so the driver defines non-printable margins. If you plan to print borderless, check whether your printer supports borderless printing for custom sizes. Some printers only allow borderless output for a set list of common sizes.

For label sheets, the custom size should match the entire sheet, not the individual label. The driver lays out the page based on the full sheet, and your application handles the label positions. Some driver software also includes a media type option for labels; choose that as well. For more on media handling, see the printer media type guide.

If you are printing on envelopes or other unusual media, you may need to adjust the paper thickness lever or tray guides. See the paper weight guide for details.

Troubleshooting custom paper size issues

If the custom size does not appear in the print dialog, first check that you saved it correctly. On Windows, confirm you are looking at the same printer that you configured. On macOS, the custom size is saved per user and appears in all apps, but only for the printer that offers that size.

Some drivers limit the minimum and maximum dimensions for custom sizes. If you enter a value outside that range, the driver may reject it or round it to the nearest supported value. Check the printer's manual or the driver's help text to know the supported range. The printer paper size support article explains how to find this information.

If the printer does not accept the custom size over the network, update the driver. IPP Everywhere printers rely on the printer to advertise its media range; if the firmware is outdated, it may not report the correct values. See the printer firmware updates guide for steps.

Another common issue is that the application overrides the driver's paper size. Some apps, like word processors, have their own page setup that must match the custom size. Set the page size in the app to the same custom size you defined in the driver.

Finally, if nothing works, try a generic driver like the one that uses IPP Everywhere. Windows, macOS, and many mobile devices support IPP Everywhere without vendor software, as noted by the Printer Working Group. This can bypass proprietary driver quirks.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Why does my printer driver not have a custom paper size option?

Some basic drivers, especially generic ones, only show standard sizes. Install the full driver from the manufacturer or use an IPP Everywhere driver, which the Printer Working Group says supports a full range of media. Look for the 'Manage Custom Sizes' button in macOS or 'Custom' in the Windows media dropdown.

Can I set a custom paper size that is larger than standard?

Yes, if the printer supports it. The printer's specification will list a maximum paper size. Enter a larger dimension in the custom size settings, but the printable area may still be limited by the printer's margins. Check your printer's manual for exact limits.

How do I delete a custom paper size I no longer need?

On Windows, go to Printing Preferences, select the custom size, and click Remove or Delete. On macOS, open Manage Custom Sizes from the Paper Size dropdown, select the size, and click the minus button.

Do custom paper sizes work with mobile printing?

Mobile printing apps, including those that use Mopria or IPP Everywhere, typically rely on the printer's supported sizes. If you need a custom size, you may have to set it in the mobile app or send the print job from your computer. Mopria certification focuses on standard printing workflows, not necessarily custom sizes.

What units are used for custom paper sizes?

Drivers usually accept both inches and millimeters. Windows often uses hundredths of an inch, while macOS uses points or millimeters. Whichever unit you use, measure the sheet accurately to avoid misalignment.