How do I print a PDF at its actual size?

A printable game is designed to be printed at a precise size. Large print is measured at 100%, bingo cards are laid out to fill a page, and cut lines sit where the scissors should go. When a print dialog quietly shrinks the page “to fit,” type gets smaller and margins drift. The fix takes ten seconds once you know where to look.

Step one: pick the file for your paper

Every Selenby Puzzles set includes both US Letter and A4 files. Use the one that matches the paper in your printer.

Paper	Size	Used in
US Letter	8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm)	USA and Canada
A4	210 × 297 mm (8.3 × 11.7 in)	Most other countries

The two sizes are close, which is why mistakes are easy. A4 is about 6 mm narrower and 18 mm taller than Letter. Print an A4 file on Letter paper at actual size and the top and bottom get cut off; fit it to the page and everything shrinks to about 94%. Print a Letter file on A4 and the sides get trimmed, or the page shrinks to about 97%. With the matching file, neither happens.

Step two: set the scale to 100%

Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows and Mac)

1. Open the PDF and choose File > Print (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on Mac).
2. Under Page Sizing & Handling, click Size and choose Actual size.
3. Click Page Setup (or your printer’s Properties) and check that the paper size is Letter or A4 to match your file.
4. For two-sided printing, tick Print on both sides of paper and choose Flip on long edge.
5. Click Print.

Mac Preview

1. Open the PDF in Preview and choose File > Print.
2. If you see only a few options, click Show Details.
3. Set Paper Size to US Letter or A4.
4. Set Scale to 100% (not “Scale to Fit”).
5. Turn on Two-Sided if your printer supports it, then click Print.

Google Chrome’s PDF viewer

1. Click the printer icon at the top right of the PDF, or press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac).
2. Click More settings.
3. Set Paper size to Letter or A4.
4. Under Scale, choose Custom and type 100.
5. Tick Print on both sides if you want it, then click Print.

Windows with Microsoft Edge

On most Windows computers, PDFs open in Microsoft Edge.

1. Press Ctrl+P.
2. Click More settings.
3. Set Paper size to Letter or A4.
4. Under Scale, choose Actual size (or type 100 if you see a percentage box), not Fit to printable area.
5. Choose Print on both sides if you want it, then click Print.

iPhone and iPad

1. Open the PDF in the Files app (or from your downloads), tap the Share button, then tap Print.
2. Choose your printer and the number of copies.
3. Under the paper options, pick the size that matches your file, if your printer shows them.
4. Turn on Double-sided or Black & White if your printer offers them, then tap Print.

iPhone and iPad have no scale setting: they fit each page to the paper. With the matching file the difference is small, but for anything where exact size matters, such as large print cards or cut lines, print from a computer.

Step three: print one page and check it

Print a single page before you print fifty. Check that:

• Nothing is cut off at any edge, including page numbers and footers.
• The margins look even on all sides.
• The type looks as large as you expected.

If something at the edge is still clipped, your printer’s own margins are wider than the page allows. Only then switch to “Fit,” and accept slightly smaller type.

Saving ink

• Use the Ink Saver version when there is one. Many of our party games include an Ink Saver file.
• Choose grayscale or black and white in the print dialog. For our games, black ink is enough.
• Try draft or eco mode for practice copies and host notes.
• Print host pages once. Answer keys, call sheets and score boards are for the host, not every player.
• Use slides instead of display cards. If you have a TV, put the questions on screen and skip printing them.
• Reuse cards. Bingo cards and game cards on card stock last for many games.

Two-sided printing: when to use it

Print two-sided for host scripts, rules and answer keys you’ll keep in a binder. Print one-sided for anything you’ll cut out, hold up to a room, or hand out as a card, so nothing is printed on the back. For portrait pages, choose flip on long edge. If your printer can’t print both sides automatically, print the odd pages, turn the stack over and put it back in, then print the even pages; test with two sheets first.

Paper and card stock

Everyday printer paper (20 lb in the US, 80 gsm elsewhere) is fine for worksheets, puzzles and answer sheets. For bingo cards, question cards and anything held in the hand, card stock makes a big difference: easier to hold, easier to see, and ready to use again next year.

Check the scale again whenever you print from a new app or a new device. Need help with downloading from Etsy? See our download and printing help.