Print Place Cards at Actual Size (100%)

The one setting that matters: 100%

In the print dialog of your browser or PDF viewer:

Set Scale to 100%, or choose Actual size.
Turn off “Fit to page”, “Fit to printable area” and “Shrink oversized pages”.
Set the paper size to the paper in the tray (Letter or A4), in the dialog and, if asked, in the printer settings.
Turn off headers and footers in the browser print dialog, so no date or web address is printed on the sheet.

Check with the calibration line

Card sheets (place cards, escort cards and 4 × 6 in or 5 × 7 in table numbers) have a 50 mm calibration line at the bottom. Print one sheet on plain paper and measure it with a ruler:

50 mm: the scale is right. Load the card stock.
48 mm (or 96%): the page was fitted to the printable area. Turn scaling off and print again.
Anything else: the paper size in the dialog does not match the PDF.

Hold the test print against the card stock or a pre-cut sheet to check that the cards line up before you print all of them.

Margins and cut marks

Home printers leave a few millimeters unprinted at the edges, and some leave much more at the bottom. The layouts keep everything, including cut marks, at least 6.5 mm (¼ in) from every edge of the sheet; document pages (the seating sign, the caterer sheet and full- or half-page table numbers) keep 10 mm. If your printer leaves more than that blank at the bottom, the small gray footer and the calibration line can be cut off, so check the print preview and your plain-paper test sheet before you print the whole set. Cut along the marks with a ruler and a craft knife or a paper trimmer, not with scissors, for straight edges.

A4 or Letter

Choose the paper you will print on before you make the PDF. A4 (210 × 297 mm) is longer and narrower than Letter (216 × 279 mm), so a page made for one does not print at actual size on the other. The print kit also offers A5, A3, Legal and Tabloid; A3 and Tabloid need a large-format printer or a print shop. Print shops can print any of them; ask which they prefer.

Card stock tips

Print one test sheet on plain paper first, then one on card stock.
Feed card stock through the rear or manual feed if your printer has one; it bends the card less.
Let inkjet prints dry for a few minutes before stacking or cutting.
Buy a few extra sheets for misprints and last-minute guests.

Next step

Print your place cards and escort cards or your table numbers.

Open the place and escort card editor

Frequently asked questions

Why are my cards slightly too small?

The print dialog scaled the page, usually because “Fit to page”, “Shrink oversized pages” or “Fit to printable area” was on, or the paper size does not match the PDF. Choose “Actual size” or 100% and print the test page again.

What if the calibration line measures 48 mm instead of 50 mm?

That is a 96% print, which is typical for “fit to page”. Turn scaling off. If it is still off after that, check the paper size setting in the printer driver as well as in the print dialog.

Can I print to the edge of the sheet?

Most home printers cannot print the last few millimeters at the edges, and some need much more at the bottom. That is why everything stays at least 6.5 mm (¼ in) from each edge, with cut marks around the cards; cut along the marks for clean edges.

Will a Letter PDF print correctly on A4 paper?

Not at actual size: the sheets differ (8.5 × 11 in is 216 × 279 mm; A4 is 210 × 297 mm) and the printer will either scale or cut off part of the page. Choose the paper you will actually use before you make the PDF.

Which card stock should I use?

Look up the heaviest paper your printer takes (the manual gives it in g/m² or lb) and pick card stock within that limit; heavier stock often needs the rear or manual feed. Matte stock is easier to write on, and inkjet ink dries faster on it than on glossy stock.

Print at actual size