testpageforprinter
Preview of the Printer ruler test page

Printer ruler test page

A free printer ruler test page with millimeter and inch scales and a diagonal check, so you can measure whether your printer prints at true size and feeds straight.

Print now

Opens the PDF. Use Print or Share from there.

Download PDF

Print one copy first. This PDF does not measure ink or toner use.

Free PDF. No sign-up. Ready to print.

Read your result

In the print dialog, choose Actual size or 100% and turn off Fit to page.In the print screen, choose Actual size or 100% (not Fit).

What each part checks

  1. A millimeter ruler on the top and left

    Ticks every 1 mm, longer at 5 mm and 10 mm, numbered in centimeters.

  2. An inch ruler on the bottom and right

    Ticks every 1/16 inch, numbered in inches. Lay a real ruler along it and compare.

  3. A 120 x 90 mm box with both diagonals

    Both diagonals are exactly 150 mm. If they measure differently, the paper fed skewed.

  4. Clear instructions

    A short line under the box says what to measure and what a result means.

  5. Corner-to-corner coverage

    The two rulers cover most of the page, so scaling errors add up and become easy to see.

  6. QR code and footer

    Scan the code on the sheet to read your result.

How to read your print

Ruler lengths match.
A real ruler laid along the printed ruler should line up at the far end. A gap of 1 mm over 150 mm is about 0.7%.
Both scales agree.
The mm ruler and the inch ruler should both be correct. If one is right and one is wrong, the printer scaled one axis only.
Equal diagonals.
If the two diagonals differ by more than 1 or 2 mm, the paper was skewed in the feed.
Short everywhere.
If every measurement is about 5% short, Fit to page or a wrong paper size is shrinking the print.

Keep the guide handy

The QR code on the printed sheet opens this page on your phone.

Print settings that matter

Print settings that matter

  • Print at actual size (100%)Choose Actual size or 100% and turn off Fit to page and Shrink to fit. This test only works at true size.
  • Match the paper sizePick the same paper size in the driver as the paper in the tray. Letter and A4 are slightly different.
  • Measure with a good rulerUse a metal or plastic ruler with clear marks. A flexible tape or a worn wooden ruler adds its own error.

More printing tips

Related sheets

Read the full guide

What this printer ruler test page is

This is a measurement sheet. It has a millimeter ruler on two edges, an inch ruler on the other two, and a 120 by 90 mm box with both diagonals drawn. After you print it at 100%, hold a real ruler against the printed scales and measure the diagonals. Any difference shows how your printer scales, shrinks or skews the page.

When to use it

Use it when prints come out smaller than expected, when a design for a specific size, such as a label, a sewing pattern or a model, must match its real size, or when you suspect the paper is feeding at an angle. It is more demanding than the quick check on the scale check sheet, because it spans the page.

How to use it

Print at Actual size. Lay a ruler along the top scale and look at the far end. Repeat for the left scale. Then measure the two diagonals of the box; both should be 150 mm. Write down what you find, then change one setting and print again.

What the result means

If everything is short by the same amount, the page was scaled, usually by Fit to page; see prints too small. If only one direction is off, the feed or the software is stretching one axis. If the diagonals differ, the paper fed skewed; reload the paper and straighten the guides. For margins, use the alignment page.

Good questions

How accurate is a printed ruler?
Good for a quick check, as long as your own ruler is accurate. Measure along the longest scale, where small errors add up. If every length is off by about the same percentage, check the scale and paper size settings before you suspect the printer.
Why is my printed ruler shorter than a real ruler?
Fit to page or Shrink to fit is the usual cause. Turn it off and print at 100% or Actual size. A wrong paper size setting can also scale the page.
Why are the two diagonals different?
The paper fed at an angle. Reload the paper, push the guides snug against the stack and print again.
Do I need the inch ruler if I use millimeters?
Not usually. Both scales test the same thing. The inch ruler is useful if your own ruler is in inches.
Can I print it on any paper size?
It is built for Letter and A4. On other sizes it will be scaled, which defeats the test.

Also useful