Share via

How do I enlarge the document so that it prints larger?

Ron Lyon 0 Reputation points
2026-05-31T11:40:00.8533333+00:00

I have a document with very small writing. I have copied it into a word document but I want to print it so that I can read it, not just zoom in on it.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
0 comments

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 278.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-05-31T12:02:09.45+00:00

    For text, you can increase the font size, but you indicate that the problem is "tables or drawings." For tables, you can try changing the orientation from portrait to landscape, which should allow you to increase the font size without running off the page. For the drawings, if they are less than margin width, you can drag a corner to increase the size.

    If you can print on larger paper, you can use the Scale to Paper Size option in the Print dialog. But this will work only if your printer can handle larger paper. In this case, your best bet is to save the document as a PDF or print it using the Microsoft Print to PDF virtual printer, using Scale to Paper Size to select Tabloid or A3 as the paper size. Then, in the Print dialog of your PDF reader, you can use the Poster setting to print the large document over multiple pages.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-05-31T11:40:11.4266667+00:00

    To make the content print larger (not just look larger on screen), increase the font size or scale the content before printing.

    1. Increase the font size in the document
      1. Select all text (Ctrl+A).
      2. Use one of these methods to enlarge it:
        • Press Ctrl+Right bracket (]) repeatedly to make the text 1 point larger each time.
        • Or press Ctrl+Shift+Greater than sign (>) to increase the font size in larger steps.
        • Or choose an exact size:
          • Press Alt+H, F, S, type a larger font size (for example, 16 or 18), and press Enter.
    2. Adjust zoom only for easier editing (optional)
      • Zoom does not affect print size, but it helps while editing:
        • On the View tab, in the Zoom group, choose Zoom and set a percentage, or use Zoom 100%, One Page, Multiple Pages, or Page Width.
    3. Print the enlarged document
      1. Select File > Print.
      2. In the preview, confirm that the text appears larger.
      3. Choose the printer and any other options, then select Print.

    If the text is still too small when printed, repeat step 1 and choose an even larger font size before printing again.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Ron Lyon 0 Reputation points
    2026-05-31T11:47:21.8933333+00:00

    OK if only plain text, doesn't work on tables or drawings

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.