Want to print your PDF files without those annoying white borders? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re printing flyers, posters, photos, or presentations, borderless printing makes your documents look professional and polished.

In this guide, Daily Multi Tools will show you exactly how to print PDFs without margins in simple, easy steps.

What is Borderless Printing?

Borderless printing means your document prints all the way to the edge of the paper—no white frame around it. Instead of having a thin white border like regular prints, your colors, images, and designs reach every edge of the page.

This is perfect for:

• Marketing flyers and brochures
• Photo prints
• Posters and signs
• Greeting cards
• Presentations
• Any document where you want a professional, clean look

Before You Start: What You Need

To successfully print a borderless PDF, you need two things:

1. A PDF file with full-bleed design – This means your content actually reaches the edges of the page
2. A printer that supports borderless printing – Most modern home and office printers have this feature

If your PDF has white space built into it, the printer can’t magically remove it. You’ll need to prepare your file first.

How to Print Borderless PDF: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check Your PDF Design

Open your PDF file and look carefully at the edges. Do you see white space or padding around your content? If yes, you need to fix this first.

Your background, images, or colors must extend all the way to the page edges. If there’s white space in the PDF file itself, your printer will print that white space—even in borderless mode.

Step 2: Prepare Your PDF File

If your PDF doesn’t reach the edges, you have two options:

Option A: Extend Your Background Use a PDF editor to add a background color or image that covers the entire page. Make sure it extends to all four edges with no gaps.

Option B: Crop Extra White Space If your content is close to the edges but has a little padding, use a PDF cropping tool to trim away that extra white space. Set the crop area right to the edge of your actual content.

💡 Pro Tip: Always save a backup copy of your original PDF before making changes!

Step 3: Save Your Prepared File

Once your PDF reaches the page edges, save the file. Now you’re ready to print!

Step 4: Open Print Settings

Open your PDF in any viewer (like Adobe Reader, your web browser, or Preview on Mac) and click the Print button.

Important: Look for an option that says “Print using system dialog” or “Show Details.” This gives you access to all your printer’s features, including borderless options.

Step 5: Enable Borderless Mode

This is the crucial step! In your printer settings, look for one of these options:

• “Borderless Printing”
• “Edge-to-Edge”
• “A4 Borderless” or “Letter Borderless”
• “Full Bleed”

The exact name depends on your printer brand. Some printers also require you to select a special paper type (like “Photo Paper”) to unlock borderless printing.

Step 6: Set Correct Scaling

This step is super important and often missed! In the print dialog:

• Select “Actual Size” or “100%”
• Turn OFF any options like “Fit to page” or “Scale to fit”
• Disable any automatic scaling options
• Turn off headers and footers if they appear

Why? Because any scaling will add margins back to your print, defeating the whole purpose!

Step 7: Print a Test Page First

Don’t waste paper and ink! Print just one page first to check if it worked.

Look at all four edges carefully. If you still see thin white lines, you may need to:

• Adjust the “borderless expansion” setting (if your printer has it)
• Slightly extend your background further in your PDF file
• Check that you selected the correct paper size and type

Why Print PDFs Without Margins?

Borderless printing offers several benefits:

Professional Appearance – Documents look more polished and high-quality without white borders interrupting your design.

Perfect for Visual Content – Photos, graphics, and colorful designs have more impact when they reach the edges.

No Manual Trimming – When your design already includes bleed, borderless printing saves you from cutting margins with scissors.

Better Presentations – Marketing materials, presentations, and portfolios look more impressive edge-to-edge.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Problem 1: “I Don’t See a Borderless Option”

Solution: Not all printers support borderless printing for every paper size. Try these fixes:

• Select a common paper size like A4 or Letter (these usually support borderless)
• Change the paper type to “Photo Paper” or “Glossy” (this often unlocks borderless mode)
• Check your printer manual to confirm which sizes support borderless printing
• Update your printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website

If your printer is older or basic, it might not support borderless printing at all.

Problem 2: “My PDF Still Has White Borders When Printed”

Solution: This usually means your viewer is scaling the page. Double-check:

• Print settings are set to “Actual Size” or “100%”
• “Fit to page” is turned OFF
• Headers and footers are disabled
• You’ve selected the borderless paper option in printer settings

Problem 3: “White Edges Appear on Only One or Two Sides”

Solution: This is typically an alignment issue:

• Enable “borderless expansion” or “overspray” in your printer settings if available
• Use a PDF editor to extend your background a few extra pixels beyond the page boundary
• Make sure your paper is loaded correctly in the printer tray

Problem 4: “The PDF File Itself Has White Margins”

Solution: The white space is part of your document design, not a printer issue. You need to:

• Edit your PDF to extend backgrounds to the edges
• Crop the PDF to remove extra white space
• Or recreate the document with a full-bleed design

Want to learn more about understanding PDF quality and conversion accuracy? Check out our detailed guide.

Problem 5: “Colors Look Different Than on Screen”

Solution: This is normal! Screens use RGB colors while printers use CMYK. For best results:

• Use high-quality PDF files
• Select “Best” or “High Quality” print settings
• Consider using photo paper for vibrant colors
• Print a test page to see actual results before printing multiple copies

Best Practices for Perfect Borderless Printing

1. Design with Bleed from the Start

If you’re creating a PDF from scratch, design it with “bleed” in mind. This means extending your background colors, images, and design elements slightly past where you want them to end. This prevents tiny white slivers if the printer shifts slightly.

2. Match Paper Sizes Exactly

Always make sure your PDF page size matches your actual paper size. Don’t try to print an A4 PDF on Letter paper or vice versa—this causes scaling issues that can reintroduce margins.

3. Use High-Quality Images

If your PDF contains images, especially full-page background images, make sure they’re high resolution. Low-quality images can look pixelated or blurry, especially at the edges.

For creating PDFs from different sources, check out our guides on converting Excel to Word and text to PDF conversion.

4. Always Review Print Preview

Before clicking that final print button, look at the print preview. This shows you exactly how your document will look. Check:

• Are all edges covered?
• Is the content positioned correctly?
• Is the page scaled properly?

5. Test Before Batch Printing

Planning to print 100 copies? Print just ONE first! Check the edges, colors, and quality. Once you’re happy with the test print, go ahead with the rest. This saves paper, ink, and time.

6. Keep Your Original File

Always save a copy of your original PDF before making any edits for borderless printing. You might need the original version later for different purposes.

Understanding PDF Files Better

Printing borderless PDFs requires understanding how PDFs work. A PDF is essentially a digital container that preserves your document exactly as designed. What is PDF? A Complete Guide can help you understand the basics.

The white margins you see aren’t added by your printer—they’re either built into the PDF itself or created when your print settings scale the document. That’s why proper preparation is crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I print any PDF borderless?

A: Not exactly. The PDF must have content that reaches the page edges, and your printer must support borderless printing for that paper size. If the PDF has built-in white margins, you’ll need to edit it first.

Q: Does borderless printing use more ink?

A: Yes, slightly. Because the printer pushes ink beyond the paper edges to ensure full coverage, you’ll use a bit more ink than standard printing. However, the difference is minimal for most documents.

Q: Will borderless printing work with plain paper?

A: It depends on your printer. Some printers support borderless printing on plain paper, while others require photo paper or specialty media. Check your printer’s manual or settings.

Q: Can I print borderless on both sides of the paper?

A: This depends on your printer’s duplex (double-sided) printing capabilities. Some printers support borderless duplex printing, but many don’t. You may need to print each side separately.

Q: How do I print borderless from my phone or tablet?

A: Most mobile printing apps support borderless printing if your printer does. In the print settings on your mobile device, look for “Borderless” or “Edge-to-Edge” options, and ensure scaling is set to 100%.

Q: What’s the difference between borderless and full bleed?

A: These terms are often used interchangeably, but technically: “full bleed” refers to the design extending past the page edge, while “borderless printing” refers to the printer’s ability to print edge-to-edge. You need both for the best results!

Q: Can I save a PDF as “borderless” before printing?

A: PDFs don’t have a “borderless” setting themselves. Instead, you prepare the file with content reaching all edges (full bleed design), then use your printer’s borderless settings to print edge-to-edge.

Quick Checklist for Borderless PDF Printing

Use this handy checklist every time you print borderless:

✅ PDF content extends to all page edges
✅ Backup copy of original PDF saved
✅ Correct paper size loaded in printer
✅ Borderless mode selected in printer settings
✅ Print scaling set to “Actual Size” or “100%”
✅ “Fit to page” option turned OFF
✅ Headers and footers disabled
✅ Print preview checked
✅ Test page printed successfully

Final Thoughts

Printing borderless PDFs isn’t complicated once you understand the two key requirements: a properly prepared PDF file and correct printer settings. The most common mistakes are having white space built into the PDF itself or accidentally scaling the document during printing.

At Daily Multi Tools, we’re committed to making your document tasks easier. Whether you’re printing professional materials or personal projects, borderless printing adds that extra touch of quality.

Remember to always print a test page first, and don’t hesitate to adjust your settings until you get perfect results. With practice, borderless printing becomes second nature!

Need more help with PDFs? Visit Daily Multi Tools for more guides, free tools, and tips to handle all your document needs.

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Have questions about borderless PDF printing? Drop a comment below, and we’ll help you troubleshoot!