How to Print Coloring Pages: Easy Steps for Perfect Results
Printing a coloring page should take less than a minute, but small settings can make a big difference: a page that comes out cut off at the edges, too small, or with pale grey lines is no fun to color. This guide shows how to print our free coloring pages from a computer, a phone or a tablet, which settings to choose, which paper works best and how to fix the most common printing problems. Every page on CuteColorings is a free PDF, ready to print with no sign-up.
Quick answer: Click Download PDF (or Print) under the picture, open the print window, choose your printer, keep the layout on Portrait and select Fit to page (or 100% on A4 paper). Print in black and white to save colored ink. Use normal 80 g/m² paper for crayons and thicker 120–160 g/m² paper for markers.
What you need
- A printer connected to your computer, or a wireless printer on the same Wi-Fi as your phone or tablet.
- Paper: plain A4 or US Letter paper works for most pages.
- A PDF viewer: any web browser can open our PDFs, so you do not need to install anything.
How to print from a computer
- Open a coloring page collection and pick a design.
- Click Print under the picture to print just that page, or click Download PDF to save the file first.
- In the print window (Ctrl + P on Windows, Cmd + P on Mac), choose your printer.
- Set the layout to Portrait and the paper size to A4 or Letter.
- Choose Fit to page (sometimes called “Fit” or “Shrink to fit”) so nothing is cut off.
- Click Print. That is it!
How to print from a phone or tablet
You can print directly from your phone if your printer is on the same Wi-Fi network:
- iPhone and iPad: tap Download PDF, tap the Share button, choose Print, select your AirPrint printer and tap Print.
- Android: tap Download PDF, open the menu (⋮) or Share, choose Print, select your printer and tap the print button. If your printer does not appear, install your printer brand’s app or the Mopria Print Service from the Play Store.
- No printer at home? Save the PDF and print it later at a library, school or copy shop.
A4 or US Letter: which size should I choose?
Our coloring pages are made in A4 portrait size (210 × 297 mm), the standard paper size in most of the world. In the United States and Canada, US Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) is more common. Letter paper is slightly wider and a little shorter than A4, so choose Fit to page and the whole picture will print with a small white border.
| Paper | Size | Best setting |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 100% (actual size) or Fit to page |
| US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm) | Fit to page |
The best printer settings for coloring pages
- Black and white / grayscale: our pages are pure black lines on white, so you never need colored ink.
- Normal quality: “Draft” or “Eco” mode can make lines look pale; normal quality gives crisp, dark outlines.
- Portrait orientation: all of our pages are tall, not wide.
- One page per sheet: printing two pages on one sheet makes the pictures very small, which is only a good idea for older kids and adults who like tiny details.
Which paper is best for coloring?
| Paper | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Normal paper (80 g/m²) | Crayons, colored pencils | Cheap and fine for everyday coloring |
| Thicker paper (120–160 g/m²) | Markers, gel pens | Stops ink from bleeding through |
| Card stock (200 g/m² and up) | Crafts, cards, masks | Check that your printer accepts thick paper |
| Mixed media paper | Watercolor pencils, paint | Handles a little water without curling |
Fixing common printing problems
- Edges are cut off: choose Fit to page, and check that the paper size in the print window matches the paper in your printer.
- The picture is too small: set the scale to 100% or Fit to page, and make sure “pages per sheet” is set to 1.
- Lines look pale or grey: switch from Draft/Eco mode to Normal quality, or check if the black ink is low.
- The print button does nothing on a phone: download the PDF first, then print it from the Share menu.
- Paper jams with thick paper: feed card stock one sheet at a time, or use the manual feed tray if your printer has one.
Tips to save ink and paper
- Print one test page before printing a whole stack.
- Easy pages for toddlers use more white space and less ink than detailed adult pages.
- Keep a folder of favorite pages so you can print them again instead of searching each time.
- Let children choose their pages before printing, so nothing goes to waste.
🖍️ Try these: Ready to print? Start with our T-Rex coloring pages, elephant coloring pages, cat coloring pages or flower coloring pages.
Printing for a class or a party
Printing a big stack? Our guide to coloring pages in the classroom has extra tips for printing class sets, and our coloring pages by age guide helps you choose the right level for each child. You may print our pages for your family, classroom and community events; please do not sell them. The full rules are in our terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special software to print your coloring pages?
No. Every page is a normal PDF that opens in any web browser or PDF reader, on a computer, phone or tablet.
Why is my coloring page cut off when I print it?
The printer is usually printing at a size that does not match your paper. Choose “Fit to page” in the print window and check that the paper size matches the paper in your printer.
Can I print coloring pages from my phone?
Yes. Download the PDF, open the Share menu and choose Print. Your phone and printer need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
What paper is best for markers?
Thicker paper of about 120–160 g/m² stops markers from bleeding through to the other side.
Should I print coloring pages in color or black and white?
Black and white. The pages are black lines on white, so grayscale printing gives the same result and saves your colored ink.
