Resizing a PDF is a common necessity, whether you're preparing a document for a specific printer, trying to meet the requirements of an online submission portal, or simply want to change the aspect ratio for on-screen viewing. This guide will cover everything you need to know about changing PDF page dimensions, from standard size conversions to custom resizing, and explain the difference between scaling content and changing the page size itself.
Why Would You Need to Resize a PDF?
There are many scenarios where resizing a PDF is necessary:
- Printing Requirements: Your printer might be loaded with A4 paper, but your PDF is in US Letter format. Resizing ensures the content fits correctly without being cut off.
- Submission Standards: Many academic journals, government agencies, and legal systems have strict requirements for page dimensions (e.g., requiring all documents to be A4).
- Digital Reading: You might want to resize a large-format PDF to a smaller size (like A5) to make it more readable on a tablet or e-reader.
- Consistency: When merging multiple PDFs, you may want to resize them all to a uniform page size for a professional and consistent look.
Page Size vs. Content Scaling
It's important to understand the two main ways to resize a PDF. You can change the actual dimensions of the page (e.g., from A4 to A5), or you can scale the content (text and images) up or down while keeping the page size the same. Many tools, including ours, can do both simultaneously.
Common PDF Page Sizes
Here are some of the most common standard page sizes you'll encounter:
| Standard | Dimensions (Inches) | Dimensions (Millimeters) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 8.5 x 11 in | 215.9 x 279.4 mm | Standard in North America |
| A4 | 8.27 x 11.69 in | 210 x 297 mm | International standard |
| Legal | 8.5 x 14 in | 215.9 x 355.6 mm | Legal documents in the US |
| A3 | 11.69 x 16.54 in | 297 x 420 mm | Drawings, diagrams, posters |
| A5 | 5.83 x 8.27 in | 148 x 210 mm | Booklets, notepads, flyers |
How to Resize a PDF: Step-by-Step
Method 1: Using Our Free Online PDF Resizer
Our PDF Resize tool is the easiest way to change your PDF's page dimensions. It's free, secure, and works right in your browser.
- Upload Your PDF: Select the file you want to resize.
- Choose a New Page Size: You can select from a list of standard sizes (like A4, A5, US Letter) or enter your own custom dimensions in inches or millimeters.
- Select Content Scaling Option: Decide how you want the content to fit on the new page. You can choose to stretch the content to fill the new page or keep the original aspect ratio to avoid distortion.
- Process and Download: Click the button to resize your PDF. Once it's ready, you can download the new file.
Try Our Free PDF Resize Tool
Change your PDF's page size to standard or custom dimensions in seconds. Secure and private.
Resize Your PDF NowMethod 2: Using the Print to PDF Function
Most operating systems have a built-in "Print to PDF" feature that can be used for resizing.
- Open the PDF: Open your PDF in any viewer, like your web browser or Adobe Reader.
- Open the Print Dialog: Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac).
- Select "Microsoft Print to PDF" or "Save as PDF": Choose this as your printer.
- Go to Page Setup/Properties: Find the settings to change the paper size. Select the new size you want.
- Adjust Scaling: Look for a "Scale to fit" or similar option to ensure your content fits on the new page size.
- Print/Save: Save the new, resized PDF.
Important Considerations When Resizing
Maintaining Aspect Ratio
When resizing, you have to decide whether to keep the original aspect ratio.
- Keeping the aspect ratio is usually the best option. It prevents your content from looking stretched or squashed. If the new page size has a different aspect ratio, this will result in white margins (padding) on the top/bottom or left/right.
- Stretching to fit will force the content to fill the new page dimensions completely. This can be useful in some cases, but it will distort the content if the aspect ratio is different.
Impact on File Size and Quality
Resizing a PDF can sometimes affect its file size and quality, especially if the content is scaled up or down significantly.
- Scaling Down: Generally reduces file size. The quality of vector graphics will be preserved, but raster images (like photos) may lose some detail if scaled down too much.
- Scaling Up: May increase file size. Vector graphics will scale perfectly, but raster images will lose quality and may appear pixelated or blurry when enlarged.
Conclusion
Resizing a PDF is a straightforward process once you understand the basics of page dimensions and content scaling. For most people, a dedicated online tool like FixMyPDF's PDF Resizer is the simplest and most effective solution. It gives you clear options for choosing a new page size and controlling how your content fits.
Whether you're preparing a document for printing, ensuring it meets submission guidelines, or optimizing it for a specific device, resizing your PDF correctly will ensure your document looks professional and is fit for its purpose.