How to Print Borderless: A Guide to Edge-to-Edge Printing
| Aug 25, 2026
Printing a photo or design only to find an unwanted white border around the edges can be frustrating. You may have chosen the right paper size and image, but the final result still does not look as polished as you expected.
If you are wondering how to print borderless, the solution often comes down to using the right printer, paper size, and print settings. Borderless printing allows your image or design to extend to the edges of the paper, creating a cleaner and more professional-looking result for photos, flyers, invitations, and other projects.
This guide explains what borderless printing is, how to set it up, why white borders may still appear, and what you can do when your printer does not produce the results you want. You will also learn how to troubleshoot common problems so you can spend less time wasting paper and more time getting high-quality prints.
What Is Borderless Printing?
Borderless printing is a printing feature that removes the normal white margins around the edges of a page. Instead of leaving a blank space around your image, the printer expands the print area so the design reaches all four edges.
This feature is especially useful when printing photos, marketing materials, greeting cards, and creative projects. A full-page image can look more polished when there is no visible frame of unprinted paper around it.
Not every printer supports this feature, and available paper sizes can vary by model. Some printers may support borderless printing only for specific photo paper sizes, while others allow it for larger paper sizes as well.
Before changing your settings, check whether your printer supports the paper size you plan to use. Choosing an unsupported size is one of the most common reasons users cannot remove the white margins from their prints.
How to Print Borderless on Your Printer?
Learning how to print borderless usually starts with opening your printer settings before sending the document or image to print. The exact steps may look different depending on your printer brand, computer, phone, or operating system, but the general process is similar.
Start by opening the file, photo, or document you want to print. Select the Print option from the program or app you are using.
Next, choose your printer and open Printer Properties, Preferences, or Print Settings. Look for an option related to paper size, layout, or borderless printing.
Choose a paper size that includes a borderless option. For example, your printer may list both a standard 4 x 6-inch setting and a 4 x 6-inch borderless setting.
After selecting the correct size, look for settings such as:
- Borderless
- Borderless Photo
- Edge-to-Edge
- Full Bleed
- Expand
- Overscan
Enable the appropriate option and check the print preview if one is available. The preview can help you identify whether your image will reach the edges before you use ink and paper.
Finally, make sure the correct paper type is selected. Using the wrong paper setting may affect print quality, color accuracy, and how the printer handles the paper during printing.
Why Does Your Printer Leave White Borders?
One of the biggest frustrations is enabling what appears to be the correct setting but still receiving a print with white margins. This problem can happen for several reasons, and identifying the cause can save you from repeatedly printing the same failed page.
The first reason may be that borderless printing is not actually supported for your selected paper size. Many printers have limitations, especially when using standard letter-size paper or certain specialty media.
Another issue may be the application you are printing from. Some programs automatically add margins to documents, even when your printer supports edge-to-edge printing.
Your image dimensions can also affect the final result. If the aspect ratio of the image does not match the aspect ratio of the paper, the printer or application may leave blank areas to avoid cropping part of the image.
For example, a square photo printed on rectangular paper may need to be cropped or adjusted. If you choose to fit the entire image on the page, white areas may remain on the sides.
Incorrect scaling can create the same problem. Check whether the software is using settings such as Fit to Page, Actual Size, or Scale to Fit, and compare the preview before printing.
If you are dealing with a printer printing with white borders, checking both the application settings and printer settings is important. Changing only one setting may not be enough to achieve the result you want.
Does Your Printer Support Borderless Printing?
Before spending time troubleshooting, it is important to confirm that your printer has the capability you need. Not all printers can print all the way to the edges of the paper.
Many photo-focused inkjet models offer this feature, while some basic office printers do not. Even among borderless printing printers, supported sizes and media types can vary significantly.
Check your printer manual, manufacturer specifications, or printer software for a list of supported paper sizes. You may see a separate list specifically for borderless paper sizes.
If your printer does not offer a borderless option, forcing the image to extend beyond the page in your software will not necessarily solve the problem. The printer’s hardware may still leave a non-printable margin around the paper.
In that situation, you have a few options. You can print your design on larger paper and trim the edges, use a professional printing service, or choose a printer designed for borderless photo printing.
Which Paper Should You Use for Borderless Printing?
The type and size of paper you use can affect both whether borderless printing is available and how good the final result looks. Always select paper that is compatible with your printer before starting your project.
Photo paper is a common choice for borderless photo printing because it produces sharp images and vibrant colors. Glossy, matte, and semi-gloss options can all work, depending on the look you want.
For everyday projects, you may also be able to use plain paper if your printer supports borderless printing on that media type. However, some printers limit borderless mode to photo paper because ink near the edges can behave differently.
It is also important to match the paper size loaded in your printer with the size selected on your computer. A mismatch can cause cropping, scaling issues, or an error message.
Make sure the paper is loaded correctly and that the paper guides are adjusted properly. Paper that shifts during printing may cause uneven edges or an image that looks off-center.
For the best results, select the exact paper type in your printer settings. This helps the printer adjust how it applies ink and moves the paper through the machine.
How Do You Adjust Borderless Print Settings?
Your borderless print settings determine how the image fits on the page and whether the printer slightly enlarges it to cover the edges. Reviewing these options before printing can help prevent unexpected cropping or blank margins.
Open the print dialog and look for an Advanced Settings or Printer Properties section. The borderless option may be located under Layout, Paper, Page Setup, or Quality settings.
After enabling borderless mode, you may see an expansion or enlargement option. Printers often slightly enlarge the image so it extends past the physical edge of the paper.
This process is sometimes necessary because printers cannot always place ink precisely at the very edge without allowing some overlap. The printer may crop a small portion of the image to make sure no white line remains.
Check the print preview carefully if your design includes important text or subjects close to the edge. A person’s face, logo, or other important detail could be cropped if it sits too close to the outer edge.
For important projects, print a test copy first. A single test can help you adjust the scaling and layout before using multiple sheets of paper and more printer ink.
How Can You Print Borderless Photos Without Cropping Important Parts?
A common concern when learning how to print borderless photos is losing part of the image. Because the printer may slightly enlarge the photo to eliminate white edges, some cropping is often unavoidable.
The best solution is to prepare your image before printing. Use an image editor to crop the photo to the same aspect ratio as your paper.
For example, if you are printing a 4 x 6 photo, prepare the image using a 2:3 aspect ratio. This reduces the amount of automatic cropping the printer needs to do.
Keep important subjects away from the edges whenever possible. If someone’s face or a logo is positioned at the edge, even a small amount of expansion could cut off part of it.
You can also look for an option such as Borderless Expansion or Amount of Expansion in your printer settings. Some printers allow you to choose a lower expansion amount, although this may increase the risk of thin white edges.
The goal is to balance complete edge coverage with minimal cropping. Checking the preview before printing is one of the easiest ways to catch problems early.
Can You Print Without a Border From a Phone?
Yes, many modern printer apps allow you to print without border directly from a smartphone or tablet. However, your printer must support borderless printing for the selected paper size.
Open the photo or document you want to print and select your printer from the sharing or print menu. Depending on your device and printer app, you may need to open additional settings to find the borderless option.
Choose the correct paper size and look for a setting related to layout, photo size, or borders. Some apps automatically detect that you are printing a photo and display a borderless option when compatible paper is selected.
If the option does not appear, try using the official printer app for your printer brand. These apps often provide more detailed controls than the basic print menu on your phone.
Also, check whether your photo is being set to Fit or Fill. A Fit setting may preserve the entire image but leave white space, while a Fill setting may enlarge the image and crop part of it.
When Should You Use Borderless Printing?
Borderless printing works best when you want your images or designs to cover the entire page without visible white margins. It can give your finished prints a cleaner and more professional appearance, especially for projects where presentation matters.
You may want to use borderless printing for:
- Photos: Printing photos without white borders creates a more polished, full-page look and helps the image stand out.
- Invitations and greeting cards: Edge-to-edge designs can make invitations and cards look more visually appealing and professionally printed.
- Posters and promotional materials: Businesses can use borderless printing for flyers, posters, and marketing materials when they want graphics or product images to extend across the page.
- Creative projects: Artwork, scrapbooking pages, collages, and other designs can benefit from a border-free layout that gives the entire page a finished look.
- Product photos: Small businesses and online sellers can use borderless prints when creating product displays or marketing materials that need a polished appearance.
However, borderless printing is not necessary for every project. Reports, essays, forms, and spreadsheets usually need standard margins for better readability and organization, so consider your printing needs before selecting borderless mode.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to print borderless can help you create better-looking photos, invitations, and creative projects without distracting white margins. The key is to confirm that your printer supports the feature, select the correct paper size, prepare your image properly, and review your settings before printing.
Reliable borderless printing also depends on keeping your printer in good condition and using the right supplies for your model. Whether you print photos occasionally or handle regular print jobs at home or work, CompAndSave offers affordable compatible ink cartridges to help you maintain your printer while managing your printing costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can every printer print borderless?
No, not every printer supports borderless printing. Many photo and inkjet printers offer the feature, but some office and basic document printers have fixed non-printable margins. Check your printer specifications or settings to see which paper sizes support borderless printing.
Does borderless printing crop the image?
It can crop a small portion of the image because the printer may enlarge the photo to ensure it reaches every edge. The amount of cropping depends on your printer, image size, and borderless expansion settings. Preparing the image with the same aspect ratio as your paper can help reduce unwanted cropping.
Can I print borderless on regular printer paper?
Some printers allow borderless printing on plain paper, but others only support it on specific photo paper sizes. The available options depend on your printer model and its supported media types. Check your printer settings to see whether plain paper is available in borderless mode.