1
Source and media already match
The PDF page and loaded paper are both 4×6, Letter or A4.
Use Actual Size / 100% and verify one measured test. Adobe defines Actual Size as printing without scaling.
Measure the resulttroubleshooting guide
Fit to Page vs Actual Size for Shipping Labels — How to Fix It
Choose Fit or Actual Size from the PDF page and printer media. Learn when Actual Size preserves scale, when it crops, and when to regenerate the label.
Best next step
Follow the symptom-led steps before buying or reprinting postage.
Start with the tool or template that matches this guide before printing paid postage again.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-29
Quick answer
Use Actual Size / 100% when the PDF page and loaded media already match. Adobe defines Fit as resizing to the selected paper's printable area and Actual Size as no scaling; Actual Size can still crop a page that does not fit. If source and media differ, get the correct format instead of assuming either button is safe.
Symptom-led fix
Choose scale from the source-to-media relationship
Actual Size preserves dimensions; Fit changes them. Neither setting repairs a source page that does not belong on the selected media.
Read the PDF page size and confirm the loaded media before choosing either option.
2
The source is larger than the media
A Letter or A4 page is being sent to one 4×6 roll label.
Do not use Fit to miniaturize the full page. Get the correct format or extract one complete label area when the document structure permits it.
Inspect before converting3
Actual Size would clip the page
The source page does not fit the selected sheet or the printer's printable area.
Choose matching paper or regenerate the correct layout. Adobe notes that Actual Size can crop pages that do not fit; that is a stop signal, not a reason to guess.
Test the matched layoutPreflight checklist
- Read the PDF page size and confirm loaded media.
- Use Actual Size only for a source-to-media match.
- Regenerate the correct format when Actual Size crops and Fit resizes.
1. Start with source size and physical media
Read whether the PDF page is 4×6, Letter, A4 or a larger sheet containing a smaller label. Then confirm the paper or roll loaded in the selected printer. A scale choice should be the last step after those two facts match.
2. Use Actual Size for a matched path
Adobe says Actual Size prints without scaling. Use it when a true 4×6 page goes to matching 4×6 media, or a Letter/A4 page goes to the same sheet size. Measure one blank test because the final driver can still apply its own media settings.
3. Treat Fit as a transformation
Adobe says Fit reduces or enlarges a page to the selected printable area. That is useful for ordinary documents but can change barcode geometry. On macOS, Apple likewise documents Scale to Fit and separate choices that preserve the whole page or fill and crop the paper.
4. Stop when neither option preserves the document
If Actual Size crops required content and Fit miniaturizes or enlarges it, the source layout does not belong on the selected media. Regenerate the issuer's correct format, use matching paper, or intentionally extract one complete label area when the document permits it; do not trial-and-error a live barcode.
Source notes
General troubleshooting framework: Adobe and Apple document viewer behavior. The correct shipping-label format still comes from the issuing marketplace or carrier, not from this page.
This page is a practical print-setting checklist, not official carrier policy or a promise that a label will be accepted.
Confirm the current format in your platform or carrier account, keep the original PDF, and stop if a test print is cropped, blurred or incorrectly scaled.
Troubleshooting advice is general. Record the printer model, paper size, PDF viewer and scale setting so you can verify each change.
- Adobe Acrobat page sizing for printing · Adobe defines Fit, Actual Size, Shrink Oversized Pages and custom scaling behavior. · Link checked 2026-08-29
- Apple Preview print options · Apple documents Preview Scale, Scale to Fit, Print Entire Image and Fill Entire Paper behavior. · Link checked 2026-08-29
FAQ
Is Actual Size always safe for shipping labels?
No. It preserves scale, but Adobe notes that content can crop when the page does not fit the selected paper.
Is Fit to Page always wrong?
It is a documented resizing operation. Do not use it when preserving the issued barcode dimensions is the goal; obtain a matching source format instead.
What should I use for a true 4×6 PDF and 4×6 roll?
Start with 4×6 media and Actual Size / 100%, then measure one blank test before live postage.
What should I use for a Letter PDF on a thermal printer?
Neither Fit nor blind enlargement. Get a 4×6 format or extract one complete label area only when all required content fits.
When should I stop and regenerate?
Stop when Actual Size crops, Fit changes the barcode, the page contains required adjacent documents, or the issuer gives a format-specific instruction.