How to Print Coloring Pages

Every coloring page on cpforkids.com is a free printable PDF — high-resolution 300 DPI files designed for clean home, classroom, and homeschool printing on both US Letter and A4 paper. No account is needed — just open the PDF and print.

Before You Print — Quick Setup

Most printing problems come down to three settings. Get these right and everything else usually takes care of itself:

• Orientation: Portrait
• Scale: Fit to Page
• Quality: Best or High

That’s it for most cases. The steps below walk through the full process for computers, phones, and tablets.

Step 1 — Click and Download

Click any coloring page image on the site. The PDF opens in a new browser tab. To save it to your device, click the download icon in your browser’s PDF viewer — or go to File → Save As and choose a folder. All pages on cpforkids.com are sized for both US Letter and A4, so no resizing is needed before printing.

Step 2 — Open in a PDF Viewer

Open the file in any PDF viewer — Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on Mac, or your browser’s built-in viewer all work. Printing from a PDF viewer rather than directly from the browser tab avoids headers, footers, and URLs appearing on the printed page.

Step 3 — Print From a Computer

Press Ctrl + P on Windows or Cmd + P on Mac. In the print dialog, use these settings:

• Paper size: US Letter (8.5 × 11″) or A4
• Orientation: Portrait
• Scale: Fit to Page
• Quality: Best or High Quality
• Color: Black and White
• Two-sided printing: Off — coloring on the back of another page causes bleed-through and marker marks

Step 4 — Print From a Phone or Tablet

iPhone or iPad: Open the PDF from your Files app or browser. Tap the Share icon, then tap Print. Select your AirPrint printer, set the paper size, and tap Print.

Android: Open the PDF from your Downloads folder or browser. Tap the three-dot menu and select Print. Make sure your phone and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network, then set the paper size and print.

No wireless printer? Send the file to a computer via email, Google Drive, or AirDrop and print from there.

Step 5 — Print

Click Print. Every page is designed to use the full page space with minimal wasted margins. If the preview looks centered and large, you’re good to go.

Print Settings at a Glance

Laser or Inkjet — Which Is Better?

Laser printers use dry toner and heat, so the ink sets permanently — no smearing, even if your child starts coloring right away with markers. Lines also tend to come out sharper. Most school and library printers are laser, which makes them ideal for coloring pages. If you don’t have one at home, most libraries and office supply stores offer laser printing for around 10 to 30 cents per page.

Inkjet printers are what most households have, and they work fine for crayons and colored pencils. If you’re using markers on an inkjet print, let the page dry for at least a few hours before coloring — overnight is even better — to avoid smearing the lines.

If you’re not sure which paper to use, see our Best Paper for Printing Coloring Pages guide. It covers the best paper weights and types for crayons, colored pencils, markers, watercolor, classroom printing, and homeschool use.

Paper Tips

• Crayons and colored pencils: Standard printer paper (75–90 gsm / 20–24 lb) works well for everyday use.
• Markers and felt-tips: Use heavier paper — 120–160 gsm / 32–40 lb — to prevent bleed-through. Placing a spare sheet behind the coloring page also protects the surface underneath.
• Watercolors: Use proper watercolor paper (200 gsm / 90 lb or heavier). Standard printer paper will buckle and warp.

For teachers and homeschool parents: All coloring pages on cpforkids.com are free for classroom and homeschool use. Print as many copies as you need — no permission request needed.

Printing for Classrooms and Homeschool Groups

All coloring pages on cpforkids.com are free to print in as many copies as you need for classroom, homeschool, and group use — no permission request needed.

A few things that save time when printing in batches:

• Download first, then print. Collect all the pages you need before opening the print dialog. Most PDF viewers let you queue multiple files at once.
• Use the school copier. Large office copiers handle heavier paper better than desktop printers and are faster for bulk runs. Ask your office staff to load 32 lb paper in one of the trays.
• Print a few extras. Kids often want to try a page again with different colors. Two or three spare copies avoids interruptions mid-activity.
• Turn off two-sided printing. Coloring on the back of a printed page causes marker bleed-through and pencil impressions. Single-sided is always better for coloring pages.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

• Lines look faint after printing: Switch from Draft to Best or High Quality in your print settings. This is the most common cause — not the paper.
• Page prints with wide borders or looks too small: Change Scale to Fit to Page. Some viewers default to Actual Size, which leaves large margins.
• Half the image is missing: Your paper size setting doesn’t match the paper in the printer. Make sure both are set to Letter or both to A4.
• URL or header text appears on the print: You’re printing directly from the browser tab. Open the PDF in a viewer first, then print from there.
• Ink smears when coloring: You’re using an inkjet printer. Let the page dry for several hours before coloring, or switch to a laser printer.
• Paper jams with thicker paper: Use the rear feed tray if your printer has one, feed one sheet at a time, and select Heavy Paper or Cardstock as the paper type in your settings.
• PDF won’t open: Try a different app — Adobe Reader, Chrome, Edge, or Preview on Mac all open PDFs without extra software.

Ready to Print?

Browse the full collection and click any page to open the PDF. No account, no email, no sign-up needed.

→ Educational Coloring Pages
→ Animal Coloring Pages
→ Food & Drink Coloring Pages
→ Holiday & Seasonal Coloring Pages
→ All Coloring Pages

For questions about printing or file issues, get in touch.