# Printing Guide — How to Print Your Puzzles | PuzzleBuilder > URL: https://puzzlebuilder.co/docs/printing-guide-how-to-print-your-puzzles/ Learn how to print your PuzzleBuilder puzzles — choose the right page size, paper stock, and finish, print at home or at a print shop, and get professional results every time. --- ## Printing Guide - How to Print Your Puzzles This guide covers everything you need to know about printing your PuzzleBuilder puzzles — from choosing the right page size and paper stock to printing at home or at a professional print shop. ### 1. Choosing the Right Page Size The page size you choose depends on how and where your puzzles will be used. Here are the most popular sizes by occasion: #### Weddings & Receptions **5×7 in** is the most popular size for wedding puzzle cards. It fits neatly on reception tables, dinner plates, or cocktail napkins — and it's easy for guests to pick up and solve without taking up too much space. **A5** (148 × 210 mm) is the closest international equivalent. #### Birthday Parties & Celebrations **A5** or **5×7 in** works well for party puzzle cards handed out to guests. If you want a larger, more detailed puzzle, **US Letter** (8.5 × 11 in) or **A4** (210 × 297 mm) gives you more room for clues and bigger grid cells. #### Classrooms & Education **US Letter** or **A4** is ideal for classroom worksheets and student activities. These standard sizes work with any school printer and are easy to distribute and collect. #### Team Building & Corporate **US Letter** or **A4** is recommended. These sizes print easily on any office printer and give enough space for larger puzzles with more clues. #### Quick Reference Size Dimensions Best For 5×7 in 5 × 7 inches Wedding table cards, party handouts A5 148 × 210 mm Compact puzzle cards, party favors US Letter 8.5 × 11 inches Classrooms, offices, detailed puzzles A4 210 × 297 mm International standard, classrooms, events ### 2. Download Formats PuzzleBuilder offers three download options. Choose the one that matches your printing needs: - PNG Preview: A standard-resolution image. Good for quick previews and sharing digitally — not recommended for print. - PNG High-Quality: A high-resolution image suitable for printing at home or at a print shop. - Print Ready PDF: A vector-quality PDF optimized for the best possible print output. This is the recommended format for professional printing. For the best print results, always use the **Print Ready PDF** option. ### 3. Choosing the Right Paper The paper you print on makes a big difference in how your puzzle looks and feels. Here's a breakdown of the most common options: #### Paper Weight Weight GSM Feel Best For 65 lb cover 176 gsm Lightweight card Casual handouts, classroom worksheets 80 lb cover 216 gsm Standard cardstock Most puzzle cards — the best all-around choice 100 lb cover 270 gsm Premium cardstock Wedding cards, formal event cards 110 lb cover 284 gsm Heavy premium Luxury invitations, keepsake cards **Our recommendation:** For most puzzle cards, **80 lb cover (216 gsm)** is the sweet spot — it's sturdy enough to feel like a real card, works with nearly all home and office printers, and is widely available at print shops. For weddings and special events where you want a more premium feel, go with **100 lb cover (270 gsm)**. #### Paper Finish - Matte: A smooth, non-reflective finish. Colors appear softer, and the surface is easy to write on with a pen. Best choice if guests will be writing answers directly on the card. - Glossy: A shiny, vibrant finish that makes colors pop. Looks great for display but is harder to write on. Best for puzzles that are solved online, with the printed card used as a keepsake. - Satin / Semi-Gloss: A middle ground between matte and glossy — slight sheen with good color reproduction. Works well for both writing and display. - Linen / Textured: Adds a subtle tactile texture. Popular for wedding puzzle cards where you want an elegant, high-end feel. **Our recommendation:** Choose **matte** if guests will write on the puzzle, or **satin** for a polished look that's still pen-friendly. ### 4. Printing at Home Printing at home is the fastest and most convenient option, especially for small quantities or last-minute needs. #### Before You Print - Check your printer's maximum paper weight. Most home inkjet and laser printers handle up to 80–100 lb cover (216–270 gsm). Check your printer manual if you're unsure. - Use the rear feed tray (if available) for thicker cardstock. This avoids tight bends that can cause paper jams. - Set your printer to "Best Quality" or "High Quality" mode for the sharpest output. - Select the correct paper size in your printer settings to match the file you downloaded. #### Printing Smaller Cards on Larger Paper If you're printing 5×7 in or A5 puzzle cards, you can fit two cards side by side on a single sheet of US Letter or A4 paper. This saves paper and is more efficient for larger quantities. Here's how to do it using the **Print Ready PDF**: 1. Open your PDF in a PDF viewer (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader). 2. Go to Print and look for the "Multiple pages per sheet" or "Pages per sheet" option. 3. Set it to 2 pages per sheet. 4. Make sure "Fit to printable area" or "Shrink to fit" is unchecked — you want the cards to print at their actual size. 5. Set orientation to match your layout (landscape for side-by-side 5×7 cards on Letter paper). 6. Print a test page on regular paper first to verify alignment before using cardstock. 7. After printing, cut along the center line to separate the two cards. This method works for both 5×7 on US Letter and A5 on A4. #### Cutting Tips - Use a paper trimmer or guillotine cutter for clean, straight edges. Scissors can leave uneven cuts. - If your puzzle design includes crop marks, use them as cutting guides. - Cut one test sheet first to make sure the alignment is correct before cutting the full batch. ### 5. Printing at a Print Shop For large quantities, premium paper, or professional-quality results, printing at a local print shop is the best option. Most print shops accept PDF files and can print on a wide range of paper types and sizes. #### Popular Print Shops in the United States Print Shop Key Features **FedEx Office** Wide range of paper types, self-service and full-service options, locations nationwide. Accepts PDF, PNG, and other formats. Same-day service available. **Staples Print & Marketing** Affordable pricing, same-day pickup (order by 12 pm), price match guarantee. Upload your file online and pick up in-store. **The UPS Store** Full-service printing with shipping options. Good for printing and mailing puzzles directly to event guests. **Office Depot / OfficeMax** Document and color printing, custom jobs, multiple paper options. In-store and online ordering. **Vistaprint** Online-only. Great for bulk orders with premium paper options. Longer turnaround but competitive pricing. #### What to Ask at the Print Shop - Paper stock: Ask for 80 lb cover (216 gsm) cardstock for standard puzzle cards, or 100 lb cover (270 gsm) for a premium feel. - Finish: Specify matte or satin for puzzles that guests will write on. - Cutting: If you're printing smaller cards (5×7 or A5) on larger sheets, ask the shop to cut them for you. Most shops offer cutting services for a small fee. - Quantity discounts: Printing in bulk is almost always cheaper per unit. Ask about volume pricing if you need 50+ copies. - Proof: Ask for a single proof print before committing to the full run. This lets you check colors, alignment, and paper quality. #### How to Send Your File When uploading your file to a print shop, always use the **Print Ready PDF** from PuzzleBuilder. This format preserves the exact layout, colors, and quality of your design. If the shop requests a specific format, PNG High-Quality also works well. ### 6. How Many Copies Do You Need? The number of copies depends on how you plan to use your puzzles: Occasion Recommendation Wedding reception One per guest, or one per couple. Add 10–15% extra for table displays and keepsakes. Birthday party One per guest. Add a few extras for latecomers. Classroom One per student, plus a few extras for the teacher's reference. Team building One per participant. Consider printing a few answer keys for the organizer. ### 7. Printing Tips for Best Results - Always use the PDF format for printing. It produces the sharpest, most accurate output. - Print a test page on regular paper first. Check alignment, color, and sizing before using cardstock. - Match your printer's paper size setting to the actual paper loaded in the tray. A mismatch can cause scaling or cropping issues. - Let ink dry completely before stacking printed cards, especially on glossy or coated paper. Ink can smudge if stacked too soon. - Store printed cards flat in a cool, dry place. Avoid bending or stacking heavy objects on top of them. - Print answer keys separately. If you need an answer key for reference, use Show Answers in the builder, take a screenshot, or print a second copy with answers visible. ### 8. Combining Print and Online Play You don't have to choose between print and online — many PuzzleBuilder users do both. Here are some popular combinations: - Print for the table, play online for the competition: Place printed puzzle cards on each table for guests to solve during dinner, and share the online link for a live leaderboard competition later in the evening. - Print as a keepsake, play online for fun: Give guests a beautifully printed card to take home as a memento, and use the online version as the interactive game during the event. - Print for guests without phones: Not everyone will have a device handy. Printed cards ensure every guest can participate, while the online version adds a competitive element for those who want it. ### Need Help? If you have any questions about printing your puzzles, contact our support team through the [Support page](https://puzzlebuilder.co/support/?contact). #### All Documents - How to Use the Crossword Builder - How to Use the Word Search Builder - How to Use the Number Hunt Builder - How to Use the Photo Challenge Builder - How to Use the Bingo Challenge Builder - How to Use the Sudoku Builder - How to Use the Spy Challenge Builder - How to Use Online Play and Leaderboards - Printing Guide - How to Print Your Puzzles - How to Use the AI Clue Generator - The Complete Guide to Designing Print-Ready Puzzle Cards - How to Create Engaging Classroom Puzzles for Any Subject [← Back to Support](https://puzzlebuilder.co/support/) ### Ready to make your event unforgettable? Open the editor and build your first puzzle in minutes. You only pay when you're ready to download or publish — and every purchase is covered by a 14-day refund. 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