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Page Size, Margins, and Columns

Set paper size and margins with document-class options or geometry, and use multicol for local columns. Define page geometry in the preamble rather than controlling line width with manual breaks.

EasyLaTeX compiler setting: pdfLaTeX; examples use geometry and multicol. Submission and thesis templates often prescribe the paper size and text area. The examples use A4; use letterpaper when required by your publisher or institution.

Paper Size and Margins

Load geometry in the preamble and set the paper and uniform margins with a4paper and margin:

latex
\usepackage[a4paper,margin=2.5cm]{geometry}

You can also set a4paper as a class option. Specify the paper size consistently and avoid conflicting class and package settings.

Setting Individual Margins

For binding, two-sided printing, or asymmetric template requirements, set the margins separately:

latex
\usepackage[
  a4paper,
  top=2.5cm,
  bottom=2.5cm,
  inner=3cm,
  outer=2cm
]{geometry}

inner and outer suit two-sided documents; use left and right for single-sided layouts. Leave sufficient space for printing and binding rather than shrinking margins just to fit more text.

Changing Geometry Locally

Use \newgeometry and \restoregeometry when wide tables or appendices need a temporary text area:

latex
\newgeometry{left=1.8cm,right=1.8cm}
This page has a wider text area.
\restoregeometry

Local changes affect headers, footers, and page breaks, so reserve them for a small sequence of pages. For one wide table, first consider shortening cells, using landscape, or splitting the table.

Columns

Use multicol for a local two-column section:

latex
\usepackage{multicol}

\begin{multicols}{2}
Content in two columns.
\columnbreak
The next column starts here.
\end{multicols}

For a whole two-column document, use the twocolumn class option. Float support inside multicols is limited; for papers with many floats, use the target template's native two-column layout.

Landscape Pages

Use the landscape environment from pdflscape for a wide table on its own page:

latex
\usepackage{pdflscape}

\begin{landscape}
A wide table on a landscape page.
\end{landscape}

PDF readers normally rotate that page automatically. Reserve landscape pages for content that cannot be presented clearly in portrait orientation.

Common Problems

Margin Settings Have No Effect

Check whether the template or class resets the text area later and whether geometry is loaded more than once. Read template instructions before overriding mandatory formatting.

A Table Extends Beyond the Page

Do not begin by reducing the entire document's font size. Shorten column headings, use fixed-width columns, split the table, or use landscape.

Figures and Tables Move Unexpectedly in Columns

This follows from float and multicols limitations. Move floats outside that environment or use a template and float arrangement designed for two-column documents.

Complete Example

latex
\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage[a4paper,margin=2.5cm]{geometry}
\usepackage{multicol}

\begin{document}
\section{Two-Column Summary}

\begin{multicols}{2}
This is the left column. LaTeX balances the column heights automatically.

This is the second paragraph in the same column.
\columnbreak
This is the right column.
\end{multicols}

\newgeometry{left=2cm,right=2cm}
\section{Wide Appendix}
This page temporarily uses a wider text area.
\restoregeometry

\end{document}
Page Size, Margins, and Columns | EasyLaTeX | EasyLaTeX