How to Print Double-Sided Notes Without Misalignment
Double-sided printing can shift margins and break alignment. Learn the safest settings for duplex printing and how to keep both sides consistent.
Double-sided (duplex) printing is great for saving paper, but it introduces a common problem: the back side is often shifted slightly compared to the front.
Why duplex printing shifts content
Many printers have small mechanical tolerances. When the sheet flips inside the printer, the feed path changes, which can cause a few millimeters of drift.
Duplex settings that usually work best
- Print at Actual Size / 100%
- Choose the correct duplex mode:
- Flip on long edge for portrait documents
- Flip on short edge for landscape documents
- Avoid “fit” options that change margins
Margin strategy: leave room for drift
If you plan to duplex print a ruled template, use slightly larger margins so small shifts don’t clip lines near the edge.
For binder notes, start here:
Quick test before printing a stack
Print 2 pages duplex, then hold them up to light:
- Margin lines should overlap closely
- Grid intersections should look aligned
If alignment is noticeably off, use single-sided printing for that printer or increase margins.