Margins in LaTeX

Use the geometry package to set custom page margins in LaTeX.

Quick Answer

latex

\usepackage[margin=2.5cm]{geometry}

Common Margin Presets

latex

% All sides equal:
\usepackage[margin=2.5cm]{geometry}

% Separate horizontal and vertical:
\usepackage[hmargin=3cm, vmargin=2.5cm]{geometry}

% Individual sides:
\usepackage[
  top=3cm,
  bottom=2.5cm,
  left=3cm,
  right=2.5cm
]{geometry}

% A4 paper with 2.5 cm margins (common thesis setting):
\usepackage[a4paper, margin=2.5cm]{geometry}

Paper Size

latex

% A4 (default in Europe):
\usepackage[a4paper, margin=2.5cm]{geometry}

% US Letter (default in North America):
\usepackage[letterpaper, margin=1in]{geometry}

% A5 booklet:
\usepackage[a5paper, margin=2cm]{geometry}

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Binding Offset (Thesis)

For printed and bound theses, add extra space on the binding (inner) side with bindingoffset.

latex

\usepackage[
  a4paper,
  left=3.5cm,    % wider for binding
  right=2.5cm,
  top=2.5cm,
  bottom=2.5cm,
  bindingoffset=0.5cm
]{geometry}

Landscape Orientation

latex

\usepackage[a4paper, landscape, margin=2cm]{geometry}

% Single landscape page in a portrait document:
\usepackage{lscape}
% ...
\begin{landscape}
  % wide table or figure here
\end{landscape}

Check Layout

Use the layout package to print a diagram of your current page layout.

latex

\usepackage{layout}
\layout  % prints a visual diagram of the current margins

Margins in LaTeX

Common Margin Presets

Paper Size

Binding Offset (Thesis)

Landscape Orientation

Check Layout

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