Online RulerCheck Your Printed Ruler
Measure the printed 10 cm test line with a physical ruler. Set the physical ruler’s zero at one end of the line and read the mark at the other end. If the line ends short of or past the 10 cm mark, check the print settings and print a fresh copy before using the paper ruler.
- The AR Ruler printout has a 15 cm scale, a 6 in scale, and a separate 10 cm test line.
- The metric and inch scales are sized independently using physical print units.
- The test measures the size of the line on your sheet, so do it after printing.
- Lay the printed sheet and a physical ruler on a flat surface under good light.
- Place the zero mark of the physical ruler at the start of the test line. Some rulers have a gap between the edge and zero, so look for the mark itself.
- Keep the ruler parallel to the test line and look straight down at the far end. Check where that end falls on the physical ruler.
- If the end misses 10 cm, open the print settings. Select the paper size loaded in the printer, choose Actual Size or 100%, and turn off any option that fits or shrinks the page.
- Print another copy and repeat the test on the new sheet.
Read the endpoints
Keep the ruler close beside the test line so you can see both endpoints. Press down lightly if the sheet curls. If the ruler has a chipped end or a hard-to-read zero, start from another clear metric mark. Find the distance by subtracting the starting reading from the ending reading.
Fix a short or long line
Check the paper size and scale in the print window first. If the printer has a separate settings panel, look there for another scaling option. A fit setting can change the whole page to suit the printer’s margins. Review the preview for clipped marks before sending the next copy.
Check the scale you need
If you plan to measure in inches and have a physical inch ruler, compare the printed zero and 6 in marks with it. For metric work, you can compare the endpoints of the 15 cm scale with a physical metric ruler. Then use the zero mark of the printed scale as your starting point.
Can I check it with an inch ruler?
Yes, if you can read the endpoint closely enough. Since 1 in = 25.4 mm, 10 cm falls just short of the 4 in mark.
Can I check the line in print preview?
Print preview helps you spot missing marks. Measure the line on the printed sheet to check its physical length.
Should I check every new copy?
Check again when you switch printers, change paper sizes, or adjust print settings. Use the sheet you plan to measure with for the check.