Crop vs Resize — what is the difference?
Cropping removes portions of existing page content — for example, trimming the 15mm scanner border around every page of a scanned document. Resizing changes the paper dimensions — for example, converting a custom-sized document into A4 so it prints correctly on standard paper. ihatepdf's Crop & Resize tool supports both operations independently or combined in a single pass.
How to crop a PDF free online
- Open ihatepdf.cv/crop-resize-pdf — no sign-up required
- Upload your PDF
- Switch to Crop mode
- Enter margin values in mm/px for each side, or drag the crop handles on the preview
- Apply to all pages simultaneously or selected pages only
- Download the cropped PDF — no watermark
How to resize PDF pages to A4 or US Letter
- Upload your PDF to ihatepdf.cv/crop-resize-pdf
- Switch to Resize mode
- Select A4, US Letter, A3, Legal, or enter fully custom dimensions
- Choose whether to scale content to fit or keep original size
- Apply to all pages and download
Remove scanner borders from scanned documents
Scanned documents typically have wide white borders from the scanner platen. Enter equal margin values on all sides (typically 10–20mm) to trim the scan to the actual document area. Apply to all pages at once to process the entire document in one step. After cropping, use Compress PDF to reduce the resulting file size further.
Common page size standards
- A4 (210 × 297mm) — standard in Europe, Asia, Australia, and most of the world
- US Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) — standard in North America
- US Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) — used for legal documents in the US
Crop white space for slides, e-readers and presentations
Wide margins waste screen space when a PDF is read on a phone, Kindle, or projected in a meeting — the actual text ends up tiny in the middle of a sea of white. Cropping the margins down to the content makes the same document far more readable on small screens and fills more of the slide when presented. Trim an equal margin on all four sides, preview a couple of pages to confirm nothing important is clipped, then apply to every page at once. Pair it with PDF to EPUB if you are preparing a document for an e-reader.
Resize to a print size without cutting off content
Resizing is the fix when a PDF was built at an odd dimension and prints with chopped edges or thick borders on standard paper. Switch to Resize mode, pick A4 or US Letter, and choose scale content to fit so the whole page is shrunk or enlarged into the new size rather than cropped — nothing is lost, the proportions just change to match the paper. This is the reliable way to make a custom-sized brochure, ticket, or certificate print cleanly on a home or office printer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I crop a PDF on my phone?
Open the tool in mobile Safari or Chrome, upload the PDF, and either type margin values or drag the crop handles on the preview. The cropped file downloads straight to your device — no app needed.
Does cropping reduce the PDF file size?
Slightly, since trimmed areas are removed, but the biggest savings come from compression. For a noticeably smaller file, run the cropped PDF through Compress PDF afterwards.
Can I apply different crops to different pages?
Yes. Apply a crop to individual pages or all pages simultaneously.
Will cropping lose content?
Cropping removes content outside the new page boundaries. Always preview before applying to confirm important content is inside the crop area.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Crop and resize run entirely locally in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.