Cut the white edges, not the content
People who search crop PDF margins usually have a scan with a wide border, or a document that prints with a lot of empty space around the text. They want the page content to fill the page, so it reads larger on a phone screen or prints with less wasted paper.
ViaPDF’s Crop margins tool trims the margins around the page content on every page of one PDF, on your phone. It is a margin trimmer. It does not let you draw a custom crop box on each page, and it does not edit what is on the page.
Automatic or Fixed margin
- Automatic finds the white edges on each page and trims to them. Pages with different amounts of white space are trimmed to match their own content. Use it for scans and mixed documents.
- Fixed margin uses a slider from 1% to 20%, trimmed from every edge. Every page loses the same amount on all four sides. Use it when the white space is even and you want to control the cut.
A preview of page 1 shows the cut. Look at it before you tap the button. If page 1 has less white space than the other pages, it is not a perfect guide, but it shows you what the setting does to the edges.
Take care with the Fixed margin slider near 20%. It removes a fifth of the page from every side, which will cut into content if the margins are narrow.
A new file. The tool writes Cropped.pdf. The PDF you opened is not overwritten. Pages in the result are written as images, so text is not selectable unless you run OCR and save a searchable PDF.
Before you start
- Crop margins works on one PDF at a time.
- It trims margins around the page content. There is no custom crop box for individual pages.
- Files over 250 MB or over 200 pages are rejected.
- The first Save or Share is free. After that, one unlock for $14.99.
How to crop PDF margins in ViaPDF
- Open Crop marginsOn the ViaPDF home screen, open the Tools tab and tap Crop margins. You can also tap Open PDF first and then pick the tool.
- Choose the PDFPick the file from your phone.
- Choose Automatic or Fixed marginAutomatic finds the white edges on each page. Fixed margin trims the same amount from every edge.
- Set the slider for Fixed marginDrag the slider anywhere from 1% to 20%. Skip this step if you chose Automatic.
- Check the previewThe preview of page 1 shows the cut. Change the setting until the edges look right.
- Tap Crop marginsViaPDF trims every page and writes Cropped.pdf.
- Save or ShareSave or Share the result. The first export is free. The file you opened is not overwritten.
Do this job on your phoneFree to download. The first export is free. Then $14.99 once. The file stays on the device until you share it.
Crop first, then do the rest
Trimming margins is often the first step in cleaning up a scan. If a page came in sideways, rotate it before you crop, so the edges are where you expect them. If you want the words on the scan to be searchable or copyable, run OCR on the cropped file, then save a searchable PDF.
If you want several differently shaped pages brought into line, Automatic is the better start. If you want every page to lose exactly the same border, use Fixed margin and keep the slider low. Because ViaPDF never overwrites your file, you can try both and compare the two results.
Crop PDF margins FAQ
What is the difference between Automatic and Fixed margin?
Automatic finds the white edges on each page and trims to them. Fixed margin trims the same percentage, from 1% to 20%, from every edge of every page.
Can I draw my own crop box on a page?
No. Crop margins trims the margins around the page content, either automatically or by a fixed percentage. It has no custom crop box for individual pages.
Will cropping change the original file?
No. ViaPDF writes a new file called Cropped.pdf and does not overwrite the one you opened.
Does cropping upload my PDF?
No. The margins are trimmed on your phone, and the file leaves the device only when you tap Save or Share. The first export is free.