How to Fix the Paper Curl Problem

I don't know if paper curl while printing is horrid, but it IS annoying. I know our customers ask us about this frequently – how do I stop my paper from curling?!?!?!

If you're frustrated with paper curl and your prints look a little bit like the photo here, you've stopped by the right spot on the Internet today! 

We know a few tips and tricks that can resolve the paper curling frustration.

Why does paper curl in the first place? Paper curl is caused by an excess amount of moisture in the paper. 

The first step to ensure less paper curl is to store your paper in a cool, dry area. By doing so, you will reduce the amount of moisture and humidity the paper is exposed to.

The next step is to always fan the paper before placing in the machine. By fanning the paper you will reduce the amount of static between each sheet, allow the paper to breathe, and will reduce jamming issues.

If the paper has been sitting inside the machine for a long period of time it is especially important to fan the paper, flip over the paper, and rotate the stack 180 degrees. (When paper sits inside of the machine it gains a lot of moisture due to the fusing assembly which heats and applies the toner to your page.)

If none of those tips seem to be doing the trick there are a couple of other possibilities. (If you're having other paper jam issues, read Stop Paper Jams With These 13 Simple and Effective Tips to Handle Paper).

It could be the paper itself. Believe it or not there is a difference in the quality of paper from various vendors and distributors (weights, textures, thickness, etc.).

If possible use a different output tray on your machine. Some smaller printers and MFPs have a rear output bin. The rear output bin (if applicable) will require a user to open the rear door and allow the pages to bypass a portion of the paper path where the paper curl could be occurring. 

A final, though unlikely, possibility is that you could have a damaged fuser. Fusers have controlled operating temperature detection. If the thermistors in the fuser read too hot the machine should throw an error code and ask you call for service.

If you none of these tips fix the paper curl problem – or your device keeps showing you an error code – it's time to call for backup and we'll get to the bottom of the problem.