Word Print with Page Color: How to Fix It

Yes, Word can print page color, but by default it doesn’t. This article explains how to enable background color printing in Microsoft Word, why it’s off by default, and how to troubleshoot when colors don’t print as expected.

Formula

The calculator above estimates the relative cost of printing a document with color pages versus a mostly black-and-white document. The formula is:

Total cost = (Total pages × 0.2) + (Color pages × 0.8)

Where:

• Total pages – the number of pages in your document.
• Color pages – the number of pages that contain background color, images, or color graphics.
• 0.2 – relative cost of printing a black-and-white page (including black toner and paper).
• 0.8 – additional relative cost for a page with color ink (this is an estimate; actual cost varies by printer and ink coverage).

The result is in “relative units� – you can multiply by your actual cost per page to get a dollar amount.

Worked Example

Using the default values: 10 total pages, 3 color pages.

1. Black-and-white pages: 10 – 3 = 7 pages.
2. Cost for black-and-white pages: 7 × 0.2 = 1.4
3. Cost for color pages: 3 × 0.8 = 2.4
4. Total cost: 1.4 + 2.4 = 3.8 relative units

The calculator shows 3.80, matching the manual calculation.

Why Word Doesn’t Print Page Color by Default

Microsoft Word has a setting that controls whether background colors and images are printed. By default, this is turned off to save ink and toner. This setting is separate from the page color you set in the document design. Even if you’ve set a page color (e.g., light blue) in the Design tab, Word will not print it unless you explicitly enable background printing.

How to Enable Page Color Printing in Word

The steps are the same for Word 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365. Here’s how:

1. Click the File tab, then Options.
2. In the Word Options dialog, select Display from the left sidebar.
3. Under “Printing options�, check the box that says “Print background colors and images�.
4. Click OK.

Now when you print, the page color will appear on the printed output. This also applies to other background elements like watermarks and images placed behind text.

Common Problems and Fixes

Even after enabling the setting, you might still not see color. Here are common issues:

• Printer driver settings – Some printers have a “print backgroundâ€� option in their own properties dialog. Check the printer preferences and look for any “backgroundâ€� or “graphicsâ€� setting.
• Draft mode – If your printer is set to draft or economy mode, it may skip background graphics. Turn off draft mode.
• Color ink empty – If your printer is out of color ink, it will automatically print without background colors. Replace the cartridge.
• Page color set incorrectly – Make sure you set the page color in the Design tab (or Page Layout in older versions). A page color set via a theme may not print the same.
• Print preview – Always check print preview before printing. If the color doesn’t show there, it won’t print.

Printing Page Color on Mac

Word for Mac has the same setting, but it’s located differently:

1. Go to the Word menu and select Preferences.
2. Click Print.
3. Check the box for “Print background colors and images�.

Then print as usual.

Alternatives to Printing Full Page Color

If you want to save ink but still have a colored document, consider these options:

• Use a light color – A very light pastel uses less ink than a dark color.
• Print only specific pages – In the print dialog, choose “Custom Printâ€� and enter the page numbers that really need color.
• Convert to PDF – Sometimes printing from a PDF viewer handles background colors better. Use Word’s “Save As PDFâ€� and then print the PDF.
• Use a border or shading – Instead of a full page color, use a colored border or shading only on certain paragraphs.

Cost Considerations

Printing background colors can significantly increase ink usage. A full-page color background can consume a large amount of ink, especially on high-coverage colors like dark blue or red. For a typical inkjet printer, a single page with a full-color background might cost several times more than a plain text page. Laser printers also use more toner. The calculator above gives you a rough estimate – multiply the relative cost by your actual cost per page to get a dollar amount. For example, if your black-and-white page costs $0.05 and your color page costs $0.20, then the total cost for 10 pages with 3 color pages would be: 7 × $0.05 + 3 × $0.20 = $0.95.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my page color not printing even though I enabled the setting?

Check if your printer has a “print background� option in its own properties dialog. Also, make sure you’re not in draft mode and that your color ink is not empty. If you’re using a laser printer, check the toner levels.

Does Word print watermarks by default?

No, watermarks are also considered background images and will only print if you enable “Print background colors and images�.

Can I print page color in Word Online?

Word Online (the free web version) does not have the option to print background colors. You’ll need to use the desktop version of Word.

How do I remove page color from a Word document?

Go to the Design tab, click “Page Color�, and select “No Color�. This removes the background color from the document.

Will printing page color affect the text readability?

Yes, dark backgrounds can make black text hard to read. Use a light background and dark text for best readability. If you must use a dark background, consider using white text.

Does the printer’s “grayscale� setting affect background colors?

Yes, if you print in grayscale, the background color will be converted to a shade of gray. To get the actual color, make sure color printing is selected in the printer properties.

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in t | Pages to print | pages | 10 | 1 | 10000
in c | Color pages (estimated) | pages | 3 | 0 | 10000
out ink | Color ink cost (relative units) | units | c * 1.0 | 0
out total | Total cost (relative units) | units | t * 0.2 + c * 0.8 | 2