How to Level the Bed Manually? The Paper Test Method

The most fundamental step before starting a new print is often overlooked: bed leveling. If the gap between the bed and the nozzle is not equal at every corner, one side of the print will be squished while the other floats in the air. For users who don’t have an auto-leveling sensor or who prefer not to rely on one completely, the manual paper test remains one of the most reliable and fastest methods available. In this post, we explain the process from scratch.

Preparation Before You Start

Having a few things ready before you begin leveling makes the job much easier:

• Heat the nozzle and the bed to operating temperature; metal expands slightly when heated, so measuring while hot gives you an accurate reading.
• Clean off any old filament residue left on the nozzle tip.
• Grab a standard A4 sheet of paper; this will serve as your distance gauge.

The Paper Test Step by Step

First, home the printer and disable the motors so you can move the head by hand. Then follow this sequence:

1. Visit Each Corner One by One

Move the nozzle to one corner of the bed. Slide the paper back and forth between the nozzle and the bed. Adjust the thumb screw at that corner until the paper gives a slight friction resistance when pulled. If the paper slides too freely, the gap is too large; if it won’t move at all, the gap is too tight.

2. Check All Four Corners and the Center

Repeat the same process for all four corners, then go back to the beginning and check again. Adjusting one corner can affect another, so two full passes are usually needed. Finally, check the center; if the center is too low, the bed may be concave in the middle.

What Should the Correct Feel Be?

At the correct setting, the paper should show a noticeable but non-binding resistance when pulled. This feeling should be the same at every corner. Consistency matters more than any absolute value.

Don’t worry if you don’t get a perfect result on your first try; leveling is a habit that gets faster with practice. If you don’t want to deal with calibration for a production run or a one-off part, you can send your project through our quote page and leave the printing to us.

A properly leveled bed lays the foundation for every future print; this check takes just a few minutes and can save you hours of troubleshooting later on.