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Common Printer Paper Jam Causes (And How to Fix Them)

5 min read

A printer that jams once in a while is normal. One that jams every few pages has a specific, fixable cause — it's just a matter of identifying which one.

Worn or dirty feed rollers

This is the single most common cause of repeated jams. A roller clean or replacement usually resolves this completely.

Paper that's the wrong weight or damp

Paper that's too thick, too thin, or has absorbed humidity can jam even in a perfectly healthy printer.

Overloaded paper tray

Stuffing the tray past its marked fill line causes multiple sheets to feed at once.

Torn or curled paper edges

Fan the stack before loading it and check for damaged edges.

A foreign object or torn scrap stuck inside

A previous jam that wasn't fully cleared can leave a scrap lodged inside, causing repeat jams at the same point.

When to bring it in

If cleaning the rollers and checking your paper doesn't solve it, that's usually a sign of an internal fault worth a proper inspection.

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