Page Layout Parameters

LaTeX uses default values for the lengths indicated in the diagram below. They can be changed by declaring new values in the preamble, e.g.,

\setlength{\textheight}{23cm}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-6mm}
\setlength{\textwidth}{178mm}

Explanations of the 9 layout parameters are below.

The Nine Parameters

\oddsidemargin
left margin for odd-numbered pages, minus 1 inch(25.4 mm); e.g., setting
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{6.4mm}
results in a total left margin of 31.8 mm.

\evensidemargin
left margin for even-numbered pages (minus the default 1 inch (25.4 mm)) if document uses the twoside option

\textwidth
width of the main text

\textheight
height of the main text

\topmargin
upper margin to top of head, minus 1 inch; e.g., setting
\setlength{\topmargin}{-7.6mm}
results in a margin of 17.8 mm from top of page to top of head.

\headheight
height of head

\headsep
distance from the bottom of the headline to the top of text body

\topskip
distance from the top of the text body to the baseline of the first line of text

\footskip
distance from bottom of text body to bottom of foot text