Why Your Printer Jams
on the Last Page Every Time

If your printer jams on the last page of every print job — and only the last page — you're dealing with something very specific. Random jams tend to point toward paper quality, humidity, or a worn pickup roller. But a jam that happens consistently on the final sheet is almost always a mechanical or sensor issue that you can diagnose and often fix yourself.

The Exit Roller Is Worn or Dirty

The exit roller is the rubber roller that pulls paper out of the printer into the output tray. Over time — especially in high-volume printers — these rollers become glazed (hardened and smooth) and lose grip. The last sheet of a print job is particularly vulnerable because there's no paper stack behind it to push it forward; it relies entirely on the roller's grip to exit cleanly.

Open the printer's rear access panel or output tray area and locate the exit rollers (typically a pair of small rubber rollers). Run your finger across the surface: it should feel slightly tacky. If it feels smooth and hard, the rollers need cleaning or replacement.

1. Turn off the printer and unplug it.
2. Dampen a lint-free cloth with isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher).
3. Rotate the roller manually while cleaning it. Remove any paper dust, debris, or glazing residue.
4. Allow to dry fully before powering on. Test with a 10-page print job.

The End-of-Stack Sensor

Most printers have a small sensor in the paper tray or paper path that detects when the last sheet has been picked up. If this sensor is dirty or slightly misaligned, the printer may briefly slow down or hesitate as the last page feeds through — creating enough inconsistency for a jam to occur.

These sensors are usually small plastic tabs or infrared sensors that can be gently cleaned with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol. Consult your printer's service manual (available free on many manufacturer websites) to locate the exact sensor for your model.

Paper Weight and the Last Sheet

Printers calibrated for standard 80 gsm paper can behave differently with heavier stock — particularly on the final sheet, which doesn't benefit from the weight of the remaining stack pressing down on it. If you're printing on 90–120 gsm paper and experiencing last-page jams specifically, try reducing the stack size to around 50–60 sheets at a time. This is a workaround rather than a fix, but it can confirm whether paper weight is a contributing factor.

Duplex Unit Issues

If your printer has a duplex (double-sided printing) unit and the jam occurs specifically during the second pass of a duplex job, the duplex feed rollers are the likely culprit. These wear independently of the main paper path rollers and are often overlooked during maintenance. Clean or replace them using the same process described for the exit roller.