Free Cornell notes template PDF maker
Set the cue column, summary strip, lines and header, then download a printable Cornell notes PDF for Letter or A4. Or type your notes straight into the sheet, or add a Cornell layout to slides and readings you already have.
- No sign-up
- Real PDF download
- Nothing uploaded
- Letter & A4
Printing? Pick the same paper size in the print dialog and set scale to 100% (Actual size).
Three ways to make Cornell notes here
Every option produces a standard PDF that prints, opens in any PDF viewer and imports into GoodNotes, Notability or OneNote.
Printable blank template
A handwriting sheet with a cue column, notes area and summary. Pick lined, grid or dot paper, choose your header fields, and download up to 20 pages in one PDF.
Make a blank templateType notes, save as PDF
A PDF note taker shaped like a Cornell page. Each cue lines up with its note, long notes run onto extra pages, and the PDF keeps real, searchable text.
Type your notesAdd Cornell notes to a PDF
Drop in lecture slides or a reading. Every page comes back with a cue column and summary strip, either fitted onto printer paper or kept at full size.
Annotate a PDFHow to take Cornell notes
The template is the easy part. Walter Pauk's method at Cornell has five stages, and the one most people skip, covering the notes and answering the cues, is the one that makes it work.
For a worked example and the mistakes that make cues useless, read how the Cornell method works.
- 1
Record
During class or while reading, write notes in the wide right-hand column. Short lines, and leave gaps between ideas so you can add to them later.
- 2
Reduce
Within a day, write a question or keyword in the cue column beside each chunk of notes. Questions work better than labels, because you can get a question wrong.
- 3
Recite
Cover the notes column. Read each cue and answer it out loud from memory. This is the step that turns a layout into studying.
- 4
Reflect
Write two or three sentences in the summary strip, in your own words, once the page is full.
- 5
Review
Ten minutes a week, cues only. Anything you can't answer goes back on the list.
Cornell notes format: the settings that work
There is no official Cornell notes size. These are the proportions most teachers and study guides land on, and they are this generator's defaults.
| Part of the page | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cue column | 25–33% (about 2–2.5 in / 5–6.5 cm) | Narrow enough that it holds questions, not a second copy of your notes. |
| Summary strip | 15–20% of the page | Room for two or three sentences without eating into the notes. |
| Line spacing | College ruled, 7.1 mm | Wide ruled (8.7 mm) for larger handwriting, narrow (6.35 mm) for small. |
| Notes area | Lined; grid for math and science | 5 mm grid squares keep equations, graphs and diagrams tidy. |
| Header | Name, class, date, topic | Add period and an essential question for the AVID format. |
| Paper | US Letter or A4, portrait | Landscape suits slides and wide diagrams. |
Cornell notes for math and science
Use the Math & science preset: a 5 mm grid in the notes area and a slightly narrower cue column. Put formulas and worked problems on the right, and questions like "When does this formula not apply?" on the left.
AVID Cornell notes template
The AVID preset adds name, class, period, date, topic and an essential question to the header. Write the essential question before class, and check your summary answers it.
Taking Cornell notes on a PDF
A blank template assumes an empty page. Lecture slides and journal articles already fill the page, so there is nowhere to put the cue column. Add to a PDF solves that by building a new page around each original: cues on the left, the page itself in the notes area, a summary strip below.
If you would rather annotate on screen than print, a PDF annotator that adds margin space works better than squeezing notes over the text. That is what SidePDF does in Chrome and Edge: it widens the margin of any PDF, and you handwrite, highlight and type beside the text. It is free, and like this tool, nothing is uploaded.
Cornell notes in Google Docs or Word
This generator makes PDFs for handwriting, printing and typing into. If you need an editable document instead, build the layout as a table: two columns, two rows, the bottom row merged for the summary, and the left column about 2.5 inches wide.
The Cornell notes template guide has step-by-step instructions for Google Docs and Word, with exact measurements.
How to print Cornell notes at the right size
- Pick Letter or A4 in the generator to match the paper in your printer.
- Download the PDF, or press Print to open it in a new tab.
- In the print dialog, choose the same paper size and set scale to 100% or Actual size.
- Print double-sided for a notebook: the cue column stays on the left on both sides.
Cornell notes template FAQ
What is a Cornell notes template?+
A page split into three parts: a narrow cue column on the left for questions and keywords, a wide notes column on the right for what you write during class or reading, and a summary strip across the bottom that you fill in afterwards. The layout comes from Walter Pauk's study system at Cornell University in the 1950s.
How do I use a Cornell notes template?+
Take notes in the right-hand column while you listen or read. Within a day, write a question in the left column beside each chunk of notes. Then cover the notes, read each question and answer it from memory. Finish with a two or three sentence summary at the bottom, in your own words.
How wide should the cue column be?+
About a quarter to a third of the writing width. On US Letter or A4 that is roughly 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6.5 cm). This generator defaults to 30%. Keep it narrow on purpose: if the column is wide enough for full sentences, it fills up with notes instead of questions.
Can I type Cornell notes and save them as a PDF?+
Yes. Choose Type your notes, fill in cues, notes and a summary, then download. Each cue is placed on the same line as the note it belongs to, long notes flow onto extra pages, and the text in the PDF is real, selectable and searchable text. What you type is saved in your browser, not on a server.
How do I add Cornell notes to an existing PDF or lecture slides?+
Choose Add to a PDF and drop in the file. Every page comes back with a cue column and a summary strip. Fit on paper scales each page onto a Letter or A4 sheet with ruled lines below it, which is best for printing. Keep original leaves pages at 100% and grows the margins instead, which is best for an iPad or annotating on screen.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?+
No. The PDF is opened and rebuilt with JavaScript inside your browser tab, and nothing is sent to a server. The same goes for anything you type in Type your notes.
What is the AVID Cornell notes format?+
AVID classrooms use a version of Cornell notes with a fuller header: name, class, period, date, topic and an essential question the notes should answer. The AVID preset adds all six fields, and you can switch any of them off.
What line spacing should I pick?+
Wide ruled is 8.7 mm (11/32 inch) and suits younger students or large handwriting. College ruled is 7.1 mm (9/32 inch), the most common choice. Narrow ruled is 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) for small handwriting. For math and science, the grid option gives 5 mm squares for equations and diagrams.
Can I use this Cornell notes PDF in GoodNotes, Notability or on an iPad?+
Yes. Download the PDF and import it into GoodNotes, Notability, OneNote or any PDF app that supports handwriting. Set Pages in the PDF to 10 or 20 to get a ready-made notebook, or use Add to a PDF with Keep original to write beside your own slides.
How do I print Cornell notes at the right size?+
Choose the same paper size in the print dialog as in the generator, set scale to 100% or Actual size, and turn off Fit to page. The PDF already includes a half-inch margin, so it prints cleanly on standard home and school printers.
Can I make a Cornell notes template in Google Docs or Word?+
Yes. Insert a table with two columns and two rows, merge the bottom row for the summary, and drag the divider so the left column is about 2.5 inches wide. A PDF from this generator is quicker if you plan to handwrite, since the lines and header are already there.
Is the Cornell notes template really free?+
Yes. There is no sign-up, no email gate and no watermark. A small credit line prints in the bottom margin by default, and you can switch it off.
More on Cornell notes and PDF note taking
Cornell notes on any PDF, without printing
SidePDF widens the margins of slides and papers in your browser, so the cue column sits beside the text and your notes save into the PDF.
Get SidePDF free