How to Increase the Size of Eraser in Paint

You’re trying to clean up a screenshot or remove a spot quickly in Microsoft Paint, but the eraser is tiny and makes a mess. If you’re wondering How to Increase the Size of Eraser in Paint, that frustration is exactly what this guide fixes — it’s urgent when you need to erase large areas fast and don’t have a numeric keypad or advanced tools. Read on for simple, tested steps, keyboard tricks, and better alternatives that actually save time.

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Why this guide (who it’s for)

This tutorial is written for SmashingApps readers who need a no-nonsense, step-by-step solution to adjust eraser size in classic Microsoft Paint, Paint 3D / modern Paint, and quick alternatives like Paint.NET. Expect plain language and real workarounds for laptops without a numpad.

Quick answer — the short how-to

1. Select the Eraser tool in Paint.

2. On the Home tab, click Size and pick one of the preset sizes.

3. For fine-grained increases (1 pixel at a time), use Ctrl + Numpad Plus (+) to grow and Ctrl + Numpad Minus (-) to shrink the active brush/eraser.

Step-by-step: Increase eraser size in classic Microsoft Paint

1. Open Paint and choose Eraser

• Launch Paint (type “Paint” in Start).

• Click the Eraser icon in the Tools group on the Home ribbon.

2. Use the Size dropdown

• On the Home tab, click Size (next to Brushes). Paint offers a handful of preset eraser widths — pick the largest for a quick big eraser. Hover over the canvas to preview the cursor size. This is the simplest method. Microsoft Support

3. Pixel-precise resizing with keyboard (power users)

• If you need to increase/decrease one pixel at a time, press Ctrl + Numpad + to grow the tip, and Ctrl + Numpad – to shrink it. This adjusts the brush/eraser incrementally (handy for clean edges). Note: this shortcut requires a numeric keypad. Microsoft Learn

What if you don’t have a numeric keypad? (laptops)

Many laptops lack a numpad, so the Ctrl+Numpad shortcut won’t work. Use one of these workarounds:

• On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) method:
  Launch Windows On-Screen Keyboard (type “osk” in Start). Use your physical Ctrl and click the plus/minus keys on the OSK numeric pad. This simulates the numpad input.

• External keyboard or USB numpad:
  Plug in a cheap USB numeric keypad — quick and reliable.

• Remap keys (advanced):
  Use AutoHotkey to remap an unused key combo to send NumpadPlus/NumpadMinus. Example: remap Ctrl + = to send Ctrl + NumpadAdd. (Only for advanced users; back up scripts before running.)

• Use the Size dropdown — still the simplest fallback.

Paint 3D and modern Paint differences

• Paint 3D: the eraser behaves like a brush and includes a size slider for larger strokes. Use the tool settings to adjust size; it’s more flexible for soft/rounded erasing.

• Modern (Windows 11) Paint: Microsoft has been iterating the UI; some users report sliders and different size controls. If you don’t see the old dropdown, check the Brush/Tool settings area or switch to Paint 3D for more control. Microsoft’s built-in photo/paint docs note that drawing/erasing tools expose size controls in the UI. Microsoft Support

Alternatives when Paint can’t cut it

If you need truly large erasers, soft/feathered edges, or more precise masking, consider:

• Paint.NET — free, supports [ ] keys to change brush/eraser size and has plugins for advanced erasing. The Eraser size follows the brush size setting, and you can use bracket keys to resize quickly. Paint.NET

• GIMP — full-featured, supports soft brushes, eraser opacity, and layer masks.

• Photoshop / Affinity Photo — best for professional masking and non-destructive erasing.

• Use selection + delete — select the area to remove (lasso/rect), then press Delete; faster for block removals than dragging an eraser.

Smart workflow tips (real-world mini case studies)

Case study 1 — quick screenshot cleanup (product manager)
I take a UI screenshot, open Paint, and need to remove a watermark quickly. Instead of tiny eraser drags, I select Eraser → Size (largest), then drag across the area. For uneven shapes I switch to rectangle selection and Delete for clean edges.

Case study 2 — annotating slides on a laptop (teacher with no numpad)
The teacher used OSK to emulate numpad for precise eraser adjustments during on-the-fly whiteboarding. Later they switched to Paint 3D for its slider because it’s easier to control with touch/pen.

Case study 3 — pixel art (game dev)
For pixel art you often want single-pixel precision. Use Ctrl + Numpad +/- for single pixel changes or use the Pencil/Brush size dropdown to lock exact sizes; avoid large preset erasers that break crisp edges.

When bigger isn’t better: eraser pitfalls to watch for

• Color swapping: In classic Paint, right-click color is background. If eraser behaves like “draw with background color,” check Color 2 setting — you might be drawing instead of deleting.

• Anti-aliased edges: Big eraser on jagged or anti-aliased edges can create halos — prefer selection/delete or masking in GIMP/Photoshop.

• Tool mismatch: Some “erasers” are actually brushes that paint the background color. If you need true transparency, use layers (Paint lacks layers — use Paint.NET/GIMP).

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Key Takeaways

• Use the Size dropdown in Paint’s Home ribbon for the fastest increase. Microsoft Support

• Ctrl + Numpad + / − gives one-pixel precision resizing — great for power users. Microsoft Learn

• No numpad? Use On-Screen Keyboard, an external numpad, or remap keys (AutoHotkey) as workarounds.

• For soft/large erasing or non-destructive edits, switch to Paint 3D, Paint.NET, or GIMP.

• Selection + Delete is often faster than dragging an eraser for block removals.

FAQs (People Also Ask)

Q: How do I make the eraser bigger in Paint without a numpad?
A: Use the Size dropdown on the Home ribbon as the simplest fix. For incremental changes, open the Windows On-Screen Keyboard and use Ctrl + (OSK) Numpad +/−, or plug in an external numpad or remap a key with AutoHotkey.

Q: Can I make a soft (feathered) eraser in MS Paint?
A: No — classic Paint only has hard erasers. Use Paint 3D, GIMP, or Photoshop for soft/feathered erasing and non-destructive masks.

Q: Why does the eraser draw a color instead of erasing?
A: Paint’s eraser sometimes paints the background color (Color 2). Reset Color 2 to white (or the canvas color) or use selection + Delete for true removal.

Q: Are there keyboard shortcuts to change eraser size in Paint 3D?
A: Paint 3D primarily uses sliders and tool settings for size; there isn’t a universal Ctrl+Numpad shortcut equivalent. Check the tool pane for size controls.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever asked how to increase the size of eraser in paint, the path is straightforward: start with Paint’s Size dropdown, use the Ctrl+Numpad shortcuts when you need pixel control, and apply practical workarounds for laptops without numpads. When Paint’s primitive toolset slows you down, reach for Paint 3D or a free editor like Paint.NET for better brushes, soft erasing, and more responsive sizing. Try the quick methods above next time you clean an image — and if you want, I can create step-by-step annotated screenshots showing each method (tell me which Windows version you’re using).

If you found this useful, subscribe to SmashingApps for more practical Windows tips — or tell me what device you’re on (laptop, Surface, desktop) and I’ll tailor shortcuts and an image walkthrough.