Common NeurIPS formatting errors
Updated 2026-06-02
NeurIPS uses a wide single-column format, which catches authors out in the opposite direction from two-column venues: figures copied from a two-column draft are often left too small, while others are sized past the wide column. Plus the checklist and page rules are strict.
Mis-sized figures
The NeurIPS column is wide (about 154 mm). Two-column figures dropped in unchanged look tiny; figures with fixed centimeter widths can overflow it. Size to \columnwidth/\linewidth so they scale to the actual column.
Wide tables and whitespace
Even in a wide column, dense result tables can overflow - resize or restructure them. Watch for float placement that pushes content past the page limit.
Checklist and required content
NeurIPS requires a paper checklist and reproducibility information. Missing required content is a compliance failure independent of layout - name the venue on upload so these are flagged. See /neurips-format-checker.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my figure look small in NeurIPS format?+
It was likely sized for a narrow two-column layout. In the wide NeurIPS single column, size it to \columnwidth so it scales up to fill the available width.
Check your paper before reviewers do
Upload your .tex or .zip and get a corrected file plus a plain-English changelog in under 60 seconds.
Check My Paper - Free