# How to increase \textheight, without changing the topmargin

Using KOMA-script classes I'd like to increase the \textheight of my text area. I can do so with the command \areaset{\textwidth}{1.1\textheight} of KOMA-script's native typearea package.
However, in this case, both the top and bottom "margins" are decreased in order to increase the body area.

What I'd like, is to increase the \textheight without modifying the top margin, or in other words, by adding space to the body area from the bottom only.

How can I achieve that?

\documentclass[a4paper,12pt,DIV=10]{scrartcl}
\usepackage{typearea}
%       \areaset{\textwidth}{1.2\textheight}
\usepackage{showframe}
\begin{document}
Hello world!
\end{document}

• Using typearea the ratio of top and bottom margin will be about 1:2 (see chapter "Construction fo the Page Layout with typearea"). If you have other requirements regarding the margins use package geometry. – esdd Sep 15 '16 at 10:40
• @esdd I've actually found an easier solution! (see below) – ebosi Sep 15 '16 at 11:37

Since the "blocs" (header, text area, footer) constituting the page are defined relatively the one to the other beginning from the upper left (or upper inner in case of double sided document) corner, the solution is actually stunningly easy:

I want a bigger \textheight? Just increase it via \setlength{\textheight}{1.1\textheight}!

\documentclass[a4paper,12pt,DIV=10]{scrartcl}
\usepackage[]{showframe}
\setlength{\textheight}{1.1\textheight}

\begin{document}
Hello world!
\end{document}

• Excellent solution. Does this only work with KOMA classes? – Faheem Mitha Dec 18 '17 at 22:56
• @FaheemMitha No, it works with all classes: \textheight isn't a KOMA-specific command. – ebosi Dec 19 '17 at 17:49
• Well, it's a handy construction. TeX (or maybe LaTeX?) wastes a lot of space at the bottom of the page by default. And I don't off-hand know any other way to deal with it. – Faheem Mitha Dec 19 '17 at 19:16