Paper size

Comparing different paper sizes

Paper comes in different sizes. There are names for the different sizes of paper. In different parts of the world, different sizes and names are used.

There are also envelope sizes made to fit different kinds of paper. Envelope sizes are normally wider to fit the paper inside.

International sizes

In most of the world an international system of paper sizes is used. The normal size of paper is called A4. It is measured in metric units. It is 210 millimetres wide and 297 millimetres long. This is about the size of US letter, but it is a little narrower, and a little longer. The Deutsches Institut für Normung chose this standard in 1922 and other countries soon followed.

The other common size of paper in Europe is called B5. It is 176 millimetres wide by 250 millimetres long. This is about the same as executive size in the United States. It is sometimes used for writing personal letters to people.

There are also many other paper sizes used for writing notes, for big posters, for books, and for other things.

In the international paper size system, the sizes are based on mathematical formulas. A0 is the biggest at 1 square metre. A1 is half as big as A0. A2 is half as big as A1, and so on. The sizes with "B" and "C" in their name are in between the "A" sizes.

Sizes in North America

In the United States, Mexico and Canada the normal size of paper is called letter size, or sometimes US letter. It is 8+¹⁄₂ inches wide and 11 inches long (216 × 279 mm).

The other common size of paper in the US is called legal, or sometimes US legal. It is also 8+¹⁄₂ inches wide, but it is 14 inches long. It is similar to the size called foolscap in Britain.

Another size is called executive. It is 7+¹⁄₄ inches wide by 10+¹⁄₂ inches long. It is not very common. It is sometimes used for writing personal letters to people.

There is also a size called tabloid. It is 11 inches wide, and 17 inches long. That is the same size as two pieces of letter size put next to each other.

There are also many other paper sizes used for writing notes, for big posters, for books, and for other things.

Paper sizes and computer printers

Most printers used with computers are designed to fit US letter and A4, and smaller paper sizes. Sometimes they can fit US legal also. For larger paper sizes, printers at professional printing businesses may be needed.

Details

Below are charts showing all the different sizes of paper that are usually made, listed in increasing order of size. Dimensions are shown width first, then length.

If a company wants to make something with a different size of paper than these, they have to have it specially cut for them.

US/Canada Paper Sizes

Name	Inches	mm	Ratio
Statement	5+1⁄2 × 8+1⁄2	140 × 216	1.5455
Executive	7+1⁄4 × 10+1⁄2	184 × 267	1.4483
Quarto	8 × 10	203 × 254	1.25
Government-letter	8 × 10+1⁄2	203 × 267	1.3125
ANSI A, Letter	8+1⁄2 × 11	216 × 279	1.2941
Foolscap	8 × 13	203 × 330	1.625
Legal	8+1⁄2 × 14	216 × 356	1.6471
ANSI B, Ledger, Tabloid	11 × 17	279 × 432	1.5455
Post	15+1⁄2 × 19+1⁄4	394 × 489	1.2419
Crown	15 × 20	381 × 508	1.3333
Large post	16+1⁄2 × 21	419 × 533	1.2727
ANSI C	17 × 22	432 × 559	1.2941
Demy	17+1⁄2 × 22+1⁄2	445 × 572	1.2857
Medium	18 × 23	457 × 584	1.2778
Royal	20 × 25	508 × 635	1.25
ANSI D	22 × 34	559 × 864	1.5455
Double demy	Paper Size Media Paper sizes A0 to A8, life-size installation The Invasion of the Square Roots at the CosmoCaixa Barcelona science museum A size chart illustrating the ISO A series and a comparison with American letter and legal formats Comparison of some paper and photographic paper sizes close to the A4 size Map of the world showing adoption of paper sizes, according to the Common Locale Data Repository in 2017*     ISO A4 exclusively*     ISO A4 primarily*     US-Letter primarily*     US-Letter predominantly*     US-Letter exclusively A size chart illustrating the ISO A series A size chart illustrating the ISO B series A size chart illustrating the ISO C series Comparison of ISO 216 and Swedish standard SIS 014711 paper sizes between A4 and A3 sizes A1, A2, A3, A4 and non-ISO sizes as GOST 3450-60 formats A2, A3, A4 and some derived non-ISO sizes as GOST 2301-68 formats 22+1⁄2 × 35||572 × 889|| 1.5542
Elephant	23 × 28	584 × 711	1.2174
ANSI E	34 × 44	864 × 1118	1.2941
Quad demy	35 × 45	889 × 1143	1.2857

International Paper Sizes (in mm)

	A	B	C
0	841 × 1189	1000 × 1414	917 × 1297
1	594 × 841	707 × 1000	648 × 917
2	420 × 594	500 × 707	458 × 648
3	297 × 420	353 × 500	324 × 458
4	210 × 297	250 × 353	229 × 324
5	148 × 210	176 × 250	162 × 229
6	105 × 148	125 × 176	114 × 162
7	74 × 105	88 × 125	81 × 114
8	52 × 74	62 × 88	57 × 81
9	37 × 52	44 × 62	40 × 57
10	26 × 37	31 × 44	28 × 40