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Paper size
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.
Contents
United States and Canada
In the United States and Canada the normal size of paper is called letter size, or sometimes US letter. It is 8½ inches wide and 11 inches long.
The other common size of paper in the US is called legal, or sometimes US legal. It is also 8½ inches wide, but it is 14 inches long.
Another size is called executive. It is 7¼ inches wide by 10½ 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.
Europe and other places
In Europe and other places an international system of paper sizes is used. The normal size of paper is called A4. It is measured in metric. It is 210 millimeters wide and 297 millimeters long. This is about the size of US letter, but it is a little narrower, and a little longer.
The other common size of paper in Europe is called B5. It is 176 millimeters wide by 250 millimeters 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. 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.
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
Here are charts showing all the different sizes of paper that are usually made. If a company wants to make something with a different size of paper than these, they have to have it specially cut for them.
Name | Inches | mm | Ratio |
---|---|---|---|
width first, then length | |||
Quarto | 8 × 10 | 203 × 254 | 1.25 |
Foolscap | 8 × 13 | 203 × 330 | 1.625 |
Executive | 7¼ × 10½ | 184 × 267 | 1.4483 |
Government-letter | 8 × 10½ | 203 × 267 | 1.3125 |
Letter | 8½ × 11 | 216 × 279 | 1.2941 |
Legal | 8½ × 14 | 216 × 356 | 1.6471 |
Ledger, Tabloid | 11 × 17 | 279 × 432 | 1.5455 |
Post | 15½ × 19¼ | 394 × 489 | 1.2419 |
Crown | 15 × 20 | 381 × 508 | 1.3333 |
Large post | 16½ × 21 | 419 × 533 | 1.2727 |
Demy | 17½ × 22½ | 445 × 572 | 1.2857 |
Medium | 18 × 23 | 457 × 584 | 1.2778 |
Royal | 20 × 25 | 508 × 635 | 1.25 |
Elephant | 23 × 28 | 584 × 711 | 1.2174 |
Double demy | 22½ × 35 | 572 × 889 | 1.5542 |
Quad demy | 35 × 45 | 889 × 1143 | 1.2857 |
Statement | 5½ × 8½ | 140 × 216 | 1.5455 |
A | 8½ × 11 | 216 × 279 | 1.2941 |
B | 11 × 17 | 279 × 432 | 1.5455 |
C | 17 × 22 | 432 × 559 | 1.2941 |
D | 22 × 34 | 559 × 864 | 1.5455 |
E | 34 × 44 | 864 × 1118 | 1.2941 |
A | B | C | |
---|---|---|---|
width first, then length | |||
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 |
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