Paper size

Comparing different paper sizes

Much paperwork

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.

Europe and international system

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. Its area equals one square meter. 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.

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, which makes 216 × 279 millimetres (mm).

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: 216 × 356 mm.

Another size is called executive. It is 7¼ inches wide by 10½ inches long, which is 184 × 267 mm. 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: 279 × 432 mm. 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

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.

U.S./Canada Paper Sizes

Name	Inches	mm	Ratio
	width × 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

International Paper Sizes (in mm)

	A	B	C
	width × 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