Paper size plays a crucial role in both the printing industry and daily office use as it impacts everything from document layout to compatibility between printer paper and types of printers. While the choice of paper size might seem like a small detail, it can greatly affect how content is perceived. Different regions around the world use various standard paper sizes. This article explores the most common paper sizes, their uses, and formats.
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Definition: Paper size
Paper size refers to the standardized dimensions of a sheet of paper measured in width and height. These dimensions vary depending on the regional or international standard being followed. The most widely used paper sizes include formats such as A4, Letter, and Legal, with each serving different purposes, from printing personal documents to producing official publications.
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Formats & dimensions
Standardized paper dimensions vary globally, with the most widely used systems being the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) series, which is based on the metric system, and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) formats used in the US and parts of Latin America. In addition to these, numerous special sizes exist to meet unique needs in fields like photography, newspaper, books, business cards, and more.
ISO
ISO 216 is the international standard for paper sizes and consists of the A, B, and C series. The aspect ratio format is equal to the square root of two (1:√2), which is very useful since you can simply cut the largest sheet (A0) in half to make two A1 sheets, et cetera. Depicted below are the various dimensions for each series, with the most common paper sizes visually represented.
The A series commonly ranges from A0, which is the largest, to A10, the smallest. A4 is the most common paper size in the A series. “Plus” sizes exist as well; however, they aren’t part of the ISO 216 standard. These “plus” sizes are uncut/oversized versions of the standard formats that are relevant in commercial offset and digital printing where extra room is needed for production marks, color bars, and bleed.
Format
Width × height (mm)
Width × height (in)
A0
841 × 1189 mm
33.1 × 46.8 in
A1
594 × 841 mm
23.4 × 33.1 in
A2
420 × 594 mm
16.5 × 23.4 in
A3
297 × 420 mm
11.7 × 16.5 in
A4
210 × 297 mm
8.3 × 11.7 in
A5
148 × 210 mm
5.8 × 8.3 in
A6
105 × 148 mm
4.1 × 5.8 in
A7
74 × 105 mm
2.9 × 4.1 in
A8
52 × 74 mm
2 × 2.9 in
A9
37 × 52 mm
1.5 × 2 in
A10
26 × 37 mm
1 × 1.5 in
A11
18 × 26 mm
0.7 × 1 in
A12
13 × 18 mm
0.5 × 0.7 in
A13
9 × 13 mm
0.4 × 0.5 in
2A0
1189 × 1685 mm
46.8 × 66.2 in
4A0
1682 × 2378 mm
66.2 × 93.6 in
A0+
914 × 1292 mm
36 × 50.9 in
A1+
609 × 914 mm
24 × 36 in
A3+
329 × 483 mm
13 × 19 in
The B series was created to provide paper sizes that were not included in the A series. Although it is less common for regular printing needs, it can be helpful for special uses, such as books and posters. B sheets are slightly larger than the A series, as they can be useful when you need extra bleed space or margins. For example, the B3 format falls in-between A3 and A4.
| Format | Width × height (mm) | Width × height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| B0 | 1000 × 1414 mm | 39.4 × 55.7 in |
| B1 | 707 × 1000 mm | 27.8 × 39.4 in |
| B2 | 500 × 707 mm | 19.7 × 27.8 in |
| B3 | 353 × 500 mm | 13.9 × 19.7 in |
| B4 | 250 × 353 mm | 9.8 × 13.9 in |
| B5 | 176 × 250 mm | 6.9 × 9.8 in |
| B6 | 125 × 176 mm | 4.9 × 6.9 in |
| B7 | 88 × 125 mm | 3.5 × 4.9 in |
| B8 | 62 × 88 mm | 2.4 × 3.5 in |
| B9 | 44 × 62 mm | 1.7 × 2.4 in |
| B10 | 31 × 44 mm | 1.2 × 1.7 in |
| B11 | 22 × 31 mm | 0.9 × 1.2 in |
| B12 | 15 × 22 mm | 0.6 × 0.9 in |
| B13 | 11 × 15 mm | 0.4 × 0.6 in |
| B0+ | 1118 × 1580 mm | 44 × 62.2 in |
| B1+ | 720 × 1020 mm | 28.3 × 40.2 in |
| B2+ | 520 × 720 mm | 20.5 × 28.3 in |
The C series is defined by ISO 269, which is mainly used for envelopes.
| Format | Width × height (mm) | Width × height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| C0 | 917 × 1297 mm | 36.1 × 51.1 in |
| C1 | 648 × 917 mm | 25.5 × 36.1 in |
| C2 | 458 × 648 mm | 18 × 25.5 in |
| C3 | 324 × 458 mm | 12.8 × 18 in |
| C4 | 229 × 324 mm | 9 × 12.8 in |
| C5 | 162 × 229 mm | 6.4 × 9 in |
| C6 | 114 × 162 mm | 4.5 × 6.4 in |
| C7 | 81 × 114 mm | 3.2 × 4.5 in |
| C8 | 57 × 81 mm | 2.2 × 3.2 in |
| C9 | 40 × 57 mm | 1.6 × 2.2 in |
| C10 | 28 × 40 mm | 1.1 × 1.6 in |
North America
In the US, standard paper sizes don’t have a consistent aspect ratio since it uses an imperial system, meaning it relies on inches for paper dimensions, unlike the metric system used for ISO. This is why the US has multiple sizes, such as loose sizes (Letter, Legal, Ledger, etc.), ANSI (similar to the ISO standard), and the Architectural series (ARCH) that is used by architects in North America.
Format
Width × height (mm)
Width × height (in)
Letter
216 × 279 mm
8.5 × 11 in
Legal
216 × 356 mm
8.5 × 14 in
Tabloid (landscape)
279 × 432 mm
11 × 17 in
Ledger (portrait)
432 × 279 mm
17 × 11 in
Junior Legal
127 × 203 mm
5 × 8 in
Half letter
140 × 216 mm
5.5 × 8.5 in
Government Letter
203 × 267 mm
8.5 × 13 in
Government Legal
216 × 330 mm
2.9 × 4.1 in
ANSI A
216 × 279 mm
8.5 × 11 in
ANSI B
279 × 432 mm
11 × 17 in
ANSI C
432 × 559 mm
17 × 22 in
ANSI D
559 × 864 mm
22 × 34 in
ANSI E
864 × 1118 mm
34 × 44 in
ARCH A
229 × 305 mm
9 × 12 in
ARCH B
305 × 457 mm
12 × 18 in
ARCH C
457 × 610 mm
18 × 24 in
ARCH D
610 × 914 mm
24 × 36 in
ARCH E
914 × 1219 mm
36 × 48 in
ARCH E1
762 × 1067 mm
30 × 42 in
ARCH E2
660 × 965 mm
26 × 38 in
ARCH E3
686 × 991 mm
27 × 39 in
You may have noticed that some ANSI and loose sizes overlap, such as ANSI A and Letter, and ANSI B and Ledger/Tabloid. This is because the ANSI sizes were intentionally designed to match the commonly used US loose paper sizes to standardize them into a system with a consistent aspect ratio.
As mentioned before, ISO standard size has a single aspect ratio of 1:√2. However, ANSI has two — 1:1.2941 and 1:1.5455 — and so does ARCH — 4:3 and 3:2. This makes it difficult to match international and US sizes. The closest ISO formats for ANSI sizes are as follows: A4 for A, A3 for B, A2 for C, A1 for D, and A0 for E.
Special paper sizes
Special sizes include standard photography, newspaper, book, business card sizes, and many more.
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Envelope sizes
Due to a separation between international and US-specific paper sizes, envelope sizes are also divided into international and US sizes.
International envelopes
Standard envelope sizes are defined by the international standard ISO 269, meaning the A series fits perfectly in paper envelopes of the C series. However, the DL envelope is the most commonly used in business and has a different aspect ratio. DL stands for “Dimension Lengthwise” and was formerly known as DIN Lang in Germany, where it also originated in the 1920s. An A4 sheet folded three times will fit into a DL envelope. The most common ones are depicted below.
US envelopes
Commercial
Commercial envelopes are also known as Office envelopes. The most well-known commercial envelope is No.1, which was designed to fit a Letter-size paper folded three times, or a Legal-size paper folded four times parallel to the shorter side.
Announcement
The A series or Announcement envelopes are used for greeting cards, invitations, and photographs. They are more square-shaped and include common sizes like Lady Grey (A-2) and Diplomat (A-9).
Catalog
This US envelope is used specifically for catalogs and brochures, and is made with a center seam for durability. They’re similar in shape to the announcement envelopes.
FAQs
Standard paper size varies depending on the region. The most common types are ISO 216, which commonly features the A series and is the standard used by most countries outside North America, while in the U.S., the standard is based on the ANSI system and features US Letter sizes.
The 8.5″ × 11″ paper is called US Letter or just Letter size. It’s the standard paper size for most documents and printing in the United States and Canada.
The A series paper sizes (ISO 216) are based on a single aspect ratio of 1:√2, meaning each size is half the size of the one above it when folded or cut in half.
- A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1″ x 46.8″)
- A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4″ x 33.1″)
- A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5″ x 23.4″)
- A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7″ x 16.5″)
- A4: 210 x 297 mm (8.3″ x 11.7″)
The most popular paper size internationally is A4, while Letter is commonly used in the United States.
