Although it often goes unnoticed, paper size plays an important role in how content is printed and shared. Over time, certain formats have become common through repeated use when it comes to professional documents for offices and regular copy paper for homes. In this article, we’ll dive into the dimensions and uses of the US paper size Letter and how it differs from A4 paper dimensions.
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Definition: Paper size Letter
The paper size Letter (ANSI A) belongs to the ANSI paper size series (American National Standards Institute), which is the US equivalent of the internationally used ISO standard (International Organization for Standardization) that contains the paper size A4. Letter functions as the go-to printer paper size in North America and other regions that use the imperial system.
| Paper size | Dimensions (in) | Dimensions (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Half Letter | 5.5 × 8.5 in | 140 × 216 mm |
| Letter | 8.5 × 11 in | 216 × 279 mm |
| Legal | 8.5 × 14 in | 216 × 356 mm |
| Tabloid | 11 × 17 in | 279 × 432 mm |
| Ledger | 17 × 11 in | 432 × 279 mm |
Uses
There are numerous uses for paper size Letter, such as:
- Bills
- Contracts
- Essays
- Guides
- Handouts
- Invoices
- Letters
- Manuals
- Reports
- Worksheets
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Letter vs. A4
Both Letter and A4 are the most commonly used sizes in their respective regions. What their differences are is stated below.
Letter
Size: 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm)
Usage: North America, Chile & Philippines
Wider than A4
A4
Size: 8.3 × 11.7 in (210 × 297 mm)
Usage: Global
Taller than Letter
Note: Printing an A4 document on Letter paper might cut off parts of the top and bottom, which is why it’s important to set the magnification factor to 97%.
Why is A4 preferred globally?
The ISO series, or in this case A4, is specifically preferred worldwide due to its aspect ratio (1:√2). This ratio makes it possible to easily up- or downsize a paper by folding it in half. So, if you fold an A3 paper in half, you get two A4 papers, and so on.
FAQs
No, Letter size is not the same as the international paper size A5. A5 paper dimensions are 5.8 × 8.3 in, whereas the US paper size Letter measures 8.5 × 11 in.
The paper size Letter (8.5 × 11 in or 216 × 279 mm) is the most commonly used US paper size.
No. Letter is mainly used in North America and measures 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm), whereas A4 is used internationally and measures 8.3 × 11.7 in (210 × 297 mm).
In North America, 8.5 × 11 inches is the standard printer paper size, also known as Letter size.
