Everywhere in the world, standard paper sizes are essential for everything from office printing to legal documentation. Primarily in the United States, printer paper sizes are used daily in schools, businesses, and homes, and differ from international paper sizes like A4. This thorough guide explores the US paper formats, their individual uses and sizes, as well as US mail envelopes.
Definition: US paper sizes
US paper sizes are standardized dimensions for printer paper commonly used in North America, particularly the United States and Canada. Unlike the international A series, US sizes are defined by inches (short: in) and include formats such as Letter, Legal, and Tabloid (or Ledger in landscape format). These three sizes are routinely used for commercial and document printing.
Letter size
The standard paper size in North America is Letter, which measures 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm). The US Letter paper is most commonly used for business correspondence, school papers, and as general copy paper. Whether for personal documents, reports, or invoices, Letter size is the default paper used in most types of printers, which makes it the US version of A4 paper since A4 paper dimensions are 8.27 × 11.69 in.
Legal size
Slightly longer than Letter size, Legal size paper measures 8.5 × 14 in, which is 216×356 mm. This size is, as the name suggests, typically used for legal documents, contracts, and other paperwork that requires additional length for text. Many law firms and government agencies still prefer Legal size for certain types of documents due to its capacity to accommodate more detailed information without the need for page breaks.
Tabloid size
Tabloid size paper, measuring 11 × 17 in (279 × 432 mm), is often used for larger projects since its dimensions are double those of Letter, making it perfect for newspapers, posters, and fold-out brochures.
Ledger size
Ledger size is basically Tabloid in landscape format, meaning it measures 17 × 11 in or 432 × 279 mm. It’s commonly used for artwork, blueprints, spreadsheets, financial reports, and large-format designs.
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Half Letter size
Half Letter size is a smaller paper format that measures 5.5 × 8.5 in (140 × 216 mm). It’s similar to A5 paper dimensions (5.8 × 8.3 in) and essentially half the size of Letter paper, which makes it perfect for smaller documents, flyers, and booklets.
ANSI
The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) paper size system is a set of standards that defines paper sizes based on inches, essentially the US equivalent of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) series. The ANSI system is used primarily in engineering, technical drawings, and similar fields. It includes:
- ANSI A (8.5 × 11 in)
- ANSI B (11 × 17 in)
- ANSI C (17 × 22 in)
- ANSI D (22 × 34 in)
- ANSI E (34 × 44 in)
If you’d like to know more about this series, we will dive deeper into this topic in a separate article.
ARCH
The ARCH paper size system is another set of dimensions used mainly for architectural and engineering plans. It offers larger sizes than typical office paper to accommodate detailed drawings. ARCH sizes are typically used for blueprints, floor plans, and architectural presentations. The sizes in this system include:
- ARCH A (9 × 12 in)
- ARCH B (12 × 18 in)
- ARCH C (18 × 24 in)
- ARCH D (24 × 36 in)
- ARCH E (36 × 48 in)
- ARCH E1 (30 × 42 in)
US mail envelopes
When it comes to mailing documents in the United States, envelope sizes are closely tied to standard paper sizes like Letter and Legal. The US Postal Service (USPS) recognizes a variety of envelope formats, but the most commonly used fall into two categories: commercial and announcement envelopes.
Commercial envelopes
These envelopes are used for personal and business correspondence. The most popular is the #10 envelope since it’s designed to hold tri-folded Letter-sized paper, while #9 is often used for return envelopes.
| Envelope # | Dimensions (inches) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| #5 | 3-⅛ × 5-½ | Small inserts, personal notes |
| #6¼ | 3-½ × 6-¼ | Small statements, checks |
| #6¾ | 3-⅝ × 6-½ | Personal correspondence, payment enclosures |
| #7 | 3-¾ × 6-¾ | Smaller invoices, letters |
| #7½ | 3-15⁄16 × 7-½ | Oversized checks or statements |
| #8⅝ | 3-⅝ × 8-⅝ | Inserts, long letters |
| #9 | 3-⅞ × 8-⅞ | Return envelopes (fits in #10) |
| #10 | 4-⅛ × 9-½ | Tri-folded Letter & folded Legal |
| #11 | 4-½ × 10-⅜ | Larger documents or inserts |
| #12 | 4-¾ × 11 | Tri-folded Legal-size documents |
| #14 | 5 × 11-½ | Folded Legal-size documents |
If you’d like to learn more about paper folding, click on the button below.
Announcement envelopes
Announcement envelopes (also A-style, “A” envelopes, or invitation envelopes) come in many colors and finishes, which is why they are typically used for announcements, booklets, informal invitations, greeting cards, or photographs.
| Envelope # | Dimensions (inches) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| A-2 (Lady Grey) | 4-⅜ × 5-¾ | Invitations, thank-you cards |
| 4-¾ × 6-½ | Personal cards, informal mailings | |
| A-7 (Besselheim) | 5-¼ × 7-¼ | 5 × 7 greeting cards, invitations |
| A-8 (Carr's) | 5-½ × 8-⅛ | Larger cards, event invites |
| A-9 (Diplomat) | 5-¾ × 8-¾ | Flat 1/2-sheet documents, announcements |
| A-10 (Willow) | 6 × 9-½ | Full-page inserts, formal letters |
We will delve deeper into the topic of envelope sizes in an upcoming article.
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FAQs
The standard paper sizes in the US include Letter size, Legal size, Tabloid size, and Half Letter size.
The American alternative to A4 paper is Letter size, since they have similar paper dimensions and are both used for everyday prints.
Common American paper sizes are:
- Letter (8.5 × 11 in)
- Legal (8.5 × 14 in)
- Tabloid (11 × 17 in)
The international A5 paper size is similar to Half Letter. A5 measures 5.8 × 8.3 in, while Half Letter measures 5.5 × 8.5 in.
