Paper Size Standards

Complete guide to international paper size standards. ISO 216 A Series, B Series, C Series, US Letter, Legal, Tabloid, and more. Essential reference for designers, printers, and professionals worldwide.

International Standard

ISO 216 Paper Size Standards

The ISO 216 standard defines the A, B, and C series of paper sizes. It is the most widely used paper size standard globally, adopted by almost all countries except the United States and Canada.

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A Series (ISO 216)

The most common paper size standard worldwide. Based on the aspect ratio of โˆš2:1. Each size is half the area of the previous size. A4 (210 ร— 297 mm) is the most widely used size for office documents.

Common uses: Office documents, letters, forms, printing
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B Series (ISO 216)

Larger than the A series at the same number. B sizes are used for posters, books, and large-format printing. B5 (176 ร— 250 mm) is a common size for notebooks and books.

Common uses: Posters, books, large-format printing
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C Series (ISO 269)

Designed for envelopes. C4 envelopes hold A4 paper without folding, C5 holds A5, and C6 holds A6. DL envelopes are the most common for business mail.

Common uses: Envelopes, professional mail, invitations
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ISO 216

๐Ÿ“„ A Series Paper Sizes

The A series is the most common paper size standard worldwide. Each size is based on the aspect ratio of โˆš2:1.

A0841 ร— 1189 mm
A1594 ร— 841 mm
A2420 ร— 594 mm
A3297 ร— 420 mm
A4210 ร— 297 mm
A5148 ร— 210 mm
A6105 ร— 148 mm
A774 ร— 105 mm
A852 ร— 74 mm
A937 ร— 52 mm
A1026 ร— 37 mm
ISO 216

๐Ÿ“ B Series Paper Sizes

Larger than A series at the same number. Used for posters, books, and large-format printing.

B01000 ร— 1414 mm
B1707 ร— 1000 mm
B2500 ร— 707 mm
B3353 ร— 500 mm
B4250 ร— 353 mm
B5176 ร— 250 mm
B6125 ร— 176 mm
B788 ร— 125 mm
B862 ร— 88 mm
ISO 269

โœ‰๏ธ C Series Envelope Sizes

Designed for envelopes. C4 holds A4 without folding, C5 holds A5, and C6 holds A6.

C0917 ร— 1297 mm
C1648 ร— 917 mm
C2458 ร— 648 mm
C3324 ร— 458 mm
C4229 ร— 324 mm
C5162 ร— 229 mm
C6114 ร— 162 mm
C781 ร— 114 mm
C857 ร— 81 mm
DL110 ร— 220 mm
ANSI

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Paper Sizes (ANSI)

North American standard sizes used in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the Americas.

Letter8.5 ร— 11 in
Legal8.5 ร— 14 in
Tabloid11 ร— 17 in
Ledger17 ร— 11 in
Executive7.25 ร— 10.5 in
Half Letter5.5 ร— 8.5 in
Statement5.5 ร— 8.5 in
Junior Legal5 ร— 8 in
Reference

๐Ÿ“Š Complete Size Comparison Table

Compare dimensions across all major paper sizes in mm, inches, and pixels at 300 DPI.

SizemminchesPixels (300 DPI)
A0841 ร— 118933.1 ร— 46.89933 ร— 14043
A1594 ร— 84123.4 ร— 33.17016 ร— 9933
A2420 ร— 59416.5 ร— 23.44961 ร— 7016
A3297 ร— 42011.7 ร— 16.53508 ร— 4961
A4210 ร— 2978.3 ร— 11.72480 ร— 3508
A5148 ร— 2105.8 ร— 8.31748 ร— 2480
Letter216 ร— 2798.5 ร— 112550 ร— 3300
Legal216 ร— 3568.5 ร— 142550 ร— 4200
Tabloid279 ร— 43211 ร— 173300 ร— 5100
Ledger432 ร— 27917 ร— 115100 ร— 3300
Executive184 ร— 2677.25 ร— 10.52175 ร— 3150
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๐Ÿ“ Understanding Paper Size Standards

Paper size standards are essential for international communication, printing, and design. The two main standards are ISO 216 (used globally) and ANSI (used in North America). Understanding these standards ensures your documents look correct on any printer or device worldwide.

๐ŸŒ ISO 216 Standard

The ISO 216 standard defines the A, B, and C series of paper sizes. It is based on the aspect ratio of โˆš2:1, which allows each size to be exactly half the area of the previous size. This elegant mathematical relationship makes the system intuitive and easy to scale.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ANSI Standard

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines paper sizes used in North America. The most common sizes are Letter (8.5 ร— 11 in), Legal (8.5 ร— 14 in), and Tabloid (11 ร— 17 in). These sizes are widely used in the US, Canada, and other parts of the Americas.

๐Ÿ“ The Importance of Paper Size Standards

  • Global Compatibility: ISO 216 ensures documents look correct in almost every country.
  • Printing Efficiency: Standardized sizes reduce waste and simplify printing.
  • Professional Communication: Using the correct paper size shows attention to detail and professionalism.
  • Design Consistency: Standards ensure designs translate correctly across different media.

๐Ÿ”„ Converting Between Standards

When working internationally, you may need to convert between A4 (210 ร— 297 mm) and Letter (216 ร— 279 mm). While similar, the slight size difference affects margins and layout. Use our converter tools to ensure accurate scaling.

โ“ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ISO 216 standard? โ–ผ
ISO 216 is the international standard for paper sizes, defining the A, B, and C series. It is based on the aspect ratio of โˆš2:1 and is used in almost every country except the US and Canada.
What is the difference between A4 and Letter? โ–ผ
A4 is 210 ร— 297 mm (8.27 ร— 11.69 in), slightly narrower and longer than Letter (216 ร— 279 mm / 8.5 ร— 11 in). This affects document formatting when switching between the two standards.
What is the most common paper size worldwide? โ–ผ
A4 (210 ร— 297 mm) is the most common paper size worldwide, used in almost every country except the US and Canada, where Letter is standard.
What is the difference between A, B, and C series? โ–ผ
A series is for general printing and standard paper sizes. B series is larger than A series, used for posters and large-format printing. C series is for envelopes, designed to hold A series papers without folding.
What is Legal paper size? โ–ผ
Legal paper is 8.5 ร— 14 inches (216 ร— 356 mm), used in the US for legal documents, contracts, and official correspondence.
What is Tabloid paper size? โ–ผ
Tabloid is 11 ร— 17 inches (279 ร— 432 mm), used for newspapers, newsletters, and large-format documents in the US.
What is the aspect ratio of A series paper? โ–ผ
A series paper has an aspect ratio of โˆš2:1 (approximately 1.414:1). This allows each size to be exactly half the area of the previous size.

๐Ÿ”— Explore More

Learn more about specific paper size standards:

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