If you check the printer paper sizes, there are many other formats besides the most used A4 size. All these sides are different and are used for different printing purposes and projects. Not all people need the standard size; some need the larger, while some need the smaller. So, why not get some basic idea about different printing paper sizes to help yourself choose better?
Different Sizes of Paper
1. ISO Page Size
ISO 216, or the international paper standard, is used in all countries worldwide. It was designed based on the German DIN 476 standard paper size. ISO papers come in five series- A, B, C, D, RA & SRA. All the ISO series papers are based on the metric system. Interestingly, all the ISO papers have a height-to-width aspect ratio of the square root of 2 or 1:1.41421. German scientist Georg Christophe Lichtenberg first discovered the importance of aspect ratio for paper sizes and recommended this. Eventually, all the countries adopted this rule, and the ISO series paper was born.
In simple terms, if you consider the width of the paper as the side of a square, the height will be the same length as the diagonal of the imaginary square.
If you place one ISO paper to its next size, you will find that the smaller one has exactly half the area of the larger size.
a. A Size
It comes in 11 paper sizes, starting from A0 to A10. The A0 size is the largest, while the A10 is the smallest. All the paper sizes also follow the same aspect ratio of square root 2.
The A0 paper is commonly used for making large-size posters and banners. On the other hand, the A1 size, which is a bit smaller, is used to make signs, window displays, and smaller posters. The A2 paper is commonly used for art prints, smaller window displays, notices, small hand posters, etc.
The A3 paper size is smaller than the tabloid newspapers. It is used for presentations, plans, charts, architectural and structural drawings, small posters, etc.
The most recognized paper is the A4 which is widely used for printing regular documents, including letters, office documents, etc. On the other hand, A5 paper is mainly used for printing flyers, invitation cards, booklets, diaries, etc. The A6 and A7 sizes print small flyers, leaflets, and cards. The business cards are usually printed on A8 paper. At the same time, the A9 is the standard size for printing labels, and the smallest size, A10, is ideal for printing stamps, tickets, or small coupons.
b. B Size
The B size paper size is used chiefly for making posters for large-size printers and has 11 papers from B0 to B10. The B0 paper has a width of 1 meter, while the smallest B10 has a width of 31 mm.
The B4, B5, and B6 Papers fit inside C series envelopes.B4 sheets are also used for making music sheets. At the same time, eth B5 is a standard-size paperback and hardbound book page.
The B7 is mostly used for making Passport Ids. Interestingly, the B3 paper can print two A4 pages side by side, while the B2 and B1 can hold four and eight A4 page prints, respectively. Hence, these paper sizes are also widely used in the printing industry.
c. C Size
The C series paper of ISO 269 paper is mainly used for making envelopes. But, after 2009, the papers were withdrawn but are still in use today. The area of a specific C series paper is the geometric mean of the areas of the same size A and B series paper. For example, if you take the C0 paper size, its area will equal the geometric mean of the area of papers A0 and B0.
d. D Size
The ISO D size paper is also large and comes in one size, the D0. It is sometimes used for architectural drawings.
e. RA and SRA Paper Sizes
The RA paper is the abbreviation of raw untrimmed paper size, and the SRA is the short form of Supplementary raw format A. These two sizes are larger than the conventional ISO A paper size. The untrimmed papers are widely used for large volumes of printing. The extra untrimmed edges allow the ink to bleed, and the printed papers are later trimmed to the standard A-size paper.
Roughly the RA size is 5% bigger than the A series, while the SRA series is 15% bigger than the A series. The aspect ratio of “square root of 2” is equally valid in both size series.
| Millimeters | Inches | ||||
| Width | Height | Width | Height | ||
| A | A0 | 841 | 1189 | 33.11 | 46.81 |
| A1 | 594 | 841 | 23.39 | 33.11 | |
| A2 | 420 | 594 | 16.54 | 23.39 | |
| A3 | 297 | 420 | 11.69 | 16.54 | |
| A4 | 210 | 297 | 8.27 | 11.69 | |
| A5 | 148 | 210 | 5.83 | 8.27 | |
| A6 | 105 | 148 | 4.13 | 5.83 | |
| A7 | 74 | 105 | 2.91 | 4.13 | |
| A8 | 52 | 74 | 2.0 | 2.91 | |
| A9 | 37 | 52 | 1.5 | 2.1 | |
| A10 | 26 | 37 | 1.0 | 1.5 | |
| B | B0 | 1000 | 1414 | 39.37 | 55.67 |
| B1 | 707 | 1000 | 27.83 | 39.37 | |
| B2 | 500 | 707 | 19.69 | 27.83 | |
| B3 | 353 | 500 | 13.90 | 19.69 | |
| B4 | 250 | 353 | 9.84 | 13.90 | |
| B5 | 176 | 250 | 6.93 | 9.84 | |
| B6 | 125 | 176 | 4.92 | 6.93 | |
| B7 | 88 | 125 | 3.46 | 4.92 | |
| B8 | 62 | 88 | 2.44 | 3.46 | |
| B9 | 44 | 62 | 1.73 | 2.44 | |
| B10 | 31 | 44 | 1.22 | 1.73 | |
| C | C0 | 917 | 1297 | 36.1 | 51.1 |
| C1 | 648 | 917 | 25.5 | 36.1 | |
| C2 | 458 | 648 | 18 | 25.5 | |
| C3 | 324 | 458 | 12.8 | 18 | |
| C4 | 229 | 324 | 9 | 12.8 | |
| C5 | 162 | 229 | 6.4 | 9 | |
| C6 | 114 | 162 | 4.5 | 6.4 | |
| C7 | 81 | 114 | 3.2 | 4.5 | |
| C8 | 57 | 81 | 2.2 | 3.2 | |
| C9 | 40 | 57 | 1.6 | 2.2 | |
| C10 | 28 | 40 | 1.1 | 1.6 | |
| D | D0 | 1090 | 771 | 42.91 | 35.43 |
| RA | RA0 | 1220 | 860 | 48.03 | 33.86 |
| RA1 | 860 | 610 | 33.86 | 24.02 | |
| RA2 | 610 | 430 | 24.02 | 16.93 | |
| SRA | SRA0 | 1280 | 900 | 50.39 | 35.43 |
| SRA1 | 900 | 640 | 35.43 | 25.20 | |
| SRA2 | 640 | 450 | 25.20 | 17.72 | |
| SRA3 | 450 | 320 | 17.72 | 12.60 | |
| SRA4 | 320 | 225 | 12.60 | 8.86 | |
2. English Paper Size
a. Foolscap
The foolscap paper or foolscap folio is the traditional white paper size used in the British Commonwealth, the UK, and other parts of Europe. It was more widely used before the introduction of the A4 paper. The size of a regular foolscap paper is 216 x 343 mm for printing papers and 203 x 330 mm for writing papers. Foolscap papers are still used in the legal industry and the storage of products.
b. Small Post
The post paper size or small post paper comes in the traditional size of 15 x 19 inches of 387 x 1168 mm. These paper sizes were named after the watermark of the post horn it came with.
c. Demy
Demy paper is writing or drawing paper mostly used in the UK or the US. The standard size of a Demy paper in the UK is 15.5 x 20 inches or 38 x 51 cm and 41 x 53 cm or 16 x 21 inches in the US. It was originally used in blotters and was made with thick blotting paper that was papyrus to blot the ink easily. Besides the full demy size, it was also made in half size, or 11.25 x 17.5 inches or 285 x 445 mm, and was usually called a half demy paper.
3. UK Metric Book Printing Size
The book sizes in the UK refer to the standard size of paperbacks, hard binds that are still used widely. Usually, the UK metric book size comes in three sizes.
a. Metric Crown Quarto
It is called metric crown quarto (an Italian word meaning fourth) because a folio is printed so that one sheet of paper can hold four text pages on each side of the paper. That means when the paper sheet is finally folded. It gives eight text pages or four leaves.
b. Metric Crown Octavo
The metric crown octavo refers to books with eight text pages on a single side of the sheet of paper. Hence, when the pages are folded, it gives 16 text pages or eight book leaves.
c. Demy Quarto
The Demy quarto or Demi 4to is a UK book of 11.25 inches x 8.75 inches. It was usually used to print poems and plays in the UK.
| English paper size | Millimeters | inches |
| Foolscap | 419 x 336 | 16.5 x 13.25 |
| Small post | 469 x 368 | 18.5 x14.5 |
| Demy | 507 x 394 | 20 x15.5 |
| UK metric book | ||
| Metric crown quarto | 246 x 189 | 9 11/16 x 7 7/16 |
| Metric crown octavo | 186 x 123 | 7 5/16 x 4 13/16 |
| Metric Demy quarto | 286 x222 mm | 11.25 x 8.75 inches |
4. Other Sizes
a. Newspaper Size
Since the ISO does not regularize newspaper sizes, the size varies from country to country. The New York Times uses the dimension of 305 x 500 mm or 13.78 x 19.685 mm. On the other hand, the British Broadsheet uses the dimension of 375x 597 mm or 14.764 x 23.504 inch. The broadsheet size is 600 x 75-0 mm or 23.622 x 29.528 inches. The Berliner size has a 315 x 470 mm size of 12.402 x 18.504 inches dimension in general. The compact size of 280 x 430 mm or 11.024 x 16.929 inches is also used.
b. Letter Size Paper
It is defined according to the recommendation of the American National Standards Institute. This size is widely used in the US, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Chile, Costa Rica, and other countries. In these countries, it is used like A4 papers. The letter size existed during the 1980s under President Reagan’s tenure for printing and documenting official letters and other documents. The paper is 215.9 x 279.4 mm or 8.5 x 11 inches.
c. Legal Size Paper
The legal size paper usually has a dimension of 8.5 x 14 inches and is used for documenting legal documents. The legal size originated as a standard size of the English Metric Measurement system, and many countries, including the US and the UK, still use this paper.
d. Ledger Size Paper
It is widely used for printing small newspapers or tabloids in North America, especially in the US, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
e. Tabloid Sheet
The tabloid sheet is mostly used to print tabloids or small-sized newspapers with a vertical orientation. It is sometimes referred to as ANSI B paper size.
f. Digital Sizes
The digital paper size is often used in JPG or JPEG format with the features like printed scrapbook paper. Its size is 12×12 inches or 8.5 x 11 inches.
g. Business Cards
- US standard: The US standard business card is widely used. Its size is 3.5 x 2 inches or 88.9 x 50.8 mm.
- Folded business cards: Folded business cards are 3.5 x 4 inches or 88.9 x 101.6 mm, which offers some extra space for businesses.
h. Junior Legal
It is a loose paper-size series widely used in North American countries, including the US. The standard size of the junior legal is 127 x 203 mm or 5x 8 inches
i. 1/3A4
I/3 A4, or the DL size, is a paper used to print cards, leaflets, and flyers. Brochures and envelopes and is one-third of the A3 paper. Its small size is often used to create an impact among the target audience. The dimension of DL paper is 99 x 210 mm or 3.9 x 8.3 inches.
j. Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg bible size refers to the 42 x 30 cm folio lead page or the “royal” page size. Two pages are printed on each side of the paper, making for text pages and two book leaves.
k. CD Case Insert
CD case paper size comes with an aspect ratio of 1:1 and is 4.7 x 4.7 inches of 120 x 120 mm.
l. The Print Handbook
Printed handbooks are usually versatile and often come in different sizes. The standard US handbook side is 8.5 X 11 inches. In countries where ISO paper is used, A4 size paper is often used for handbook printing.
m. Paperback
Paperbacks are mass-produced literary works usually printed on low-quality paper and bound using an inexpensive binding technique to mass-produce a huge volume of books worldwide. These are of two types-
1. A Format Paperback
The A format paperback is mass printed and uses the dimension of 110 x 178 mm or 4 3/8 x 7 inch. It is also called pocket book format in the US. This type of paperback is commonly used for the fiction genre for inexpensive binding to cater to many readers.
2. B Format Paperback
The B format paperback is a medium size book size of 129 x 198 mm or 5 1/8 x 7 ¾ inches. It is usually used to print literary novels.
n. 48 Sheet Billboard
The 48-sheet billboard is one of the most used and traditional advertising methods with large posters of 3 x 6 meters or 3048 x 6096 mm or 10x 20 ft. It is widely used for advertising purposes.
| Millimeters(mm) | Inches(in) | ||
| Newspaper size | Berliner or Midi | 315 x 750 | 12.042 x 29.528 |
| Broadsheet | 600 x 750 | 23.622 x 29.528 | |
| Compact | 280 × 430 | 11.024 × 16.929 | |
| Letter size paper | 215.9 x 279.4 | 8.5 x 11 | |
| Ledger size paper | 432 x 279 | 17 x 11 | |
| Digital sizes | 8.5 x 11 | ||
| Tabloid sheet | 279 x 432 | 11 x 17 | |
| Legal | 215.9 x 355.6 | 8.5 x 14 | |
| Junior Legal | 279.4 431.8 | 11x 17 | |
| Business cards | US Standard | 88.9 x 50.8 | 3.5 x 2 |
| Folded cards | 88.9 x101.6 | 3.5 x 4 | |
| 1/3 A4 | 99 x 210 | 3 7/8 x 8 1/4 | |
| Gutenberg Bible | 287 x 193 | 11 5/16 x 7 5/8 | |
| CD Case Insert | 120 x120 | 4.7 x4.7 | |
| Print Handbook | 8.5 x 11 or 5.5 x 8.5 | ||
| Paperback | A format Paperback | 110 x 178 | 4 3/8 x 7 1/64 |
| B format Paperback | 197 x 130 | 7 ¾ x 5 1/8 | |
| 48 Sheet billboard | 6096 x 3048 | 240 x 120 |
Factors to be Considered Before Buying a Printer Paper
1. Paper Weight and Thickness
The thickness and weight are quite proportionate in the case of papers; thicker papers are heavier, while thinner papers are lighter. If the paper is on the heavier and thicker side, after printing, the paper will become thicker and stiffer, which in turn will make the stock stiffer. Similarly, choosing a thinner or lighter paper may become fragile after printing and can easily tear apart.
2. Paper Brightness and Opacity
Paper brightness is important when choosing the ideal paper size for your project or business. Usually, the paper’s brightness is measured on a scale of 0-100. The higher score refers to a brighter paper that looks better after printing. Papers with high brightness create hog contracts with black ink, and it is ideal in case you are using only black ink or need to print logos or visuals with warm color tones. On the contrary, choosing a paper with less brightness can help if the paper has a lot of information. Generally, papers with a 90-96 brightness score can be used for all kinds of printing projects.
Besides the brightness, the opacity also matters. Higher opacity means the paper is not see-through and can be easily printed on both sides. If you want to create a printed project which is easier to read, choose a paper with higher opacity.
3. Recycled and Sustainable Paper Stock
Recycling and sustainable paper stocks are preferred nowadays due to their environment-friendly nature. These papers are made by recycling used papers and offer a sustainable approach to decreasing the carbon footprint and cutting down trees.
Printer Paper Size – FAQs
Ans: Most countries use letter size paper Measuring 8.5 x 11 inches (21.59 cm by 27.94 cm) or the ISO A4 size paper of 210 x 297 mm or 8.3 x 11.7 inches.
Ans: The A4 size paper(8.27 inches by 11.69 inches) is a bit longer and narrower; the letter is a bit wider than the letter paper size, while the Letter size(is 8.5 inches by 11 inches).
Ans: You can easily change the paper dimension setting through the printer’s control panel or by accessing the printer settings from your computer or mobile device.
Ans: In most countries, the A4 paper size is used for printing booklets and brochures as it is versatile and easy to fold and manage; in some countries, the letter size is also used.
Ans: Most printers support the size of 3×5 inches as its smallest dimension for printing, which is used to print small documents like index cards.
Conclusion
There are different sizes of paper, and each has different purposes. From the widely used A4 to the newspaper size, legal papers- there are different paper standard sizes. Similarly, books also have different paper dimensions. Here, you will get all the details about the papers commonly used in modern printing works and their dimensions. After reading, you will learn about many different paper dimensions to help you decide on the papers you need and how each size is important for modern civilization.
