Standard paper sizes: US, A sizes and letter vs A4

The standard paper size in the United States is Letter, which measures 8.5 x 11 inches. Most other countries use A4, which is 210 x 297 mm (8.27 x 11.69 inches). This guide lists the standard US sizes, the international A sizes and the larger sizes used for posters and drawings, with notes on where each one is used.

US paper sizes

• Letter, 8.5 x 11 in: the standard size for office paper, letterhead, flyers and forms.
• Legal, 8.5 x 14 in: contracts, legal documents and long forms.
• Tabloid, 11 x 17 in: twice the size of Letter. Used for small posters, menus, newsletters and spreadsheets. The same sheet turned sideways is called Ledger, 17 x 11 in.
• Half Letter, 5.5 x 8.5 in: also called Statement. Used for booklets, programs, notepads and invitations.
• Executive, 7.25 x 10.5 in: a smaller sheet for personal stationery and notepads.

ANSI and architectural sizes

ANSI sizes double from one size to the next, starting with Letter:

• ANSI A: 8.5 x 11 in
• ANSI B: 11 x 17 in
• ANSI C: 17 x 22 in
• ANSI D: 22 x 34 in
• ANSI E: 34 x 44 in

Architects and engineers often use the Arch series instead, which has proportions closer to a square: Arch A is 9 x 12 in, Arch B 12 x 18 in, Arch C 18 x 24 in, Arch D 24 x 36 in and Arch E 36 x 48 in. 18 x 24 and 24 x 36 inches are also common poster sizes. Our poster size guide covers those in more detail.

International A sizes

The A series is set by the ISO 216 standard. A0 has an area of one square meter, and each size is half of the size before it, so two A4 sheets make one A3 sheet. Every A size has the same proportions, which means a design can be scaled from one size to another without cropping.

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 in)
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 in)
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 in)
• A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 in)
• A4: 210 x 297 mm (8.27 x 11.69 in)
• A5: 148 x 210 mm (5.83 x 8.27 in)
• A6: 105 x 148 mm (4.13 x 5.83 in)
• A7: 74 x 105 mm (2.91 x 4.13 in)

Letter vs A4

A4 is slightly narrower and slightly taller than Letter. A4 is 8.27 inches wide and Letter is 8.5 inches wide, and A4 is 11.69 inches tall and Letter is 11 inches tall. A document set up for one size can print with cut-off margins or extra white space on the other. If you send files to people in both regions, keep text away from the edges or save a separate version for each size. A3 and Tabloid differ in the same way.

Paper sizes for common print jobs

• Flyers: 8.5 x 11 in, 5.5 x 8.5 in or 11 x 17 in. See our flyer and brochure size guide.
• Postcards: 4 x 6 in, A6 or 5 x 7 in. See our postcard size guide.
• Business cards: 3.5 x 2 in in the US. See our business card size guide.
• Letterhead: 8.5 x 11 in, or A4 for international offices. See our letterhead size guide.
• Booklets: 5.5 x 8.5 in or 8.5 x 11 in. See our booklet size guide.
• Envelopes: see our envelope size chart.

Press sheets and finished sizes

Commercial printers print several pieces on a larger press sheet and then trim them to the finished size. Digital presses commonly run 12 x 18 in or 13 x 19 in sheets. A size that fits the press sheet efficiently uses less paper and usually costs less, which is why standard sizes are cheaper than unusual ones. If your design will run to the edge of the page, add bleed. Our guide to bleed in printing explains how.

Common questions

What is the standard paper size in the US?

Letter size, 8.5 x 11 inches, is the standard paper size in the United States and Canada.

What size is A4 in inches?

A4 is 8.27 x 11.69 inches, or 210 x 297 mm.

What size is tabloid paper?

Tabloid paper is 11 x 17 inches. Turned to landscape, the same sheet is called Ledger.

Is A4 bigger than Letter?

A4 is taller than Letter but narrower. The two sheets have almost the same area.