Paper Dimensions

Paper sizes today use either the international standard (ISO 216) or the North American standards. The American standard is most widely employed in the US, Philippines and Chile.

The ISO International Standards

The dimensions used in the ISO international standards are as follows. The A series are compromised of A0 (841 × 1189 mm or 33.1 × 46.8 in), A1 (594 × 841 mm or 23.4 × 33.1 in), A2 (420 × 594 mm or 16.5 × 23.4 in) and A3 (297 × 420 mm or 11.7 × 16.5 in). The A4 measures 210 × 297 mm or 8.3 × 11.7"; A5 is 148 × 210 mm or 5.8 × 8.3".

The A6 measures 105 × 148 mm or 4.1 × 5.8" and the A7 4 × 105 mm or 2.9 × 4.1". The A8 paper size measures 52 × 74 mm or 2.0 × 2.9"; the A9 comes up to 37 × 52 mm or 1.5 × 2.0" and the A10 measures 26 × 37 mm or 1.0 × 1.5". The ISO standard also has a B series but they’re hardly used. The C series is employed solely for envelopes.

Paper Dimensions in North America

The letter measures 9.5 x 11 in or 216 x 279 mm; the legal is 8.5 x 14 in or 216 x 356 mm. The junior legal paper measures 8.0 × 5.0" or 203 × 127 mm and the ledger is 17 × 11" or 432 × 279 mm. The tabloid measures 11 × 17" or 279 × 432 mm.

The ANSI Paper Sizes

This is another series of paper dimension used in North America. The ANSI A is 8½ × 11" ( 216 × 279 mm). ANSI B is 17 x 11 in or 11 x 17 in (432 x 279 mm and 279 x 432 mm) ANSI C is 17 x 22 in or 432 x 559 mm. ANSI D is 22 x 34" or 559 x 864 mm. ANSI E comes up to 34 x 44" or 864 x 118 mm.

Architectural Paper Dimensions

Arch A measures 9 × 12" (229 × 305 mm) while Arch B is 12 × 18" (305 × 457 mm). Arch C is 18 × 24" (457 × 610 mm). Arch D is 24 × 36" (610 × 914 mm) and Arch E is 36 × 48" (914 × 1219 mm). Finally, Arch E1 is 30 × 42" (762 × 1067 mm).

Other Paper Sizes

The following paper dimensions are also employed in many countries. Organizer J measures 2.75 × 5" (70 × 127 mm), while the Executive is 7.25 × 10.5" (184 × 267 mm). The Compact is 4.25 × 6.75" (108 × 171 mm) and a typical government letter is 8 × 10.5" (203 × 267 mm).

The government legal is 8.5 × 13" (216 × 330 mm). The Quarto is 9 × 11" (229 × 279 mm) and the Super B is 13 × 19" (330 × 483’"). The Crown measures 15 × 20" (381 × 508 mm) and the broadsheet is 18 × 24" (457 × 610 mm).

Obviously you’re not going to work with all of these paper sizes. But if you conduct a lot of business overseas, getting to know these various paper dimensions will be a plus.