Paper sizes

This list of the common American and European paper sizes includes the ISO standards, which are used globally. All dimensions are specified in inches, millimeters as well as PostScript points (1/72 inch, always rounded off).

This overview covers:

• ISO page sizes – The ISO A series is the most frequently used page measurement standard. It includes the DIN A4 format. The ISO B sizes are used for poster printing while ISO C is meant for envelopes. The SRA standard defines press sheet sizes and is used in the printing industry.
• American paper size dimensions – such as ‘Letter’, ‘Legal’ and the ANSI series.
• English sheet sizes – with a focus on formats for writing paper and book printing.

ISO A paper sizes

The A-series consists of a logical set of paper sizes that are defined by the ISO 216 standard. The largest size (A0) measures one square meter. The height/width ratio remains constant (1:1.41) for all sizes. This means you get the A1 size by folding an A0 paper in two along its shortest side. Then fold the A1 size in two to get an A2 size paper, and so on… A-sizes are used to define the finished paper size in commercial printing: A4 is for office documents, A5 is for notepads and A6 is for postcards.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
A0	1189	841	46.81	33.11	3370	2384
A1	841	594	33.11	23.39	2384	1684
A2	594	420	23.39	16.54	1684	1190
A3	420	297	16.54	11.69	1190	842
A4	297	210	11.69	8.27	842	595
A5	210	148	8.27	5.83	595	420
A6	148	105	5.83	4.13	420	298
A7	105	74	4.13	2.91	298	209

This drawing illustrates the principle behind the ISO A series:

ISO B paper sizes

The same logic from the A-sizes also applies for the B-series, except here the starting point was the dimension of one of the sides, which starts at 1 meter. B-sizes are often used for posters.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
B0	1414	1000	55.67	39.37	4008	2835
B1	1000	707	39.37	27.83	2835	2004
B2	707	500	27.83	19.69.	2004	1417
B3	500	353	19.69	13.90	1417	1001
B4	353	250	13.90	9.84	1001	709
B5	250	176	9.84	6.93	709	499
B6	176	125	6.93	4.92	499	354
B7	125	88	4.92	3.46	354	249
B8	88	62	3.46	2.44	249	176
B9	62	44	2.44	1.73	176	125
B10	44	31	1.73	1.22	125	88

ISO C paper sizes

C-sizes are used for envelopes to match the A-series paper. I have omitted unrealistic sizes like C0 (imagine an envelope measuring 917 by 1297 millimetres).

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
C2	458	648	18.03	25.51	578	1837
C3	324	458	12.76	18.03	919	578
C4	229	324	9.02	12.76	649	919
C5	162	229	6.38	9.02	459	649
C6	114	162	4.49	6.38	323	459

ISO D paper sizes

I have no idea what D-sizes are used for but the standard is there so it should be mentioned.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
D0	771	1090	30.35	42.91	2186	3090

ISO RA & SRA paper sizes

These oversized papersizes are used by printers. The dimensions in millimetres are rounded to the nearest value.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
SRA0	900	1280	35.43	50.39	2551	3628
SRA1	640	900	25.20	35.43	1814	2551
SRA2	450	640	17.72	25.20	1276	1814
SRA3	320	450	12.59?	17.72	907?	1276
SRA4	225	320	8.86?	12.59?	638?	907?
RA0	860	1220	33.86	48.03	2438	3458
RA1	610	860	24.02	33.86	1729	2438
RA2	430	610	16.93	24.02	1219	1729

American paper sizes

The US and Canada do not use the international standards but instead rely on the paper sizes below. The ANSI standard was added in 1995 to create a set of sizes that are based on shared dimensions. It lacks however the consistent aspect ratio of the ISO A-series.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
Letter (ANSI A)	279.4	215.9	11.00	8.50	792	612
Legal	355.6	215.9	14.00	8.50	1008	612
Ledger (ANSI B)	431.8	279.4	17.00	11.00	1224	792
Tabloid (ANSI B)	279.4	431.8	11.00	17.00	792	1224
Executive	266.7	184.1	10.55	7.25	756	522
ANSI C	432	559	17.00	22.00	1224	1584
ANSI D	559	864	22	34	1584	2448
ANSI E	864	1118	34.00	44.00	2448	3168

English paper sizes (writing papers)

The English nowadays use the A-sizes for office and general use. I have no idea whether many of these definitions are still in use today. Imperial and half-imperial still seem to be widely used by artists.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
Foolscap	419	336	16.50	13.25	1188	954
Small Post	469	368	18.50	14.50	1332	1044
Sheet and 1/3 cap	588	336	22.00	13.25	1584	954
Sheet and 1/2 cap	628	336	24.75	13.25	1782	954
Demy	507	394	20.00	15.50	1440	1116
Large Post	533	419	21.00	16.50	1512	1188
Small medium	558	444	22.00	17.50	1584	1260
Medium	584	457	23.00	18.00	1656	1296
Small Royal	609	482	24.00	19.00	1728	1368
Royal	634	507	25.00	20.00	1800	1440
Imperial	761	559	30.00	22.00	2160	1584

UK metric book printing sizes

For books A-sizes often aren’t used because A4 is too large and A5 too small. Metric Royal Octavo and Metric Crown Quarto are 2 frequently used sizes that are more comfortable to hold and read.

	Millimeters		Inches		Points
	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width
Metric Crown Quarto	246	189	9 11/16	7 7/16	697	536
Metric Crown Octavo	186	123	7 5/16	4 13/16	527	349
Metric Large Crown Quarto	258	201	10 3/16	7 7/8	731	570
Metric Large Crown Octavo	198	129	7 13/16	5 1/16	561	366
Metric Demy Quarto	276	219	10 7/8	8 5/8	782	621
Metric Demy Octavo	216	138	8 1/2	5 7/16	612	391
Metric Royal Quarto	312	237	12 1/4	9 5/16	884	672
Metric Royal Octavo	198	129	7 13/16	5 1/16	561	366