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). The 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.
• Newspaper sizes

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
	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height
A0	841	1189	33.11	46.81	2384	3370
A1	594	841	23.39	33.11	1684	2384
A2	420	594	16.54	23.39	1190	1684
A3	297	420	11.69	16.54	842	1190
A4	210	297	8.27	11.69	595	842
A5	148	210	5.83	8.27	420	595
A6	105	148	4.13	5.83	298	420
A7	74	105	2.91	4.13	210	298
A8	52	74	2.05	2.91	148	210

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

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 millimeters).

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

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
	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height
D0	1090	771	42.91	30.35	3090	2186

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
	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height
SRA0	1280	900	50.39	35.43	3628	2551
SRA1	900	640	35.43	25.20	2551	1814
SRA2	640	450	25.20	17.72	1814	1276
SRA3	450	320	17.72	12.60	1276	907
SRA4	320	225	12.60	8.86	907	638
RA0	1220	860	48.03	33.86	3458	2438
RA1	860	610	33.86	24.02	2438	1729
RA2	610	430	24.02	16.93	1729	1219

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
	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height
Letter (ANSI A)	215.9	279.4	8.5	11	612	792
Legal	215.9	355.6	8.5	14	612	1008
Ledger (ANSI B)	279.4	431.8	11	17	792	1224
Tabloid (ANSI B)	431.8	279.4	17	11	1224	792
Executive	184.1	266.7	7.25	10.55	522	756
ANSI C	559	432	22	17	1584	1224
ANSI D	864	559	34	22	2448	1584
ANSI E	1118	864	44	34	3168	2448

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
	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height
Foolscap	336	419	13.25	16.5	954	1188
Small Post	368	469	14.5	18.5	1044	1332
Sheet and 1/3 cap	336	588	13.25	22	954	1584
Sheet and 1/2 cap	336	628	13.25	24.75	954	1782
Demy	394	507	15.5	20	1116	1440
Large Post	419	533	16.5	21	1188	1512
Small medium	444	558	17.5	22	1260	1584
Medium	457	584	18	23	1296	1656
Small Royal	482	609	19	24	1368	1728
Royal	507	634	20	25	1440	1800
Imperial	559	761	22	30	1584	2160

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

Newspaper sizes

The dimensions of newspaper pages are not that strictly defined, so the average or most frequently used size is mentioned.

	Millimeters	Inches	Points
	Width	Height	Width	Height	Width	Height
Berliner or Midi	± 315	± 470	± 12.4	± 18.5	± 893	± 1332
Broadsheet	± 597	± 749	± 23.5	± 29.5	± 1692	± 2124
Compact or Tabloid	± 280	± 430	± 11	± 16.9	± 792	± 1217
Rhenish	± 355	± 520	± 13.97	± 20.47	± 1006	± 1474

Other sources of information

There are a number of other web sites that list paper sizes and their use. Check them out if you need a second opinion 

• Wikipedia
• Papersizes.org