A Comprehensive Paper Size Guide: Width and Height Dimensions

February 17, 2023

A Comprehensive Paper Size Guide: Width and Height Dimensions

As scrapbookers, card makers and crafters, we are constantly working with paper and cardstock. However, understanding paper sizes and the related terminology can be a bit confusing. Here’s a paper size guide to help you wrap your head around the different concepts.

 

Paper Sizes in Australia

In Australia, we use the international paper size standard which is also referred to as ISO216. ISO stands for International Standards Organisation.

The ISO standard was based on a German system known as a DIN standard. By 1975, so many countries were using the DIN system that it was then established as the ISO standard. This system is used throughout the world, except in the USA and Canada where paper sizes are decided by the American National Standards Institute, referred to as ANSI.

The ISO216 system is a metric system and paper sizes are referred to in millimetres. Papers are categorised as A, B, C and DL sizes.

ISO decides the dimensions of paper sizes based on an aspect ratio of one to the square root of 2 because it gives the perfect scaling. This paper aspect ratio was suggested way back in 1786!

What this essentially means is that if you cut an A3 sheet of paper in half, parallel to its smaller side, you will end up with 2 sheets of A4 paper.

A-Series Paper

A-Series paper is the most commonly used around the world and was adopted in Europe in the 19th century.

There are 11 A sizes: A0 to A10.

The A0 sheet is the largest sheet in the series, and it is exactly 1m2 of paper measuring 841mm x 1189mm. A10 is the smallest sheet size measuring 26mm x 37mm.

Since the A-series papers all share the square root of 2 aspect ratio, it means that they can be scaled to the other A-series sizes without being distorted.
Folding an A-series sheet of paper in half parallel to its shorter side results in 2 sheets of paper that are each the same size as the next smallest sheet of paper in the series, for example:

  • A1 is half the size of the A0
  • A2 is half the size of the A1
  • A3 is half the size of the A2
  • A4 is half the size of the A3
  • A5 is half the size of the A4
  • A6 is half the size of the A5
  • A7 is half the size of the A6
  • A8 is half the size of the A7
  • A9 is half the size of the A8
  • A10 is half the size of the A9


The A-series of papers are the most popular, and you are most probably familiar with A4 sheets of paper. Home printers, notepads, booklets, business stationery and letterheads often use A4 size paper.

Amongst other uses, A3 size paper is popular for posters, A5 for notepads and A7 for business cards and fridge magnets.


A Series Paper Sizes Chart (Paper Sizes in mm and Inches)

Size Width x Height (mm) Width x Height (inches)
A0 840 X 1190 mm 33.3 x 46.8 in
A1 595 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 8.3 x 11.7 in
A5 150 x 215 mm 5.8 x 8.5 in
A6 105 x 148 mm 4.1 x 5.8 in
A7 75 x 105 mm 2.9 x 4.3 in
A8 53 x 75 mm 2.1 x 2.9 in
A9 38 x 52 mm 1.5 x 2.0 in
A10 26 x 38 mm 1.0 x 1.5 in

 

B-Series Paper

B-series paper sizes were created to provide extra paper sizes that were not included in the A series. They have the same aspect ratio as the A series, but they have a different area.

B0 is 1 metre wide and the other sizes in the B-series are half, quarter or other fractions of a metre wide.

The B-series paper sizes are not commonly used in office or home situations. They are mostly used for posters, books and passports.


C-Series Paper

The C-series papers also have the same aspect ratio as the A-series papers. They are often used in commercial printing for postcards, business cards, gift certificates and envelopes.

DL paper sizes

DL paper size is exactly one third the size of an A4 sheet of paper and measures 99mm x 210mm. The typical envelope size is either DL or similar measurements. This makes it perfect for slips, promotional materials, flyers, leaflets as well as envelopes.

DL stands for ‘dimension lengthwise’.


American National Standards Institute Paper Sizes

These standard paper sizes are based on imperial measurements. The most common sizes are the Letter, Legal and Tabloid templates which are used in everyday life.

Letter size is the most common paper size and is used for business documents as well as academic documents. The Legal size is, as the name suggests, used to make legal pads. The Tabloid format is popular for small sized newspapers.

As with the ISO paper ratios, the ANSI paper formats when cut in half will also produce two sheets of the next smallest sheet of paper in the series. But one major difference is that the ANSI format does not have a set aspect ratio which in turn makes enlarging or reducing a page to fit the other paper sizes less easy than compared to the ISO papers

ANSI Paper Sizes Comparison Chart

Size Width x Height (inches) Width x Height (mm)
Junior Legal 8 x 5 in  203 x 127 mm
Letter 8.5 x 11 in 216 x 279 mm
Legal 8.5 x 14 in 216 x 356 mm
Tabloid 11 x 7 in 279 x 432 mm

 

Scrapbooking Paper Sizes

Scrapbooking papers are generally referred to in imperial measurements and are sized to fit into the most popular scrapbooking album sizes.

Inches Millimetres
6 x 6 in 152 x 152 mm
8.5 x 11 in 215 x 279 mm
12 x 12 in 305 x 305 mm

 

Uniquely Creative stocks both 6x6” and 12x12” papers which are perfect for both card making and scrapbooking as well as other papercrafts.


Related Questions

What are standard paper sizes?

In Australia we use the international paper size standard which is also referred to as ISO216. The ISO paper size system is used throughout the world, except in USA and Canada where different sizes are decided by the American National Standards Institute, referred to as ANSI. In Australia the most common paper size is A4 and in America the most common paper size is Letter.


What are the 8 sizes of paper?

The most common 8 sizes of paper in Australia are A0 to A7.
These papers have the following measurements.

Size Width x Height (mm) Width x Height (inches)
A0 840 x 1190 mm 33.3 x 46.8 in
A1 595 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 8.3 x 11.7 in
A5 150 x 215 mm 5.8 x 8.5 in
A6 105 x 148 mm 4.1 x 5.8 in
A7 75 x 105 mm 2.9 x 4.3 in

 

What size paper is half A4?
An A5 sheet of paper is half the size of an A4 sheet of paper. A5 paper measures 150 x 215 mm.

What’s bigger A2 or A3?
An A2 sheet of paper is bigger than an A3 sheet of paper. The measurements of an A2 sheet of paper are 420 x 594 mm, whereas an A3 sheet of paper measures 297 x 420 mm.

What’s bigger A3 or A4?
An A3 sheet of paper is bigger than an A4 sheet of paper. The measurements of an A3 sheet of paper are 297 x 420 mm and an A4 sheet of paper is 210 x 297 mm.

Why is A3 bigger than A4?
An A3 sheet of paper is the equivalent size of two A4 sheets of paper side by side. The length of an A3 sheet of paper is 420mm and the width is 297mm. By comparison, the length of an A4 sheet of paper is 297mm and the width is 210mm.

What is paper size E?
Paper size E, otherwise known as ANSI E, is a piece of paper that measures 864 × 1118 mm or 34 × 44 inches. ANSI E is part of the American National Standards Institute series.

What is an ANSI B size paper?
An ANSI B paper size has the following measurements: 279 × 432 mm or 11 × 17 inches. ANSI B is part of the American National Standards Institute series.

What paper size is ANSI A?
An ANSI A piece of paper with the following measurements 216 × 279 mm or 8.5 × 11 inches. ANSI A forms part of the American National Standards Institute series of paper sizes.


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