March 30, 2022
Have you ever wondered why a standard sheet of paper is 8.5" x 11"? Those numbers may look like they were chosen at random, but actually, there's a good reason for these precise measurements. The two-sheet mould for papermaking was invented by the Dutch in the mid-1600s. The average maximum reach of a workman's arms was 44″, and the paper moulds were 17" deep. Therefore, 44" x 17" sheets were produced, which were then divided into eight pieces at — you guessed it — 8.5" x 11".
The Evolution of Standard Printer Paper Sizes
American legal paper was standardized to 8.5” x 14” during the Great Depression. But why did the 8.5” measurement stick around? It was actually out of kindness.
President Herbert Hoover didn’t want to put traditional paper-makers out of business during a time of such economic hardship, so the traditional 8.5” width remained, even though paper was more commonly being made by machine. The additional length for legal documents also makes perfect sense: it allows room for a signature.
US Paper Sizes vs. European
The most common paper dimensions used in the United States are letter, legal, and tabloid, although there are others. European standard paper sizes range from A0 to A10, with A4 being the most commonly used, measuring 8.25" x 11.75" (210 x 297 mm). The international ISO 216 standard was established in 1975 and is now used globally, except in North America. Since European countries have adopted the metric system, sizes are measured in millimeters.
What makes the A-series particularly clever is its mathematical consistency: each size is precisely half of the one before it, while keeping the same proportional shape. An A3 sheet folded in half becomes A4, which folded in half becomes A5, and so on. This geometric relationship makes the system intuitive and efficient for scaling documents.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regulates American paper sizes, whereas outside the U.S., paper sizes fall under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However, outside of the U.S. and Europe, paper is not standardized across the globe. For example, Japan has its own paper standards, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC).
Standard Paper Sizes and Their Uses
Here's a quick reference for the most frequently used paper dimensions.
North American sizes include:
- Letter (8.5 x 11") - The everyday workhorse for office documents, reports, and correspondence
- Legal (8.5 x 14") - Designed for contracts and official paperwork requiring additional space
- Tabloid/Ledger (11 x 17") - Tabloid refers to portrait orientation, while ledger refers to landscape. Perfect for newsletters, large spreadsheets, and architectural drawings
- Tabloid-Extra (12 x 18") - Used in graphic design and signage when you need more impact than standard tabloid
International sizes include:
- A5 (5.83 x 8.27") - Ideal for promotional flyers, notepads, and compact booklets
- A4 (8.27 x 11.69") - The global equivalent of letter size, used for nearly everything internationally
- A3 (11.69 x 16.54") - Double the size of A4; commonly used for presentations, technical drawings, and marketing materials. A3 sheets can be folded in half to create A4-sized booklets, making them valuable for multi-page brochures
What To Do When Printing International Documents
If you receive documents from international colleagues, you may notice formatting issues when printing. A4 paper is 6% taller and 3% narrower than the American standard letter size.
When printing an A4 document on letter-sized paper, set your printer to 94% magnification to ensure nothing gets cut off at the top or bottom. Conversely, if you're sending a letter-sized document to someone using A4 paper, let them know they should print at 97% magnification.
What the Size of Printer Paper Means for Choosing Printing Equipment
Most modern printers and copiers will have the ability to enlarge or reduce a document to print it on a different paper size. However, if your organization frequently prints out documents generated outside of the U.S., you may want to keep both ISO and ANSI paper available and look for printing devices that can accommodate a wider variety of paper sizes.
Pro tip: Before committing to a specific paper size for regular use, make sure that your current or prospective printing equipment can handle it. Not every printer supports every dimension!
If your business will be generating documents and materials that fall outside of typical business use, like architectural blueprints, marketing posters, detailed charts, or large-scale graphics — you may be in the market for a wide format printer, which can produce these specialized materials efficiently.
Getting Additional Help With Printers
Printers and copiers are difficult to research online! But they can be a significant financial investment — both in upfront costs and over time. If you're struggling to identify the right printing device for your organization, we’ve created a two-minute quiz to save you quite a bit of time. You're also welcome to ask one of our experts to point you in the right direction.
You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find! Today's printing devices have cybersecurity and cost-saving features that simply weren't available years ago. A new printer could reduce your risk of being hacked, produce less waste, lower your electric bill, and address common workplace privacy concerns.
