Paper Sizes Guide and Conversion Tool

The B size paper series is the mathematical mean between the different A sizes of paper, and the C size paper series is also the mathematical mean between different sizes but between the respective A and B series sizes. Therefore, although the sizes may differ slightly they all share the exact same size ratios, 1:√2 (= 1:1.414), but are simply proportionally bigger than each other B is ⁴√2 ≈ 1.19 x (A_ size), and C is ⁸√2 ≈ 1.09 x (A_ size).

A0 is perceived as the standard of being the biggest paper size, however, at discount displays we are able to print and provide much larger than A0, so if you should require anything larger check out our large format print section where we are sure you will find something to match your needs.

In the US paper the most common paper sizes are Letter and Legal, which are 8.5” x 11” and 8.5” x14” respectively. It is believed that these were the general standards in the American system during the 20th century and as globalisation has occurred the US has deemed itself large enough to not rely on the international paper standard, and therefore has no requirement to change from their use of Letter and Legal. Whereas, in the UK being in a close relationship as well as geographically close to Europe led to us adopting the French developed system of the A size paper series.

For small format printing the A4 paper size 210 x 279mm (8.3 x 11.7 inches) is the most popular. Common uses included all types of printed materials and office print outs, including company letterheads and documents. For large format printing such as posters the A1 paper size 594 x 841mm (23.4 33.1 inches) is the most popular. Common uses included A1 Wall Mounted Poster Frames and A1 Pavement Signs.

A4 and Letter are two standard sizes of paper used predominantly in different parts of the world. A4 is widely used in the UK and the rest of the world, adhering to the international ISO 216 standard, while Letter size is commonly used in the United States and Canada.

A4 Size: The dimensions of A4 paper are 210 x 297 mm or about 8.27 x 11.69 inches. A4 is slightly narrower and longer than Letter size.

Letter Size: The dimensions of Letter size paper are 8.5 x 11 inches, which is approximately 216 x 279 mm. Letter size is slightly wider and shorter than A4.

In the UK, there are no legal requirements for paper sizes in official documents, but there are conventions and best practices, especially in professional and governmental contexts. It's always a good practice to check any specific guidelines provided by the organization or authority you are submitting documents to, as they might have particular preferences or requirements for paper size.

General Use: For most official documents, A4 is the standard paper size. This includes legal documents, business correspondence, governmental forms, and educational materials.

Specialized Documents: Certain documents might have specific size requirements based on their purpose. For example, legal filings or architectural plans might require larger paper sizes like A3 or even A1.

A Foolscap is a size of paper that is just a bit larger than that of A4 size paper, this allows use for filing systems and folders, meaning a person can file away and use clips for smaller size pieces of paper without disturbing the document enclosed. Foolscap measures 8.5” x 13.5” compared to A4 size paper which in inches is 8.27” x 11.69”. If there are any other print size terms you are unsure about, feel free to turn to our table of common large format printing printing terms.

A2​ paper size is 420​mm x 594mm​ or in imperial measurements that's 16.5 x 23.4 inches. Which is exactly 141% bigger than A1. So A1 is 141% larger than A2, and 200% larger than A3 (A3 paper size is 11.7 x 16.5 inches). If that's a bit confusing to make it clear refer to our A size magnification table for any other size comparisons you may wish to make.