Paper size

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File:PapierformateA0bisA8.jpg
Paper sizes A0 to A8, life-size installation "The invasion of the square root" at the CosmoCaixa Barcelona science museum
A size chart illustrating the ISO A series and a comparison with American letter and legal formats
Comparison of some paper and photographic paper sizes close to the A4 size

Paper size standards govern the size of sheets of paper used as writing paper, stationery, cards, and for some printed documents.

The ISO 216 standard, which includes the commonly used A4 size, is the international standard for paper size. It is used across the world except in North America and parts of Central and South America, where North American paper sizes such as "Letter" and "Legal" are used.[1] The international standard for envelopes is the C series of ISO 269.

International standard paper sizes

File:Prevalent default paper size.svg
Map of the world showing adoption of paper sizes
  ISO A4 exclusively
  US-Letter primarily
  US-Letter predominantly
  US-Letter exclusively

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The international paper size standard is ISO 216. It is based on the German DIN 476 standard for paper sizes. ISO paper sizes are all based on a single aspect ratio of the square root of 2, or approximately 1:1.41421. There are different series, as well as several extensions.

The following international paper sizes are included in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS): A3, A4, A5, B4, B5.[2]

A series

A size chart illustrating the ISO A series

There are 11 sizes in the A series, designated A0–A10, all of which have an aspect ratio of \frac{a}{b} = \sqrt{2} \approx 1.41421\ldots, where a is the long side and b is the short side.

Since A series sizes share the same aspect ratio (2), they can be scaled to other A series sizes without being distorted, and two sheets can be reduced to fit on exactly one sheet without any cutoff or margins.

The A0 base size is defined as having an area of 1 m2; given an aspect ratio of 2, the dimensions of A0 are:

\sqrt[4]2\,\mathrm{m} by \frac1\sqrt[4]2\,\mathrm{m}.

or, rounded to the nearest millimetre, 1,189 mm × 841 mm (46.8 in × 33.1 in).

A series sizes are related in that the smaller dimension of a given size is the larger dimension of the next smaller size, and folding an A series sheet in half in its larger dimension—that is, folding it in half parallel to its short edge—results in two halves that are each the size of the next smaller A series size. As such, a folded brochure of a given A-series size can be made by folding sheets of the next larger size in half, e.g. A4 sheets can be folded to make an A5 brochure. The fact that halving a sheet with an aspect ratio of 2 results in two sheets that themselves both have an aspect ratio of 2 is proven as follows:

\frac{a}{b} = \sqrt{2},

where a is the long side and b is the short side. The aspect ratio for the new dimensions of the folded paper is:

\frac{b}{\frac{a}{2}} = 2\frac{b}{a} = 2\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = \sqrt{2} = \frac{a}{b}.

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of 2 were noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg.[3] He also observed that some raw sizes already adhered to that ratio so that when a sheet is folded, the length to width ratio does not change.

Briefly after the introduction of the metric system, a handful of new paper formats equivalent to modern ones were developed in France, having been proposed by the mathematician Lazare Carnot, and published for judicial purposes in 1798 during the French Revolution.[4] These were never widely adopted, however:

  • grand registre (A2)
  • moyen papier (A3)
  • grand papier (B3)
  • petit papier (B4)
  • demi feuille(B5)
  • effets de commerce (half-B5)

Early in the 20th century, the ratio was used to specify the world format starting with 1 cm as the short edge of the smallest size. Walter Porstmann started with the largest sizes instead, assigning one an area of 1 m2 (A0) and the other a short edge of 1 m (B0). He thereby turned the forgotten French sizes into a proper system of different paper sizes, while introducing systematic alphanumeric monikers for them. Generalized to nothing less than four series, this system was introduced as a DIN standard (DIN 476) in Germany in 1922, replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. Even today, the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" (IPA: [diːn.ʔaː.fiːɐ̯]) in everyday use in Germany and Austria.

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. Before the outbreak of World War II, it had been adopted by the following countries in Europe:

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During World War II, the standard spread to South America and was adopted by Uruguay (1942), Argentina (1943) and Brazil (1943), and afterwards spread to other countries:

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By 1975, so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard, as well as the official United Nations document format. By 1977, A4 was the standard letter format in 88 of 148 countries. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, and the Philippines, the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard.

The weight of an A-series sheet of a given paper weight can be calculated by knowing the ratio of its size to the A0 sheet. For example, an A4 sheet is ​116 the size of an A0 sheet, so if it is made from 80-g/m2 paper, it weighs ​116 of 80 g, which is 5 g.

B series

A size chart illustrating the ISO B series

The B series paper sizes are less common than the A series. They have the same aspect ratio of A series:

\frac{a}{b}=\sqrt{2} = 1.41...

However, they have a different area. The area of B series sheets is in fact the geometric mean of successive A series sheets. B1 is between A0 and A1 in size, with an area of 0.707 m2 (​12 m2). As a result, B0 is 1 metre wide, and other sizes of the series are a half, a quarter, or further fractions of a metre wide: in general, every B size has exactly one side of length \frac{1 \operatorname{m}}{2^n} for n \in \mathbb{N}. That side is the short side for B0, B2, B4, etc., and the long side for B1, B3, B5, etc.

While less common in office use, the B series is used for a variety of special applications.

  • B4, B5, and B6 are used for envelopes that fit C-series envelopes.
  • B5 is a relatively common choice for books.
  • B7 is equal to the passport size ID-3 from ISO/IEC 7810.
  • Many posters use B-series paper or a close approximation, such as 50 cm × 70 cm ~ B2.

The B-series is widely used in the printing industry to describe both paper sizes and printing press sizes, including digital presses. B3 paper is used to print two US letter or A4 pages side by side using imposition; four pages would be printed on B2, eight on B1, etc.[need quotation to verify]

C series

A size chart illustrating the ISO C series

The C series is defined in ISO 269, which was withdrawn in 2009 without a replacement, but is still specified in several national standards. It is primarily used for envelopes. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number; for instance, the area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet. This means that C4 is slightly larger than A4, and slightly smaller than B4. The practical usage of this is that a letter written on A4 paper fits inside a C4 envelope, and both A4 paper and C4 envelope fits inside a B4 envelope.

Some envelope formats with mixed sides from adjacent sizes (and thus an approximate aspect ratio of 2:1) are also defined in national adaptations of the ISO standard, e.g. DIN C6/C5 (also known as C65) is 114 mm × 229 mm where the common side to C5 and C6 is 162 mm. This format allows an envelope holding an A-sized paper folded in three, e.g. for the C65, an A4.

Overview of ISO paper sizes

ISO paper sizes in portrait view (with rounded inch values)
Format A series[6] B series[7] C series[8]
Size short × long Notional area short × long Notional area short × long Notional area
mm in m2 mm in m2 mm in m2
0 841 × 1189 33.1 × 46.8 20 = 1 1000 × 1414 39.4 × 55.7 2½ ≈ 1.414 917 × 1297 36.1 × 51.1 2¼ ≈ 1.189
1 594 × 841 23.4 × 33.1 1/2 = 0.5 707 × 1000 27.8 × 39.4 2−½ ≈ 0.707 648 × 917 25.5 × 36.1 2−¾ ≈ 0.595
2 420 × 594  16.5 × 23.4 1/22 = 0.25 500 × 707 19.7 × 27.8 2−1½ ≈ 0.354 458 × 648 18.0 × 25.5 2−1¾ ≈ 0.297
3 297 × 420 11.7 × 16.5 1/23 = 0.125 353 × 500 13.9 × 19.7 2−2½ ≈ 0.177 324 × 458 12.8 × 18.0 2−2¾ ≈ 0.149
4 210 × 297 8.3 × 11.7 1/24 = 0.0625 250 × 353 8.3 × 11.7 2−3½ ≈ 0.088 229 × 324 8.3 × 11.7 2−3¾ ≈ 0.0743
5 148 × 210 5.8 × 8.3 1/25 ≈ 0.0313 176 × 250 6.9 × 9.8 2−4½ ≈ 0.044 162 × 229 6.4 × 9.0 2−4¾ ≈ 0.0372
6 105 × 148 4.1 × 5.8 1/26 ≈ 0.0156 125 × 176 4.9 × 6.9 2−5½ ≈ 0.0221 114 × 162 4.5 × 6.4 2−5¾ ≈ 0.0186
7 74 × 105 2.9 × 4.1 1/27 ≈ 0.0078 88 × 125 3.5 × 4.9 2−6½ ≈ 0.0110 81 × 114 3.2 × 4.5 2−6¾ ≈ 0.0093
8 52 × 74 2.0 × 2.9 1/28 ≈ 0.0039 62 × 88 2.4 × 3.5 2−7½ ≈ 0.0055 57 × 81 2.2 × 3.2 2−7¾ ≈ 0.0046
9 37 × 52 1.5 × 2.0 1/29 ≈ 0.0020 44 × 62 1.7 × 2.4 2−8½ ≈ 0.0028 40 × 57 1.6 × 2.2 2−8¾ ≈ 0.0023
10 26 × 37 1.0 × 1.5 1/210 ≈ 0.00098 31 × 44 1.2 × 1.7 2−9½ ≈ 0.0014 28 × 40 1.1 × 1.6 2−9¾ ≈ 0.0012
i \left(\alpha_A\cdot r^{i+1}\right) \times \left(\alpha_A\cdot r^{i}\right), where
Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \alpha_A = \sqrt[4]{2}\,\text{m}; r=\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}
\left(\alpha_B\cdot r^{i+1}\right) \times \left(\alpha_B\cdot r^{i}\right), where
Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \alpha_B = \sqrt{2}\,\text{m}; r=\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}
\left(\alpha_C\cdot r^{i+1}\right) \times \left(\alpha_C\cdot r^{i}\right), where
Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \alpha_C = \sqrt[8]{8}\,\text{m}; r=\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}

The \alpha variables are the distinct first terms in the three geometric progressions of the same common ratio equal to the square root of two. Each of the three geometric progressions (corresponding to the three series A, B, and C) is formed by all possible paper dimensions (length and width) of the series arranged in decreasing order. This interesting arrangement of dimensions is also very useful—not only does it form a geometric progression with easy-to-remember formulae, but also each consecutive pair of values (like a sliding window of size 2) will automatically correspond to the dimensions of a standard paper format in the series.

The tolerances specified in the standard are

  • ±1.5 mm (0.06 in) for dimensions up to 150 mm (5.9 in),
  • ±2 mm (0.08 in) for lengths in the range 150 to 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in) and
  • ±3 mm (0.12 in) for any dimension above 600 mm (23.6 in).

German original

The German standard DIN 476 was published on 18 August 1922 and is the original specification of the A, B and C sizes. In 1991, it was split into DIN 476-1 for the A and B formats and 476-2 for the C series. The former has been withdrawn in 2002 in favor of adopting the international standard as DIN EN ISO 216, but part 2 has been retained and was last updated in 2008.

The first and the second editions of DIN 476 from 1922 and 1925 also included a D series.

DIN D series paper sizes in portrait view (with rounded inch values)
Format D series
Size mm × mm inch × inch
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The smallest formats specified originally were A13 and B13, which were reduced to x10[clarification needed] in the 1930 edition, as well as C8 and D8; C9 and C10 have been added in the 1976 revision for compatibility with photography sizes: C8 closely matches 6×9 photos, and C9 and C10 closely match 7×7 and 5×5 slides, respectively.

DIN 476:1922 tiny formats (with rounded inch values)
Format A B
Size mm × mm inch × inch mm × mm inch × inch
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DIN 476 provides for formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the formats 2A0 and 4A0, which are twice and four times the size of A0 respectively. However, ISO 216:2007 notes 2A0 and 4A0 in the table of Main series of trimmed sizes (ISO A series) as well: "The rarely used sizes [2A0 and 4A0] which follow also belong to this series."

DIN 476 overformats (with rounded inch values)
Name mm × mm inch × inch
4A0 data-sort-value="3999796" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
2A0 data-sort-value="1999898" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).

DIN 476 also used to specify slightly tighter tolerances than ISO 216:

  • ±1 mm (0.04 in) for dimensions up to 150 mm (5.9 in),
  • ±1.5 mm (0.06 in) for lengths in the range 150 mm to 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in) and
  • ±2 mm (0.08 in) for any dimension above 600 mm (23.6 in).

There used to be a standard, DIN 198, that was just a table of recommended A series formats for a number of business applications. The 1976 edition of this standard introduced a size 23 A4 198 mm × 210 mm and suggested it for some forms and slips.

Swedish extensions

Comparison of ISO 216 and Swedish standard SIS 014711 paper sizes between A4 and A3 sizes

The Swedish standard SIS 01 47 11[9] generalized the ISO system of A, B, and C formats by adding D, E, F, and G formats to it. Its D format sits between a B format and the next larger A format (just like C sits between A and the next larger B). The remaining formats fit in between all these formats, such that the sequence of formats A4, E4, C4, F4, B4, G4, D4, *H4, A3 is a geometric progression, in which the dimensions grow by a factor 162 from one size to the next. However, this SIS standard does not define any size between a D format and the next larger A format (called *H in the previous example).

Of these additional formats, G5 (169 × 239 mm) and E5 (155 × 220 mm) are popular in Sweden and the Netherlands for printing dissertations,[10] but the other formats have not turned out to be particularly useful in practice. They have not been adopted internationally and the Swedish standard has been withdrawn.

The Swedish and German D series basically contain the same sizes but are offset by one, i.e. DIN D4 equals SIS D5 and so on.

SIS 014711 formulas,[11] including the missing step, series *H, between D and A,
n = 0‥10, r = 162, s = 12
Designation Shorter edge Longer edge
An r−4 × sn r+4 × sn
En r−3 × sn r+5 × sn
Cn r−2 × sn r+6 × sn
Fn r−1 × sn r+7 × sn
Bn r 0 × sn r+8 × sn
Gn r+1 × sn r+9 × sn
Dn r+2 × sn r+10 × sn
*Hn r+3 × sn r+11 × sn
A(n-1) r+4 × sn r+12 × sn
Swedish D through G series
n A E C F B G D *H
0 841 × 1189 878 × 1242 917 × 1297 958 × 1354 1000 × 1414 1044 × 1477 1091 × 1542 1139 × 1610
1 595 × 841 621 × 878 648 × 917 677 × 958 707 × 1000 738 × 1044 771 × 1091 805 × 1139
2 420 × 595 439 × 621 459 × 648 479 × 677 500 × 707 522 × 738 545 × 771 569 × 805
3 297 × 420 310 × 439 324 × 459 339 × 479 354 × 500 369 × 522 386 × 545 403 × 569
4 210 × 297 220 × 310 229 × 324 239 × 339 250 × 354 261 × 369 273 × 386 285 × 403
5 149 × 210 155 × 220 162 × 229 169 × 239 177 × 250 185 × 261 193 × 273 201 × 285
6 105 × 149 110 × 155 115 × 162 120 × 169 125 × 177 131 × 185 136 × 193 142 × 201
7 74 × 105 78 × 110 81 × 115 85 × 120 88 × 125 92 × 131 96 × 136 101 × 142
8 53 × 74 55 × 78 57 × 81 60 × 85 63 × 88 65 × 92 68 × 96 71 × 101
9 37 × 53 39 × 55 41 × 57 42 × 60 44 × 63 46 × 65 48 × 68 50 × 71
10 26 × 37 27 × 39 29 × 41 30 × 42 31 × 44 33 × 46 34 × 48 36 × 50

Japanese variation

The Japanese standard JIS P 0138 defines two main series of paper sizes. The JIS A-series is identical to the ISO A-series, but with slightly different tolerances. The area of B-series paper is 1.5 times that of the corresponding A-paper (instead of the factor 2 = 1.414... for the ISO B-series), so the length ratio is approximately 1.22 times the length of the corresponding A-series paper. The aspect ratio of the paper is the same as for the A-series paper. Both A- and B-series paper are widely available in Japan, Taiwan and China, and most photocopiers are loaded with at least A4 and either one of A3, B4, and B5 paper.

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) only supports the most popular sizes, JIS-B4 and JIS-B5.[2]

JIS B series paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)
Size mm × mm inch × inch
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JIS P 0202 raw sizes (plus rounded inch values)
Size mm × mm inch × inch AR sun × sun
A data-sort-value="550000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). √2∶1 20.6 × 29
B data-sort-value="830025" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). √2∶1 25.25 × 35.8
Shiroku-ban (4-6) data-sort-value="859708" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.38 26 × 36
Kiku-ban (Chrysanthemum) data-sort-value="597204" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.48 21 × 31
Hattron data-sort-value="1080000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3 29.7 × 39.6

A popular size for books, dubbed AB, combines the shorter edges of A4 and B4. Another two with an aspect ratio approximating 16:9 are 20% narrower variants of A6 and B6, respectively, the latter resulting from cutting JIS B1 into 4 × 10 sheets (thus "B40").

There are also a number of traditional paper sizes, which are now used mostly by printers. The most common of these old series is the Shiroku-ban and the Kiku paper sizes.

Other Japanese paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)[need quotation to verify]
Size mm × mm inch × inch AR sun × sun Notes
AB data-sort-value="53970" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 11∶9 6.93 × 8.48 A4/A5 × JIS B4/B5
B40 data-sort-value="18746" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 16∶9 3.4 × 6 JIS B1 height10 × ​width4
35 data-sort-value="12432" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.76 2.77 × 4.88 trimmed 3 × 5
Kiku-ban data-sort-value="69008" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.34 7.5 × 10
data-sort-value="66272" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.39 7.2 × 10
data-sort-value="34504" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.49 5 × 7.5
data-sort-value="33136" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 10∶7 5 × 7.2

Chinese extensions

The Chinese standard GB/T 148–1997,[12] which replaced GB 148–1989, documents the standard ISO series, A and B, but adds a custom D series. This Chinese format originates from the Republic of China (1912–1949). The D series is not identical to the German or Swedish D series. It does not strictly follow the same principles as ISO paper sizes: The aspect ratio is only very roughly 2. The short side of the size is always 4 mm longer than the long side of the next smaller size. The long side of the size is always exactly – i.e. without further rounding – twice as long as the short side of the next smaller size.

SAC paper sizes (with rounded inch values and raw sizes)
Format D series AR Alias Untrimmed sizes
Size mm × mm inch × inch mm × mm inch × inch
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Indian variants

The Bureau of Indian Standards recommends the "ISO-A series" size of drawing sheet for engineering drawing works. The Bureau of Indian Standards specifies all the recommendations for engineering drawing sheets in its bulletin IS 10711: 2001.[13]

The Bureau extended the ISO-A series with a Special Elongated Sizes (Second Choice). These sizes are achieved by increasing the shorter dimensions of a sheet of the ISO A series to lengths that are multiples of the shorter dimensions of the chosen basic sheet.

IS Special Elongated Sizes (Second Choice) with rounded inch values
Size mm × mm in × in AR
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A4 x 3 data-sort-value="187110" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶√2
A4 x 4 data-sort-value="249777" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶√2
A4 x 5 data-sort-value="312147" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶√2

There is also a Exceptional Elongated Sizes (Third Choice). These sizes are obtained by increasing the shorter dimensions of a sheet of the ISO-A series to lengths that are multiples of the shorter dimensions of the chosen basic sheet. These sizes are used when a very large or extra elongated sheet is needed.

IS Exceptional Elongated Sizes (Third Choice) with rounded inch values
Size mm × mm in × in AR
A0 x 2 data-sort-value="1999898" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). √2∶1
A0 x 3 data-sort-value="2999847" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶√2
A1 x 3 data-sort-value="1499503" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶√2
A1 x 4 data-sort-value="1999898" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶√2
A2 x 3 data-sort-value="749034" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶√2
A2 x 4 data-sort-value="999108" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶√2
A2 x 5 data-sort-value="1248588" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶√2
A3 x 5 data-sort-value="624120" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶√2
A3 x 6 data-sort-value="748860" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 6∶√2
A3 x 7 data-sort-value="873600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶√2
A4 x 6 data-sort-value="374517" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 6∶√2
A4 x 7 data-sort-value="436887" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶√2
A4 x 8 data-sort-value="499554" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 8∶√2
A4 x 9 data-sort-value="561924" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 9∶√2

Soviet variants

The first standard of paper size in the Soviet Union was OST 303 in 1926. Six years later, it was replaced by OST 5115 which generally followed DIN 476 principles, but used Cyrillic lowercase letters instead of Latin uppercase, had the second row shifted so that б0 (B0) roughly corresponded to B1 and, more importantly, had slightly different sizes:[14]

OST 5115 formats (1932)
Format а (A) б (B) в (V, C)
Size mm × mm inch × inch mm × mm inch × inch mm × mm inch × inch
0 data-sort-value="937728" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="788832" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
1 data-sort-value="468864" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="394416" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="557664" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
2 data-sort-value="234432" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="196944" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="278832" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
3 data-sort-value="117216" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="98472" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="139416" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
4 data-sort-value="58464" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="49104" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="69708" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
5 data-sort-value="29232" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="24552" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="34854" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
6 data-sort-value="14544" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="12276" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="17427" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
7 data-sort-value="7272" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="6138" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="8658" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
8 data-sort-value="3600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="3036" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="4290" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
9 data-sort-value="1800" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="1518" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="2145" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
10 data-sort-value="900" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="759" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
11 data-sort-value="450" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="368" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
12 data-sort-value="216" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="176" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
13 data-sort-value="108" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).

The general adaptation of ISO 216 in the Soviet Union, which replaced OST 5115, was GOST 9327. In its 1960 version, it lists formats down to A13, B12 and C8 and also specifies ​12, ​14 and ​18 prefixes for halving the shorter side (repeatedly) for stripe formats, e.g. ​12A4 = 105 mm × 297 mm.

File:Old Soviet standard for paper sizes.svg
A1, A2, A3, A4 and non-ISO sizes as GOST 3450-60 formats

A standard for technical drawings from 1960, GOST 3450,[15] introduces alternative numeric format designations to deal with very high or very wide sheets. These 2-digit codes are based upon A4 = "11": The first digit is the factor the longer side (297 mm) is multiplied by and the second digit is the one for the shorter side (210 mm), so "24" is 2×297 mm × 4×210 mm = 594 mm × 840 mm.

Soviet formats with multiplied shorter side (mm×mm)
n (×1) ×2 ×3 ×4 ×5 ×6
5 = A0 = 2A0 2523 × 1189 3364 × 1189 4204 × 1189 5045 × 1189
4 = A1 = A0 1784 × 841 2378 × 841 2973 × 841 3568 × 841
3 = A2 = A1 1261 × 595 1682 × 595 2102 × 595 2523 × 595
2 = A3 = A2 892 × 420 1189 × 420 1487 × 420 1784 × 420
1 = A4 = A3 631 × 297 841 × 297 1051 × 297 1261 × 297
0 = A5 = A4 446 × 210 595 × 210 743 × 210 892 × 210
File:A4x8 a3x5 a2x4.png
A2, A3, A4 and some of their derived non-ISO sizes as GOST 2301-68 formats

GOST 3450 from 1960 was replaced by ESKD GOST 2301 in 1968,[16] but the numeric designations remained in popular use much longer. The new designations were not purely numeric but consisted of the ISO label followed by an 'x', or possibly the multiplication sign '×', and the factor, e.g. DIN 2A0 = GOST A0×2, but DIN 4A0 ≠ GOST A0×4, also listed are: A0×3, A1×3, A1×4, A2×3–A2×5, A3×3–A3×7, A4×3–A4×9. The formats ...×1 and ...×2 usually would be aliases for existing formats.

Elongated sizes

ISO 5457, last updated in 1999,[17] introduces elongated sizes that are formed by a combination of the dimensions of the short side of an A-size (e.g. A2) with the dimensions of the long side of another larger A-size (e.g. A0). The result is a new size, for example with the abbreviation A2.0 we would have a 420 × 1189 mm size.

File:ISO 5457 elongated paper sizes.svg
elongated paper sizes schema
ISO 5457 elongated paper sizes
Size Short edge Long edge mm × mm in × in AR
A1.0 A1/A2 A0 data-sort-value="706266" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1
A2.0 A2/A3 A0 data-sort-value="499380" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶√2
A2.1 A1/A0 data-sort-value="353220" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1
A3.0 A3/A4 A0 data-sort-value="353133" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶1
A3.1 A1/A0 data-sort-value="249777" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶√2
A3.2 A2/A1 data-sort-value="176418" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1

These drawing paper sizes have been adopted by ANSI/ASME Y14.1M for use in the United States, alongside A0 through A4 and aloongside inch-based sizes.

International envelope and insert sizes

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Common folded or cut sizes of ISO paper: stripe formats and inserts
Name mm × mm inch × inch AR Notes
13A4 data-sort-value="20790" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶√2 common flyer or stripe size
unnamed data-sort-value="22050" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1 standard folded size of German letters
File:DIN 5008, Form A.svg
DIN 5008 Form A

DIN 5008 (previously DIN 676) prescribes, among many other things, two variants, A and B, for the location of the address field on the first page of a business letter and how to fold the A4 sheet accordingly, so the only part visible of the main content is the subject line.

Common envelopes for ISO paper, that are not simple C-series and B-series formats
Name mm × mm inch × inch AR Content Notes
DL data-sort-value="24200" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1 13A4, DIN 5008 A and B designated long, "DIN lang" (DIN long); sometimes erroneously called "DLE", apparently for envelope, instead; exactly matches Swedish SIS E6/E5 (E6: 110 mm × 155 mm, E5: 155 mm × 220 mm); envelope #5 in China, Chou/N 6 in Japan
C6/C5 data-sort-value="26106" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1 common edge of C6 and C5 is 161 mm;

also known as "Postfix", "DL+" or "DL Max", but those terms are not standardized

Italian data-sort-value="25300" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.10∶1 centimeter-rounded C6/C5 or slightly wider DL
C7/C6 data-sort-value="13122" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2∶1 13A5 common edge of C7 and C6 is 114 mm
B6/C4 data-sort-value="40500" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.6 B6 is 125 mm × 176 mm, C4 is 229 mm × 324 mm
Invite data-sort-value="48400" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1∶1 square card with edge of A4 and A5, 210 mm
DIN E4 data-sort-value="112000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 10∶7 listed in DIN 476–2, but not part of a series proper; SIS E4 is 220 mm × 310 mm

International raw sizes

ISO 217 raw and ISO 5457 untrimmed sheet sizes
raw mm × mm inch × inch special raw mm × mm inch × inch untrimmed mm × mm inch × inch trimmed mm × mm inch × inch mm × mm inch × inch
RA0 data-sort-value="1049200" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). SRA0 data-sort-value="1152000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A0U data-sort-value="1082400" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A0T data-sort-value="999949" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="951539" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
RA1 data-sort-value="524600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). SRA1 data-sort-value="576000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A1U data-sort-value="550000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A1T data-sort-value="499554" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="465514" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
RA2 data-sort-value="262300" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). SRA2 data-sort-value="288000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A2U data-sort-value="281250" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A2T data-sort-value="249480" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="225600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
RA3 data-sort-value="131150" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). SRA3 data-sort-value="144000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A3U data-sort-value="148500" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A3T data-sort-value="124740" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="108030" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
RA4 data-sort-value="65575" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). SRA4 data-sort-value="72000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A4U data-sort-value="79200" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). A4T data-sort-value="62370" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). data-sort-value="49860" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).

ISO 5457 specifies drawing paper sizes with a trimmed size equal to the A series sizes from A4 upward. The untrimmed sizes are 3 to 4 cm larger and rounded to the nearest centimeter. A0 through A3 are used in landscape orientation, while A4 is used in portrait orientation. Designations for preprinted drawing paper include the base sizes and a suffix, either T for trimmed or U for untrimmed sheets.

The withdrawn standard ISO 2784 did specify sizes of continuous, fan-fold forms based upon whole inches as was common for paper in continuous lengths in automatic data processing (ADP) equipment. Specifically, 12 inches (304.8 mm) were considered an untrimmed variant of the A4 height of 297 mm.

ISO 2784:1974 correspondence for continuous ADP paper
Size Acceptable equivalent Direct equivalent Exact size Gross size
inch × inch mm × mm AR inch × inch mm × mm AR mm × mm mm × mm inch × inch
A4 data-sort-value="96" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2 data-sort-value="97.222222222222" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5 210 × 297 title="gross width for A3 is 450 mm, intermediate gross widths of 375 mm and 400 mm have no ISO 216 equivalent" data-sort-value="85000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
A5 data-sort-value="48" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3 data-sort-value="48.611111111111" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 10∶7 148 × 210 data-sort-value="45000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
A6 data-sort-value="24" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2 data-sort-value="24.305555555556" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5 105 × 148 N/A N/A
A7 data-sort-value="12" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3 N/A N/A N/A 74 × 105 N/A N/A

Transitional paper sizes

PA4 or L4

Hypothetic PA4-based series
Name mm × mm inch × inch AR
PA0 data-sort-value="940800" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
PA1 data-sort-value="470400" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
PA2 data-sort-value="235200" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
PA3 data-sort-value="117600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
PA4 data-sort-value="58800" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
PA5 data-sort-value="29400" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
PA6 data-sort-value="14700" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
PA7 data-sort-value="7350" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
PA8 data-sort-value="3640" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.35
PA9 data-sort-value="1820" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.49
PA10 data-sort-value="910" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.35

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in), sometimes dubbed L4, was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about ​8 12 in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in), i.e. it uses the smaller value among the two for each side. The table shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee decided that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary.[citation needed] However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays (e.g. the iPad) and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins is, therefore, a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

As a compromise between the two most popular paper sizes globally, PA4 is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter. That means it is not as much a paper size as a page format. Apple, for instance, requires this format for digital music album booklets.[18]

The size 210 mm × 280 mm was documented in the Canadian standard CAN2-200.2-M79 "Common Image Area for Paper Sizes P4 and A4".[19]

F4

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Hypothetic F4-based series
Name mm × mm inch × inch AR
F0 data-sort-value="1110961" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.57
F1 data-sort-value="555060" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
F2 data-sort-value="277200" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.57
F3 data-sort-value="138600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
F4 data-sort-value="69300" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.57
F5 data-sort-value="34650" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
F6 data-sort-value="17325" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.57
F7 data-sort-value="8610" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 32∶25
F8 data-sort-value="4264" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.58
F9 data-sort-value="2132" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
F10 data-sort-value="1066" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.58

A non-standard F4 paper size is common in Southeast Asia. It is a transitional size with the shorter side from ISO A4 (210 mm, ​8 14 inch) and the longer side from British Foolscap (13-inch, 330 mm) and is sometimes known as (metric) foolscap or folio as well. It is exactly ​19, i.e. 33 mm, longer than A4 or, conversely, A4 is exactly 90% the height of F4.

In Indonesia and the Philippines, "F4" paper is slightly broader: 215 × 330 mm, i.e. basically Foolscap 8.5 × 13 in. In Indonesia it is sometimes called folio, while in Philippines it is sometimes also called long bond.

A sheet of F4 can be cut from a sheet of SRA4 with very little wastage. The size is also smaller than its Swedish equivalent SIS F4 at 239 mm × 338 mm.

Weltformat

The Weltformat (world format) was developed by German chemist Wilhelm Ostwald in 1911 as part of Die Brücke, around the same time DIN 476 was first discussed. It shares the same design primitives, especially the aspect ratio, but is based upon 1 cm as the short edge of the smallest size. Sizes were designated by roman numerals. The result, for the fourth through fourteenth size, is close to the DIN/ISO C series. [20]

[21]

Original world format sizes with equivalent C-series format
Weltformat mm × mm inch × inch DIN
I data-sort-value="140" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
II data-sort-value="280" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
III data-sort-value="560" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
IV data-sort-value="1120" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C10
V data-sort-value="2280" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C9
VI data-sort-value="4560" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C8
VII data-sort-value="9040" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C7
VIII data-sort-value="18080" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C6
IX data-sort-value="36160" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C5
X data-sort-value="72320" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C4
XI data-sort-value="144960" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C3
XII data-sort-value="289920" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C2
XIII data-sort-value="579200" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C1
XIV data-sort-value="1158400" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). C0
XV data-sort-value="2316800" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
XVI data-sort-value="4633600" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).

The sizes have been used for some print products in the early 20th century in central Europe but got replaced by DIN sizes almost entirely. However, it was successfully adopted from 1913 onwards for posters and placards in Switzerland. Even today the default size for posters in Swiss advertisements is 905 mm × 1280 mm, i.e. size XIV, but now simply known as Weltformat.

A0a

Although the movement is towards the international standard metric paper sizes, on the way there from the traditional ones there has been at least one new size just a little larger than that used internationally.

British architects and industrial designers once used a size called "Antiquarian", 31 in × 53 in (787 mm × 1,346 mm), as listed above, but given in the New Metric Handbook (Tutt & Adler 1981) as 813 mm × 1,372 mm (32 in × 54 in) for board size. This is a little larger than ISO A0, 841 mm × 1189 mm. So for a short time, a size called A0a of 1,000 mm × 1,370 mm (39.4 in × 53.9 in) was used in Britain, which is actually just a slightly shorter version of ISO B0 at 1414 mm.

Pliego

Colombian metric paper sizes [22]
Size mm × mm inch × inch AR
Pliego data-sort-value="700000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 10∶7
12 pliego data-sort-value="350000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5
14 pliego data-sort-value="175000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 10∶7
18 pliego data-sort-value="87500" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5

The most common paper sizes used for commercial and industrial printing in Colombia are based upon a size referred to as pliego that is ISO B1 (707 mm × 1000 mm) cut to full decimetres. Smaller sizes are derived by halving as usual and just get a vulgar fraction prefix: 12 pliego and 14 pliego.

K

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In East Asia, i.e. Japan, Taiwan, and China in particular, there is a number of similar paper sizes in common use for book-making and other purposes. Confusingly, a single designation is often used with slightly different edge measures: The base sheet is labeled 1K (or 1开, where K stands for Chinese: 开本; pinyin: kāiběn; literally: "folio"; or 1切/1取 in Japanese); all smaller sizes derived by halving have the power of two number, i = 2n, in front of the uppercase letter K. The number in ISO designations, in contrast, is the exponent n that would yield the number of sheets cut from the base sizes.

The sizes of such folios depend on the base sheet. Pre-metric standards include:

  • The imperial 菊判 (kiku-ban), named after the Chrysanthemum watermark on imperial paper, measuring 636mm × 939mm.
  • The four-by-six 四六判 shi-roku-ban (4×6 or 4/6), where the final size at 32K was measured 4 by 6 sun in Japan, c. 121 × 181 mm, or slightly more, 127 or 130 × 188 mm i.e. 4.2 or 4.3 × 6.2 sun.
    • In Taiwan, the traditional base size 1K inherited from Japan is sometimes quoted as measuring 31 × 43 inches exactly, which is off by c. 1 millimeter from the commonly quoted metric base size of 788 × 1091 mm, which is directly derived from 26 × 36 sun or 2.6 × 3.6 shaku.
  • The three-by-five 三五判 (3×5 or 3/5), where the final size at 32K is slightly less than 3 by 5 sun, often given as 84 × 148 mm which would be c. 2.8 × 4.9 sun.

The 4/6 standard has given rise to newer metric book-size standards, including:

  • The modern Japanese size for books, simply labeled B and is specified as 765 × 1085 millimeters. It is not directly related to the similar JIS B series, where B1 is slightly smaller.
  • The Chinese SAC D series.

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Traditional East-Asian Kai or 2nK paper sizes with comparable modern sizes, all in (mm × mm)
4/6 Taiwanese finishes (trimmed 4/6) Japan Kai Japanese finishes JIS B JIS P 0138 SAC
shaku-based inch-based trimmed untrimmed
1K 788 × 1091 787 × 1092 758 × 1060 760 × 1040 N/A N/A N/A 765 × 1085 B1 728 × 1030 D0 764 × 1064 780 × 1080
2K 545 × 788 546 × 787 530 × 758 520 × 760 N/A N/A N/A (542 × 765) B2 515 × 728 D1 532 × 760 540 × 780
4K 394 × 545 394 × 546 379 × 530 380 × 520 N/A N/A N/A (382 × 542) B3 364 × 515 D2 380 × 532 390 × 540
8K 272 × 394 273 × 394 265 × 379 260 × 380 267 × 389 275 × 395 264 × 379 (271 × 382) B4 257 × 364 D3 264 × 376 270 × 390
16K 197 × 272 197 × 273 189 × 265 190 × 260 N/A 198 × 275 189 × 262 (191 × 271) B5 182 × 257 D4 188 × 260 195 × 270
32K 136 × 197 137 × 197 132 × 189 130 × 190 130 × 188 N/A 127 × 188 (135 × 191) B6 128 × 182 D5 130 × 184 135 × 195
64K 98 × 136 98 × 137 94 × 132 95 × 130 N/A N/A N/A N/A B7 91 × 128 D6 92 × 130 97 × 135
128K 68 × 98 66 × 94 65 × 95 N/A N/A N/A N/A B8 64 × 91 N/A (65 × 92) (67 × 97)

North American paper sizes

Inch-based loose sizes

American loose paper sizes[23]
Size inch × inch mm × mm AR
Ledger[24] data-sort-value="187" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 0.65
Tabloid Extra data-sort-value="216" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
European EDP data-sort-value="168" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.17
Tabloid data-sort-value="187" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 17∶11
11 × 15 data-sort-value="165" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.36
Fanfold data-sort-value="163.625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.35
EDP data-sort-value="154" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
11 × 12 data-sort-value="132" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 12∶11
10 × 14 data-sort-value="140" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5
10 × 13 data-sort-value="130" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.3
10 × 11 data-sort-value="110" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 11∶10
Legal Extra data-sort-value="142.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.58
Letter Extra data-sort-value="114" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.26
Letter Tab data-sort-value="99" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 11∶9
Legal data-sort-value="119" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.65
Foolscap Folio data-sort-value="114.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.59
Oficio data-sort-value="113.9" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.58
Government Legal;[25] Foolscap data-sort-value="110.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.53
Letter Plus data-sort-value="107.66666666667" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.49
European Fanfold data-sort-value="102" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). √2∶1
Letter data-sort-value="93.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.29
Quarto data-sort-value="92.083333333333" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
Government Legal data-sort-value="104" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.63
Demitab data-sort-value="84" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.31
Government Letter data-sort-value="80" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶4
Executive data-sort-value="76.125" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.45
7 × 9 data-sort-value="63" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.29
Memo, Statement, Mini, Invoice, Stationery, Half Letter data-sort-value="46.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 17∶11
Junior Legal data-sort-value="40" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 8∶5
5 × 7 data-sort-value="35" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5

The United States, Canada, and the Philippines[1] primarily use a different system of paper sizes from the rest of the world. The current standard sizes are unique to those countries, although due to the size of the North American market and proliferation of both software and printing hardware from the region, other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with these sizes (though not necessarily the paper itself). Some traditional North American inch-based sizes differ from the Imperial British sizes described below.

Common American loose sizes

Letter, Legal and Ledger/Tabloid are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities, and the only ones included in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

The origins of the exact dimensions of Letter size paper are lost in tradition and not well documented. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual papermaking and that the 11-inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's arms."[26] However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio.

Outside of North America, Letter size may also be known as "American Quarto".[27] If one accepts some trimming, the size is indeed one quarter of the old Imperial paper size known as Demy, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value)..[28] Manufacturers of computer printers, however, recognize inch-based Quarto as ​10 56 or 10.83 in (275 mm) long.[23]

Usage and adoption

US paper sizes are currently standard in the United States and are the most commonly used formats at least in the Philippines, most of Mesoamerica[29] and Chile. The latter use US Letter, but their Legal size is 13 inches tall (recognized as Foolscap by printer manufacturers,[23] i.e. one inch shorter than its US equivalent.[30]

Mexico and Colombia, for instance, have adopted the ISO standard, but the US Letter format is still the system in use throughout the country. It is rare to encounter ISO standard papers in day-to-day uses, with Carta (Letter), Oficio (Government-Legal), and Doble carta (Ledger/Tabloid) being nearly universal. Printer manufacturers, however, recognize Oficio as 13.4 in (340 mm) long.[23]

In Canada, select US paper sizes are a de facto standard.

Variant American loose sizes

There is an additional paper size, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value)., to which the name Government-Letter was given by the IEEE Printer Working Group (PWG).[23] It was prescribed by Herbert Hoover when he was Secretary of Commerce to be used for US government forms, apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. In later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of the forms, but the machines did not generally have this size of paper in their bins. Ronald Reagan therefore had the US government switch to regular Letter size, which is half an inch both longer and wider.[26] The former government size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks, for children's writing and the like, a result of trimming from the current Letter dimensions.

By extension of the American standards, the halved Letter size, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value)., meets the needs of many applications. It is variably known as Statement, Stationery, Memo, Half Letter, Half A (from ANSI sizes) or simply Half Size, and as Invoice by printer manufacturers.[23] Like the similar-sized ISO A5, it is used for everything from personal letter writing to official aeronautical maps. Organizers, notepads, and diaries also often use this size of paper; thus 3-ring binders are also available in this size. Booklets of this size are created using word processing tools with landscape printing in two columns on letter paper which are then cut or folded into the final size.

A foot-long sheet with the common width of Letter and (Government) Legal, i.e. Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value)., would have an aspect ratio very close to the square root of two as used by international paper sizes and would actually almost exactly match ISO RA4 (215 mm × 305 mm). This size is sometimes known as European Fanfold.[23]

While Executive refers to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value). in America, the Japanese organization for standardization specified it as 216 mm × 330 mm (8.5 in × 13.0 in), which is elsewhere known as Government Legal or Foolscap.

Standardized American paper sizes

A size chart illustrating the ANSI sizes, superimposed on an "ANSI E" sheet.

In 1996, the American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the de facto standard Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value). Letter size which it assigned "ANSI A", intended for technical drawings, hence sometimes labeled "Engineering". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size and therefore also includes Ledger/Tabloid[24] as "ANSI B". Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary base sides forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. For example, ANSI A is less elongated than A4, while ANSI B is more elongated than A3.

The Canadian standard CAN2 9.60-M76 and its successor CAN/CGSB 9.60-94 "Paper Sizes for Correspondence" specified paper sizes P1 through P6, which are the U.S. paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm.[31] All custom Canadian paper size standards were withdrawn in 2012.[32]

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at a 1:1 reproduction scale.

ANSI and CAN paper sizes
US size inch × inch mm × mm AR Canadian size (mm × mm) Similar size (mm × mm)
N/A CAN P6 107 × 140 ISO A6 105 × 148
N/A CAN P5 140 × 215 ISO A5 148 × 210
ANSI A 8 12 × 11 216 × 279 17:22 CAN P4 215 × 280 ISO A4 210 × 297
ANSI B 11 × 17 279 × 432 11:17 CAN P3 280 × 430 ISO A3 297 × 420
ANSI C 17 × 22 432 × 559 17:22 CAN P2 430 × 560 ISO A2 420 × 594
ANSI D 22 × 34 559 × 864 11:17 CAN P1 560 × 860 ISO A1 594 × 841
ANSI E 34 × 44 864 × 1118 17:22 N/A ISO A0 841 × 1187

Other, informal, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios. For example, Engineering F size is 28 in × 40 in or 711 mm × 1,016 mm with ca. 1.4286:1; it is commonly required for NAVFAC drawings, but is generally less commonly used. Engineering G size is Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value). high, but it is a roll format with a variable width up to 90 in (2.3 m) in increments of Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value).. Engineering H through N sizes are also roll formats.

Such huge sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, automotive parts, wiring harnesses, and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

Architectural sizes

A size chart illustrating the Architectural sizes.

In addition to the system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes defined in the same standard, ANSI/ASME Y14.1, which is usually abbreviated "Arch". This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios. It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays.

The size Arch E1 has a different aspect ratio because it derives from adding 6 inches to each side of Arch D or subtracting the same amount from Arch E. Printer manufacturer recognize it as wide-format.[23] An intermediate size between Arch C and D with a long side of 30 inches (760 mm) does not exist.

US architectural standard paper sizes[33]
Names inch × inch mm × mm AR
Arch A Arch 1 data-sort-value="108" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
Arch B Arch 2 data-sort-value="216" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
Arch C Arch 3 data-sort-value="432" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
Arch D Arch 4 data-sort-value="864" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
Arch E1 Arch 5 data-sort-value="1260" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5
Arch E2[23] data-sort-value="988" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.46
Arch E3[23] data-sort-value="1053" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 13∶9
Arch E Arch 6 data-sort-value="1728" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3

Demitab

The demitab or demi-tab (from the French "demi" for half tabloid) is Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value)., i.e. roughly one half of a sheet of 11 in × 17 in (279 mm × 432 mm) tabloid-size paper.[34]

"Demitab", "broadsheet" or "tabloid" format newspapers are not necessarily printed on paper measuring exactly their nominal size.

Notebook sizes

The sizes listed above are for paper sold loose in reams. There are many sizes of tablets of paper, that is, sheets of paper bound at one edge, usually by a strip of plastic or hardened PVA adhesive. Often there is a pad of cardboard (also known as paperboard or greyboard) at the bottom of the stack. Such a tablet serves as a portable writing surface, and the sheets often have lines printed on them, usually in non-repro blue, to make writing in a line easier. An older means of binding is to have the sheets stapled to the cardboard along the top of the tablet; there is a line of perforated holes across every page just below the top edge from which any page may be torn off. Lastly, a pad of sheets each weakly stuck with adhesive to the sheet below, trademarked as "Post-It" or "Stick-Em" and available in various sizes, serve as a sort of tablet.

"Letter pads" are Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value)., while the term "legal pad" is often used by laymen to refer to pads of various sizes including those of Lua error in Module:Convert at line 452: attempt to index field 'titles' (a nil value).. Stenographers use "steno pads" of 6 in × 9 in (150 mm × 230 mm).

Envelope sizes

US envelopes[23]
Name inch × inch mm × mm AR
Personal data-sort-value="23.5625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.79
Monarch data-sort-value="29.0625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.94
A2 data-sort-value="25.15625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.31
#9 data-sort-value="34.390625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.29
#10, Commercial data-sort-value="39.1875" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.3
#11 data-sort-value="46.6875" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.31
#12 data-sort-value="52.25" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.32
#14 data-sort-value="57.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 2.3
US Postal Service size limitations, height × width × thickness[35]
Mail piece inch × inch × inch mm × mm × mm
Minimum Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Postcard maximum Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Letter maximum Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Flat-size maximum Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).

This implies that all postcards have an aspect ratio in the range from 20∶17 = 1.18 to 12∶7 = 1.71, but the machinable aspect ratio is further restricted to a minimum of 1.30. The only ISO 216 size in the US postcard range is A6. The theoretical maximum aspect ratio for enveloped letters is 23∶7 = 3.29, but is explicitly limited to 2.50.

Personal organizer sizes

US personal organizers
Company Name inch × inch mm × mm Holes
Filofax[36] M2 data-sort-value="10" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3 holes
Mini data-sort-value="10.828125" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5 holes
Pocket data-sort-value="15.041666666667" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 6 holes
Personal, Slimline data-sort-value="25.3125" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 6 holes
A5 (​5 1316 × ​8 932 148 × 210 6 holes
Deskfax (B5) (​6 1516 × ​9 2732) 176 × 250 9 holes
A4 (​8 932 × ​11 1116) 210 × 297 4 holes
Franklin Planner[37] Micro (​18-Letter) data-sort-value="11.15625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Pocket data-sort-value="21" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Compact data-sort-value="28.6875" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Classic (​12-Letter) data-sort-value="46.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Monarch (Letter) data-sort-value="93.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Jeppesen Aeronautical Chart (​12-Letter) data-sort-value="46.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7 holes; FAA: 3 holes at top

Index card sizes

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

US index cards
inch × inch mm × mm AR
data-sort-value="15" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶3
data-sort-value="24" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
data-sort-value="40" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 8∶5
data-sort-value="48" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3

Photography sizes

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

US photographic paper sizes
Name inch × inch mm × mm AR
2R data-sort-value="8.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5
- data-sort-value="15" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶3
LD, DSC data-sort-value="16.333333333333" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
3R, L data-sort-value="17.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 10∶7
LW data-sort-value="18.375" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
KGD data-sort-value="21.333333333333" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
4R, KG data-sort-value="24" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
2LD, DSCW data-sort-value="33.333333333333" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
5R, 2L data-sort-value="35" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 7∶5
2LW data-sort-value="37.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
6R data-sort-value="48" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 4∶3
8R, 6P data-sort-value="80" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶4
S8R, 6PW data-sort-value="96" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 3∶2
11R data-sort-value="154" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
A3+, Super B data-sort-value="247" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.46

Grain

Most industry standards express the direction of the grain last when giving dimensions (that is, 17 × 11 inches is short grain paper and 11 × 17 inches is long grain paper), although alternatively the grain alignment can be explicitly indicated with an underline (11 × 17 is a short grain) or the letter "M" for "machine" (11M × 17 is a short grain). Grain is important because the paper will crack if folded across the grain: for example, if a sheet 17 × 11 inches is to be folded to divide the sheet into two 8.5 × 11 halves, then the grain will be along the 11-inch side.[38] Paper intended to be fed into a machine that will bend the paper around rollers, such as a printing press, photocopier or typewriter, should be fed grain edge first so that the axis of the rollers is along the grain.

Traditional inch-based paper sizes

File:Paper size - US system.svg
Traditional and standardized paper formats still relevant in the US

Traditionally, a number of different sizes were defined for large sheets of paper, and paper sizes were defined by the sheet name and the number of times it had been folded. Thus a full sheet of "royal" paper was 25 × 20 inches, and "royal octavo" was this size folded three times, so as to make eight sheets, and was thus 10 × ​6 14 inches. Royal sizes were used for posters and billboards.

Common divisions and their abbreviations
Name Abbr. Folds Leaves Pages
Folio fo, f 1 2 4
Quarto 4to 2 4 8
Sexto, sixmo 6to, 6mo 3 6 12
Octavo 8vo 3 8 16
Duodecimo, twelvemo 12mo 4 12 24
Sextodecimo, sixteenmo 16mo 4 16 32

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Imperial sizes were used in the United Kingdom and its territories and some survived in US book printing.

Imperial paper sizes
Name Variant inch × inch mm × mm AR
Emperor UK data-sort-value="3456" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.5
Quad Royal US data-sort-value="2000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.25
Quad Demy US data-sort-value="1575" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2857
Antiquarian UK data-sort-value="1643" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.7097
Grand Eagle UK data-sort-value="1207.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.4609
Double Elephant UK data-sort-value="1070" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.4984
Atlas UK data-sort-value="884" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.3077
Double Royal US data-sort-value="1000" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.6
Colombier UK data-sort-value="810.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.4681
Double Demy UK data-sort-value="798.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.57
US data-sort-value="787.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.5
Imperial UK data-sort-value="660" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.3636
Double Large Post UK data-sort-value="693" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.5713
Elephant both data-sort-value="644" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2174
Princess UK data-sort-value="630" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.3023
Cartridge UK data-sort-value="546" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2381
Royal both data-sort-value="500" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.25
Sheet, Half Post UK data-sort-value="458.25" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2051
Double Post UK data-sort-value="579.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.6052
Super Royal UK data-sort-value="513" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.4203
Broadsheet US data-sort-value="432" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.3
Medium UK data-sort-value="402.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2425
US data-sort-value="414" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
Demy both data-sort-value="393.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2857
Copy Draught UK data-sort-value="320" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.25
Large Post UK data-sort-value="310" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2903
US data-sort-value="346.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
Post UK data-sort-value="298.375" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2419
US data-sort-value="302.25" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2581
Crown both data-sort-value="300" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.3
Pinched Post UK data-sort-value="272.875" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2533
Foolscap UK data-sort-value="208" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2303
US data-sort-value="229.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2595
Foolscap Folio UK data-sort-value="104" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.6256
US data-sort-value="114.75" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.5880
Small Foolscap UK data-sort-value="218.625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2453
Brief UK data-sort-value="216" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.1852
Pott UK data-sort-value="187.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2
Quarto US data-sort-value="99" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.2
Executive, Monarch US data-sort-value="76.125" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.4483

Traditional British paper sizes

Traditional British paper sizes are referred to by the number of sheets that can be cut from a sheet of uncut paper.[39] The standard Imperial uncut paper sizes are "foolscap", "post", and "copy". Each uncut sheet can then be halved into folios, quartered into quartos, or eighthed into octavos.

British Imperial paper sizes[40][not in citation given][41]
Name inch × inch mm × mm AR
Foolscap data-sort-value="218.625" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶4
Foolscap Folio (Folio) data-sort-value="104" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.63
Foolscap Quarto (Kings) data-sort-value="52" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.23
Foolscap Octavo data-sort-value="26" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.63
Post data-sort-value="285" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.27
Post Folio data-sort-value="142.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.58
Post Quarto (Imperial) data-sort-value="63" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 1.29
Post Octavo data-sort-value="31.5" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 14∶9
Copy data-sort-value="320" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶4
Copy Folio data-sort-value="160" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 8∶5
Copy Quarto (Quarto) data-sort-value="80" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 5∶4
Copy Octavo data-sort-value="40" Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). 8∶5

Foolscap folio and quarto are similar in size to the modern A4 and A5 papers, with the latter in particular often being used for letter-writing and referred to a Kings paper.

Traditional French paper sizes

Before the adoption of the ISO standard system in 1967, France had its own paper size system. Raisin format is still in use today for artistic paper. All are standardized by the AFNOR.[42] Their names come from the watermarks that the papers were branded with when they were handcrafted, which is still the case for certain art papers. They also generally exist in double versions where the smallest measure is multiplied by two, or in quadruple versions where both measures have been doubled.

AFNOR paper sizes
Name Format (cm × cm) Use
Cloche 30 × 40
Pot, écolier 31 × 40
Tellière 34 × 44 old French administration
Couronne écriture 36 × 46
Couronne édition 37 × 47
Roberto 39 × 50 anatomic drawing
Écu 40 × 52
Coquille 44 × 56
Carré 45 × 56
Cavalier 46 × 62
Demi-raisin 32,5 × 50 drawing
Raisin 50 × 65 drawing
Double raisin 65 × 100
Jésus 56 × 76 Atlas des sentiers et chemins vicinaux
Soleil 60 × 80
Colombier affiche 60 × 80
Colombier commercial 63 × 90
Petit Aigle 70 × 94
Grand Aigle 75 × 105 Plans cadastraux primitifs
(Napoleonic land registry)
75 × 106[43]
75 × 110[44]
Grand Monde 90 × 126
Univers 100 × 130

Business card sizes

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Common business card sizes
Origin mm × mm inch × inch AR
A8 74 × 52 2 1516 × ​2 116 √2
B8 88 × 62 3 49 × ​2 49 √2
C8 81 × 57 3 316 × ​2 14 √2
Iranian 85 × 48 3 13 × ​1 89 1.771
Western Europe 85 × 55 3 13 × ​2 16 17∶11
International 86 × 54 3 38 × ​2 18 27∶17
North America 89 × 51 3 12 × 2 7∶4
Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, South America 90 × 50 3 916 × 2 9∶5
East Asia 90 × 54 3 916 × ​2 18 5∶3
Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, Oceania 90 × 55 3 916 × ​2 16 18∶11
Japan 91 × 55 3 712 × ​2 16 1.654

The international business card has the size of the smallest rectangle containing a credit card rounded to full millimeters, but in Western Europe, it is rounded to half centimeters (rounded up in Northern Europe), in Eastern Europe to full centimeters, in North America to half inches. However, credit card size, as defined in ISO/IEC 7810, also specifies rounded corners and thickness.

Newspaper sizes

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File:Comparison newspaper size.svg
Comparison of some newspaper sizes with metric paper sizes. Approximate nominal dimensions are in millimetres.

Newspapers have a separate set of sizes.

In a recent trend[45] many newspapers have been undergoing what is known as "web cut down", in which the publication is redesigned to print using a narrower (and less expensive) roll of paper. In extreme examples, some broadsheet papers are nearly as narrow as traditional tabloids.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuela according to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., which is a data collection used by almost all software manufacturers.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.(subscription required)
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (NB. Withdrawn 1 March 2012.)
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. 23.00 23.01 23.02 23.03 23.04 23.05 23.06 23.07 23.08 23.09 23.10 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Alt URL
  24. 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[better source needed]
  25. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Canadian custom paper size standards
    Number Title Original CAN2 release CAN/CGSB replacement Withdrawal
    9.60 Paper Sizes for Correspondence 1976-04 1994-07 2012-04
    9.61 Paper Sizes for Printing 1976-04 1994-07
    9.62 Paper Sizes for Single Part Continuous Business Forms 1981-12 1994-07
    9.64 Drawing Sheet Sizes 1979-04 1994-07
    200.2 Common Image Area for Paper Sizes P4 and A4 1979-04 2012-03
  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at sizes.com
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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Further reading

External links