If you are confused about paper size while taking prints for different types of documents such as your identity cards, educational documents, official prints, and others, and initially you get confused while using printers.
Paper sizes:
| Paper Size | Dimensions (mm) | Dimensions (inches) | Common Usage | Common Printers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Posters, large-format drawings, charts | Large-format printers |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Diagrams, large-format prints | Large-format printers |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Posters, drawings | Large-format printers |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Diagrams, drawings | A3 laser/inkjet printers |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Standard document printing (letters, forms, reports) | Most common home and office printers |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.8 x 8.3 | Notebooks, booklets, diaries | Many standard printers |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | 4.1 x 5.8 | Postcards, invitation cards | Various printers (smaller sizes) |
| A7 – A10 | Smaller sizes | Smaller sizes | Less common for printing purposes | Varies by size |
| B Series | Various sizes | Various sizes | Posters, books, envelopes | Varies by size |
| Letter | 216 x 279 | 8.5 x 11 | Standard document printing in North America | Most common home and office printers in the U.S. and Canada |
| Legal | 216 x 356 | 8.5 x 14 | Legal documents | Many office printers |
| Tabloid/Ledger | 279 x 432 | 11 x 17 | Newspapers, large diagrams, posters | Large-format printers, some office printers |
| Photo Sizes | Various sizes | Various sizes | Photos and prints | Many home printers (especially photo printers) |
Paper sizes are organized based on the A and B series, and the larger the number after ‘A,’
- A Series (ISO Standard):
- A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
- A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches)
- A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
- A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 inches)
- Usage: Posters, diagrams, large-format drawings, charts.
- Printers: Large-format printers, A3 laser/inkjet printers.
- A4: 210 x 297 mm (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
- Usage: Standard document printing (letters, forms, reports).
- Printers: Most common home and office printers.
- A5: 148 x 210 mm (5.8 x 8.3 inches)
- Usage: Notebooks, diaries, booklets.
- Printers: Many standard printers can handle A5 if adjusted correctly.
- A6: 105 x 148 mm (4.1 x 5.8 inches)
- Usage: Postcards, invitation cards.
- A7 – A10: These decrease incrementally in size, but are less common for printing purposes.
- B Series (ISO Standard):
- Used for a variety of purposes, including posters, books, and envelopes. For example, B4 and B5 sizes are frequently used for books.
- Letter: 216 x 279 mm (8.5 x 11 inches)
- Usage: Standard document printing in North America.
- Printers: Most common home and office printers in the U.S. and Canada.
- Legal: 216 x 356 mm (8.5 x 14 inches)
- Usage: Legal documents.
- Printers: Many office printers support legal size.
- Tabloid/ Ledger: 279 x 432 mm (11 x 17 inches)
- Usage: Newspapers, large diagrams, and posters.
- Printers: Large-format printers, some office printers.
- Photo Sizes:
- 4×6 inches: Standard photo size.
- 5×7 inches: Slightly larger, often used for portraits.
- 8×10 inches: Larger photos or prints.
- Printers: Many home printers support these sizes, especially photo printers.
Compatibility:
- Inkjet Printers: Commonly support a variety of sizes, from small photo sizes up to A3 or larger.
- Laser Printers: Common for office environments; most handle up to A4 or legal size, but there are A3 laser printers for larger prints.
- Large Format Printers: Designed for posters, banners, and other large prints, typically supporting A2, A1, A0, or even larger sizes.
Understands the Paper sizes (Printer Paper Size)
People often ask questions like, “Which is bigger: A3 or A4?”, “What are the dimensions of A3, A4, and A5 paper sizes?”, “How large is A3-sized paper?”, “Which is larger: A1 or A2?”, and “Is A1 bigger than A3?”. Let’s clarify which paper sizes are larger and which are smaller.
- A0: The base size, which has an area of 1 square meter. Dimensions are 841 x 1189 mm.
- A1: If you cut an A0 in half, you get two A1 sheets. Dimensions are 594 x 841 mm.
- A2: Cut an A1 in half, and you get an A2. Dimensions are 420 x 594 mm.
- A3: Halve an A2 to get A3. Dimensions are 297 x 420 mm.
- A4: When you cut an A3 in half, you get the well-known A4 size, which is commonly used for letters, documents, and standard printing. Dimensions are 210 x 297 mm.
- A5: Cut an A4 in half to get A5. Dimensions are 148 x 210 mm.
… and the sequence continues down to A10 and smaller, though sizes below A5 are less commonly used for standard print tasks.
So, following this sequence:
- A4 is bigger than A5.
- A5 is bigger than A6.
- A6 is bigger than A7. … and so on.
To reiterate, the higher the number after the ‘A’, the smaller the paper size.
Verdict
In this article, we have written and provided detailed information about paper sizes. You may be confused about paper sizes, especially when taking prints as a beginner; that’s why we have written about the printing paper size. If you’re interested in purchasing a printer, you can refer to the dedicated article linked below.
