Paper sizes
Have you ever heard the terms A4, A3 or A5? Have you wondered what do they really mean when talking about printed papers? In most cases you have more than likely heard of A5 or Tabloid, but for many, the only two page sizes that they use almost daily are A4 or Letter. But there exist a number of paper sizes that are relevant to our everyday lives, and knowing them can save you time and money when ordering printed papers.
There are a variety of paper sizes used in different countries but the international standard paper size used are the A size, B size and C size paper series.
The A size are the most commonly used paper sizes for printing and copying, the B size on the other hand where created to cover the paper sizes that were not covered in the A series. And the C size are mostly envelop sizes.
The A size:
The dimensions of the A series paper sizes, as defined by the international standard, are given in the table below in both millimeters and inches (cm measurements can be obtained by dividing mm value by 10).
A series size papers starts from A0 to A10, listed are some common ‘A’ series paper sizes:
Table of Paper Sizes from 4A0 to A10
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
| A0 | 841 x 1189 mm | 33.1 x 46.8 in |
| A1 | 594 x 841 mm | 23.4 x 33.1 in |
| A2 | 420 x 594 mm | 16.5 x 23.4 in |
| A3 | 297 x 420 mm | 11.7 x 16.5 in |
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | 8.3 x 11.7 in |
| A5 | 148 x 210 mm | 5.8 x 8.3 in |
| A6 | 105 x 148 mm | 4.1 x 5.8 in |
| A7 | 74 x 105 mm | 2.9 x 4.1 in |
| A8 | 52 x 74 mm | 2.0 x 2.9 in |
| A9 | 37 x 52 mm | 1.5 x 2.0 in |
| A10 | 26 x 37 mm | 1.0 x 1.5 in |
The A Series paper size chart, below gives a visual representation of how the sizes relate to each other – for example A5 is half of A4 size paper and A2 is half of A1 size paper.
The B size:
The B series paper sizes were created in order to provide paper sizes that weren’t covered by the A series. The table below provides the B series paper sizes in both millimeters and inches.
B series size papers starts from B0 to B10, listed below are the common‘B’ series paper sizes:
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
| B0 | 1000 x 1414 mm | 39.4 x 55.7 in |
| B1 | 707 x 1000 mm | 27.8 x 39.4 in |
| B2 | 500 x 707 mm | 19.7 x 27.8 in |
| B3 | 353 x 500 mm | 13.9 x 19.7 in |
| B4 | 250 x 353 mm | 9.8 x 13.9 in |
| B5 | 176 x 250 mm | 6.9 x 9.8 in |
| B6 | 125 x 176 mm | 4.9 x 6.9 in |
| B7 | 88 x 125 mm | 3.5 x 4.9 in |
| B8 | 62 x 88 mm | 2.4 x 3.5 in |
| B9 | 44 x 62 mm | 1.7 x 2.4 in |
| B10 | 31 x 44 mm | 1.2 x 1.7 in |
The C size:
The C series envelop sizes starts from C0 to C10, listed below are the common ‘C’ series paper sizes:
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
| C0 | 917 x 1297 mm | 36.1 x 51.5 in |
| C1 | 648 x 917 mm | 25.5 x 36.1 in |
| C2 | 458 x 648 mm | 18.0 x 25.5 in |
| C3 | 324 x 458 mm | 12.8 x 18.0 in |
| C4 | 229 x 324 mm | 9.0 x 12.8 in |
| C5 | 162 x 229 mm | 6.4 x 9.0 in |
| C6 | 114 x 162 mm | 4.5 x 6.4 in |
| C7 | 81 x 114 mm | 3.2 x 4.5 in |
| C8 | 57 x 81 mm | 2.2 x 3.2 in |
| C9 | 40 x 57 mm | 1.6 x 2.2 in |
| C10 | 28 x 40 mm | 1.1 x 1.6 in |
One of the most widely used business envelopes, the DL format does not fall under the C series sizes as it has a different aspect ratio. DL is more commonly expanded to ‘Dimension Lengthwise’. This size is defined in the international standards for envelope sizes, as the standard would have been remiss in omitting the most commonly used business envelope size.
The dimensions of DL are 110 x 220 mm (4⅓” x 8⅔”) and as such the DL envelope will hold an A4 sheet of paper folded into 3 equal sections parallel to its shortest sides.
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