US Paper Sizes: Letter, Legal, Tabloid & More (vs International)
US Letter paper measures 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 mm) and is the standard paper size for printing, office documents, and correspondence in the United States and Canada. At 300 DPI, a Letter sheet is 2,550 x 3,300 pixels. The other common US sizes are Legal (8.5 x 14 in), Tabloid (11 x 17 in), and Executive (7.25 x 10.5 in). None of these sizes belong to the ISO 216 standard used by the rest of the world.
US Standard Paper Sizes
The table below lists every common US paper size with dimensions in inches, millimeters, and pixels at 300 DPI.
| Size | Inches | Millimeters | Pixels @300 DPI | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5 x 11 | 216 x 279 | 2,550 x 3,300 | General office printing, business letters, forms |
| Legal | 8.5 x 14 | 216 x 356 | 2,550 x 4,200 | Legal documents, contracts, agreements |
| Tabloid | 11 x 17 | 279 x 432 | 3,300 x 5,100 | Small newspapers, large spreadsheets, brochures |
| Ledger | 17 x 11 | 432 x 279 | 5,100 x 3,300 | Ledger sheets, accounting, landscape spreadsheets |
| Executive | 7.25 x 10.5 | 184 x 267 | 2,175 x 3,150 | Memos, executive stationery |
| Half Letter | 5.5 x 8.5 | 140 x 216 | 1,650 x 2,550 | Booklets, planners, notepads |
| Junior Legal | 5 x 8 | 127 x 203 | 1,500 x 2,400 | Junior legal pads, small notepads |
Letter dominates everyday printing. It is the default page size in US versions of Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and virtually every printer driver sold in North America. Legal is the second most common size and is required or preferred for many legal filings, contracts, and government forms because the extra three inches of length accommodates additional clauses and signature blocks. Tabloid/Ledger is used when Letter is too small — for detailed spreadsheets, small-format newspapers, folded brochures, and architectural sketches.
ANSI Paper Sizes (ANSI/ASME Y14.1)
The American National Standards Institute formalized US technical drawing sizes in the ANSI/ASME Y14.1 standard. The ANSI series starts at ANSI A (which is identical to Letter) and scales up for engineering, architectural, and large-format printing.
| ANSI Size | Inches | Millimeters | Ratio to Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANSI A (Letter) | 8.5 x 11 | 216 x 279 | — |
| ANSI B (Tabloid) | 11 x 17 | 279 x 432 | 2x area of A |
| ANSI C | 17 x 22 | 432 x 559 | 2x area of B |
| ANSI D | 22 x 34 | 559 x 864 | 2x area of C |
| ANSI E | 34 x 44 | 864 x 1,118 | 2x area of D |
Each ANSI size roughly doubles the area of the one below it by rotating and scaling. However, unlike the ISO A series, the aspect ratios are not constant. ANSI A has an aspect ratio of approximately 1:1.294, while ANSI B through E alternate between approximately 1:1.545 and 1:1.545. This inconsistency means that scaling between ANSI sizes does not preserve proportions the way ISO A-series scaling does.
ANSI C, D, and E are primarily used for engineering drawings, blueprints, architectural plans, and large-format technical documents. They require wide-format printers or plotters. ANSI D (22 x 34 in) is the most common size for full-size construction drawings in the United States.
US Sizes vs ISO International Sizes
Most of the world uses the ISO 216 paper size system, where A4 (210 x 297 mm) is the everyday standard. The table below compares common US sizes with their closest ISO equivalents.
| US Size | US Dimensions (in) | US Dimensions (mm) | Closest ISO Size | ISO Dimensions (mm) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5 x 11 | 216 x 279 | A4 | 210 x 297 | Letter is 6 mm wider, 18 mm shorter |
| Legal | 8.5 x 14 | 216 x 356 | A4 (closest standard) | 210 x 297 | Legal is 6 mm wider, 59 mm longer |
| Tabloid | 11 x 17 | 279 x 432 | A3 | 297 x 420 | Tabloid is 18 mm narrower, 12 mm longer |
| Ledger | 17 x 11 | 432 x 279 | A3 | 420 x 297 | Ledger is 12 mm wider, 18 mm shorter |
| Executive | 7.25 x 10.5 | 184 x 267 | B5 (ISO) | 176 x 250 | Executive is 8 mm wider, 17 mm taller |
The key comparison is Letter vs A4. A4 is narrower by 6 mm but taller by 18 mm. This difference causes problems when exchanging documents internationally: content formatted for Letter may have its bottom cropped on A4, while A4 documents printed on Letter may lose content on the sides or bottom depending on margins.
Practical Impact of the Size Difference
When you receive a PDF designed for A4 and print it on US Letter paper, the printer either clips the bottom 18 mm or scales the entire document down to approximately 94% to fit. Conversely, Letter documents printed on A4 leave a larger bottom margin. For international correspondence, setting your document margins to at least 20 mm on all sides ensures content prints correctly on both Letter and A4.
Why the US Uses Different Paper Sizes
The origins of US paper sizes predate the ISO standard by over a century. American paper mills in the late 18th and early 19th centuries settled on 17 x 22 inches as a common base sheet size, likely derived from the dimensions of hand-operated paper molds. Cutting this sheet in half produced 8.5 x 11 inches — the Letter size still used today. The 8.5 x 14 Legal size similarly traces back to traditional foolscap paper dimensions.
The ISO 216 standard, adopted internationally beginning in 1975, is based on a German DIN standard from 1922. It uses a mathematically elegant system where each size has a 1:sqrt(2) aspect ratio, so folding a sheet in half always produces the next smaller size with the same proportions. The United States, along with Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and a few other countries, never adopted ISO 216 as the national default, largely due to the massive installed base of equipment, templates, and filing systems built around Letter and Legal sizes.
Several US government agencies have periodically used ISO sizes for specific applications. ANSI/ASME Y14.1M provides ISO-compatible technical drawing sizes, and some federal procurement standards reference A4. However, Letter remains the overwhelming default for all commercial and consumer printing in the United States.
Which US Paper Size Should You Use?
Choosing the right paper size depends on the document type:
- Letter (8.5 x 11) — Default for nearly everything: business letters, resumes, reports, homework, forms, and everyday printing. Unless you have a specific reason to use another size, use Letter.
- Legal (8.5 x 14) — Required for many legal filings, wills, contracts, and some government forms. Check your jurisdiction’s filing requirements before using Legal for legal documents, as some courts now accept or prefer Letter.
- Tabloid (11 x 17) — Ideal for bi-fold brochures (folds to Letter size), small posters, detailed spreadsheets, newsletters, and any document that needs more space than Letter provides without jumping to poster size.
- Executive (7.25 x 10.5) — Used for executive letterhead, formal memos, and personal stationery. Less common today but still available from specialty paper suppliers.
- ANSI C through E — Engineering drawings, architectural plans, construction documents, and large-format technical prints. Requires a wide-format printer or plotter.
Printer and Software Compatibility
All US-sold inkjet and laser printers support Letter as the default tray size. Most also support Legal, though some consumer models require manual feed. Tabloid printing requires a wide-format printer (typically marketed as 11 x 17 or A3+ capable). ANSI C and larger require dedicated plotters.
When creating documents in software, verify the page size setting matches your intended paper:
- Microsoft Word / Google Docs: File > Page Setup > Paper Size
- Adobe InDesign / Illustrator: File > Document Setup or File > New
- PDF export: Ensure the PDF page size matches the target paper, especially when sharing documents internationally
For best results when printing documents that will be shared across US and international offices, set margins to at least 20 mm (0.79 in) on all sides. This creates a safe printable area that fits on both Letter and A4 without clipping.
Related Guides
- A-Series Paper Sizes (A0-A10) — Complete ISO A-series reference
- Letter vs A4: Detailed Comparison — Side-by-side differences and compatibility tips
- Envelope Sizes Guide — US and international envelope dimensions
- Business Card Sizes — Standard business card dimensions by country
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard US paper size?
The standard US paper size is Letter, measuring 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 mm). It is the default for printers, business documents, and everyday printing in the United States and Canada.
What is the difference between Letter and A4 paper?
US Letter is 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 mm) while ISO A4 is 8.27 x 11.69 inches (210 x 297 mm). A4 is slightly narrower and taller. Letter is used in the US and Canada; A4 is the standard in most other countries.
What is the difference between Tabloid and Ledger paper?
Tabloid and Ledger are the same sheet of paper (11 x 17 inches) in different orientations. Tabloid is portrait (11 wide x 17 tall) and Ledger is landscape (17 wide x 11 tall). In the ANSI system, this size is designated ANSI B.
What are ANSI paper sizes?
ANSI paper sizes are a series of standard sizes defined by ANSI/ASME Y14.1. The series runs from ANSI A (Letter, 8.5 x 11 in) through ANSI E (34 x 44 in), with each size roughly doubling the area of the previous one. They are used primarily for technical drawings and engineering prints.
Can I print A4 documents on Letter paper?
Yes. Most printers and PDF readers offer a 'Fit to Page' or 'Shrink to Printable Area' option that scales A4 content to fit Letter paper. Because A4 is taller and narrower, slight cropping or scaling occurs. For critical layouts, adjust the document's page size before printing.