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A-series paper sizes

Dimensions Of A Series Paper Sizes

The dimensions of the A series paper sizes, as defined by the ISO 216 standard, are given in the table below the diagram in both millimetres and inches (cm measurements can be obtained by dividing mm value by 10). The A Series paper size chart, below left, 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.

A series paper size 1

A series paper size 2

A Series Paper Sizes Chart.

Table of Paper Sizes From 4A0 to A10

Size Width x Height (mm) Width x Height (in)
4A0 1682 × 2378 mm 66.2 × 93.6 in
2A0 1189 × 1682 mm 46.8 × 66.2 in
A0 841 × 1189 mm 33.1 × 46.8 in
A1 594 × 841 mm 23.4 × 33.1 in
A2 420 × 594 mm 16.5 × 23.4 in
A3 297 × 420 mm 11.7 × 16.5 in
A4 210 × 297 mm 8.3 × 11.7 in
A5 148 × 210 mm 5.8 × 8.3 in
A6 105 × 148 mm 4.1 × 5.8 in
A7 74 × 105 mm 2.9 × 4.1 in
A8 52 × 74 mm 2.0 × 2.9 in
A9 37 × 52 mm 1.5 × 2.0 in
A10 26 × 37 mm 1.0 × 1.5 in

To obtain paper sizes in centimetres, convert mm values to cm by dividing by 10 and in feet by dividing inch values by 12. More units here and sizes in pixels here.

4A0 & 2A0 – The DIN 476 Oversize Formats

The paper sizes bigger than A0, 4A0 & 2A0, aren’t formally defined by ISO 216 but are commonly used for oversized paper. The origin of these formats is in the German DIN 476 standard, that was the original base document from which ISO 216 was derived. 2A0 is sometimes described as A00, however this naming convention is not used for 4A0.

A Series Paper Size Tolerances

ISO 216 specifies tolerances for the production of A series paper sizes as follows:

  • ±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)
  • ±3 mm (0.12 in) for any dimension above 600 mm (23.6 in)

A Series Paper Sizes Defined

The A series paper sizes are defined in ISO 216 by the following requirements:

  • The length divided by the width is 1.4142
  • The A0 size has an area of 1 square metre.
  • Each subsequent size A(n) is defined as A(n-1) cut in half parallel to its shorter sides.
  • The standard length and width of each size is rounded to the nearest millimetre.

Note: For reference the last item is there because the root 2 aspect ratio doesn’t always give a whole number.

For more information about A paper size areas and areas of sizes other than A0 in square metres and square feet click here.

International Usage

The A series paper sizes are now in common use throughout the world apart from in the US, Canada and parts of Mexico. The A4 size has become the standard business letter size in English speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK, that formerly used British Imperial sizes. In Europe the A paper sizes were adopted as the formal standard in the mid 20th century and from there they spread across the globe.

RA & SRA Untrimmed Sizes

RA & SRA sizes define untrimmed paper for commercial printing. These formats are designed to allow for ink bleed during the printing process so that the paper can then be trimmed to one of the A series sizes. Click here for more on RA & SRA sizes.

A3+ (Super A3)

A3 Plus, or Super A3 as it is sometimes known, is not an ISO 216 paper size. It has dimensions of 330mm x 483mm (13″ x 19″). This gives it an aspect ratio of 1:1.468 rather than the 1:root 2 aspect ratio of the ISO series paper sizes. In actuality the A3+/Super A3 name is quite misleading as this paper size is known as B+ or Super B in the United States and is ANSI B with a 1″ margin for print bleed.

Source: A Paper Sizes – A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10

A3 Paper Size Information

Dimensions

  • A3 dimensions in millimetres are 297mm x 420mm.
  • A3 dimensions in inches are 11.7in x 16.5in.
  • A3 area in square metres is 0.12474m2
  • A3 area in square millimetres is 124740mm2
  • A3 area in square feet is 1.34269ft2
  • A3 area in square inches is 193.347387in2

Aspect Ratio

  • The aspect ratio (width:height) of A3 paper is 1:1.4142 (1:√2).

Comparison With Other ISO 216 Sizes

  • A3 is one eighth of the size of A0.
  • A3 is one quarter of the size of A1.
  • A3 is half of the size of A2, having the width of A2 as its height in portrait orientation.
  • A3 is twice the size of A4, having the height of A4 as its width in portrait orientation.
  • A3 is four times the size of A5
  • A3 is eight times the size of A6.
  • A3 is sizteen times the size of A7.
  • A3 is thirty two times the size of A8.
  • A3 is sixty four times the size of A9.
  • A3 is one hundred and twenty eight times the size of A10.

Comparison With Non ISO 216 Sizes (Including US Sizes)

  • A3 is the closest ISO 216 paper size to US Ledger, Tabloid and ANSI B being 0.5in shorter and 0.7in wider in portrait format. It is about twice the size of US Letter and Legal paper.

Weight of A3 Sheets

  • A sheet of 80gsm A3 paper weighs 10 grams (0.35274 ounces).
  • A sheet of 100gsm A3 paper weighs 12.5 grams (0.44092 ounces).
  • A sheet of 160gsm A3 card weighs 20 grams (0.70548 ounces).

More details on paper weights, including a calculator for all grammages here.

Envelopes For A3 Paper

  • A C3 envelope will take an unfolded sheet of A3 paper.
  • A sheet of A3 paper folded in half by placing the two narrow sides together will fit into a C4 envelope.
  • A sheet of A3 paper folded into quarters will fit into a C5 envelope.

Full information on ISO 216 envelope sizes here.

Untrimmed Sizes To Allow For Print Bleed

  • RA3 (Raw format A3) is 105% of the size of A3, thus 305 × 430 mm, (12.0″ x 16.9″)
  • SRA3 (Supplementary raw format A3) is 115% of the size of A3, thus 320 × 450 mm (12.6″ x 17.7″).

More information on raw format and supplementary raw format here.

Magnification Factors For Reprographics & Photocopying

  • Enlarge A3 to A0 using a scale factor of 283%.
  • Enlarge A3 to A1 using a scale factor of 200%.
  • Enlarge A3 to A2 using a scale factor of 141%.
  • Reduce A3 to A4 using a scale factor of 71%.
  • Reduce A3 to A5 using a scale factor of 50%.
  • Reduce A3 to A6 using a scale factor of 35%.
  • Reduce A3 to A7 using a scale factor of 25%.
  • Reduce A3 to A8 using a scale factor of 18%.
  • Reduce A3 to A9 using a scale factor of 12.5%.
  • Reduce A3 to A10 using a scale factor of 8.8%.

More about magnification factors for reprographics and photocopying here.

Source: A3 Size Paper Factsheet – Plus RA3 and SRA3

A4 Paper Size Facts

Dimensions

  • A4 size in millimetres is 210mm x 297mm.
  • A4 size in inches is 8.3in x 11.7in.
  • A4 area in square metres is 0.06237m2
  • A4 area in square millimetres is 62370mm2
  • A4 area in square feet is 0.671345093ft2
  • A4 area in square inches is 96.673693347in2

Aspect Ratio

  • The aspect ratio (width:height) of A4 paper is 1:1.4142 (1:√2).

Comparison With Other ISO 216 Sizes

  • A4 is one sixteenth of the size of A0.
  • A4 is one eighth of the size of A1.
  • A4 is one quarter of the size of A2.
  • A4 is half the size of A3, having the width of A3 as its height in portrait orientation.
  • A4 is twice the size of A5, having the height of A5 as its width in portrait orientation.
  • A4 is four times the size of A6.
  • A4 is eight times the size of A7.
  • A4 is sixteen times the size of A8.
  • A4 is thirty two times the size of A9.
  • A4 is sixty four times the size of A10.

Comparison With Non ISO 216 Sizes (Including US Sizes)

  • A4 is the closest ISO 216 paper size to US Letter and Legal paper sizes. A4 297mm (11.7″) is slightly longer than Letter 279mm (11.0″) but slightly shorter than Legal 356mm (14.0″). A4 210mm (8.3″) is slightly narrower than Letter and Legal 216mm (8.5″).
  • A4 is the closest ISO 216 paper size to the old Imperial Foolscap size. A4 297mm (11.7″) is slightly shorter than Foolscap Folio 330mm (13.0″) and A4 210mm (8.3″) is slightly wider than Foolscap 203mm (8.0″).

Weight of A4 Sheets

  • A sheet of 80gsm A4 paper weighs 5 grams (0.17637 ounces).
  • A sheet of 100gsm A4 paper weighs 6.25 grams (0.22046 ounces).
  • A sheet of 160gsm A4 card weighs 10 grams (0.35274 ounces).

More information on paper weights here.

Envelopes For A4 Paper

  • A C4 envelope will take an unfolded sheet of A4 paper. C4 envelopes are sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as A4 envelopes.
  • A sheet of A4 paper folded in half by placing the two narrow sides together will fit into a C5 envelope.
  • A sheet of A4 paper folded into quarters will fit into a C6 envelope.
  • A DL envelope will take an A4 sheet folded into thirds. The DL envelope is the most commonly used business envelope.

Full information on ISO 216 envelope sizes here.

Untrimmed Sizes To Allow For Print Bleed

  • RA4 (Raw format A4) is 105% of the size of A4, thus 215mm x 305mm (8.5″ x 12.0″).
  • SRA4 (Supplementary raw format A4) is 115% of the size of A4, thus 225mm x 320mm (8.9″ x 12.6″).

More information on raw format and supplementary raw format here.

Magnification Factors For Reprographics & Photocopying

  • Enlarge A4 to A0 using a scale factor of 400%.
  • Enlarge A4 to A1 using a scale factor of 283%.
  • Enlarge A4 to A2 using a scale factor of 200%.
  • Enlarge A4 to A3 using a scale factor of 141%.
  • Reduce A4 to A5 using a scale factor of 71%.
  • Reduce A4 to A6 using a scale factor of 50%.
  • Reduce A4 to A7 using a scale factor of 35%.
  • Reduce A4 to A8 using a scale factor of 25%.
  • Reduce A4 to A9 using a scale factor of 18%.
  • Reduce A4 to A10 using a scale factor of 12.5%.

More about magnification factors for reprographics and photocopying here.

Source: A4 Size Paper Factsheet – Plus RA4 and SRA4