A4 vs A6
A6 is a quarter of A4: fold A4 in half twice, or cut it into four, and you have A6 (105 × 148 mm). Four A6 cards per A4 sheet, sixteen per A2.
Compare a Different Pair
A4 and A6, Side by Side
| A4 | A6 | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 210 × 297 | 105 × 148 | 105 × 149 mm |
| Inches | 8.27 × 11.69 | 4.13 × 5.83 | 4.13 × 5.87 in |
| Centimetres | 21.0 × 29.7 | 10.5 × 14.8 | |
| Area | 0.0624 m², 62,370 mm² | 0.0155 m², 15,540 mm² | 4.01× |
| Aspect ratio | 1 : 1.414 (√2) | 1 : 1.410 (√2) | same |
What Is Lost Printing One on the Other
At 100% scale, both centred, nothing resized. A positive figure on the wider or taller side is cropped; on the other it is a blank margin.
| Axis | Gap | A4 onto A6 | A6 onto A4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 52.5 mm (2.07 in) each side | A4 loses it | blank band |
| Height | 74.5 mm (2.93 in) each end | A4 loses it | blank band |
Scale-to-Fit Percentages
The figure to type into a printer or PDF dialog to scale one to fit inside the other:
| A6 to fit A4 | 200% | leaves a thin border on one pair of edges |
|---|---|---|
| A4 to fit A6 | 50% | leaves a thin border on one pair of edges |
The two share the 1 : √2 shape but are not one halving apart, so a fit-to-page scale still leaves a small border.
Which Should You Use?
A4 for the document; A6 for a card cut or folded from it. An A4 sheet folded twice fits a C6 envelope, which is the postcard and greeting-card size.
Beyond the Measurements
Envelopes: A4 fits C4, C5, DL; A6 fits C6.
An A4 letter folded in three drops into a DL envelope and posts at the standard letter rate. Folded once it fits C5; flat and unfolded it needs a C4, which Royal Mail rates as a large letter up to 100 g. In the US an A4 sheet in a 9 x 12 in envelope goes as a flat.
Worth Knowing
A4 to A6 is the range most home print jobs live in: a one-page notice at A4, a stack of A6 postcards or flyers ganged four to a sheet and cut. The arithmetic is clean, which makes A6 cheap to produce. The catch is the printer grip margin: most desktop machines cannot print to the edge, so a full-bleed A6 needs to be laid out on A4 with crop marks and trimmed, not printed one card at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A4 bigger than A6?
A4 is bigger. It is 210 × 297 mm against 105 × 148 mm for A6, about 4.01 times the area.
What is the difference between A4 and A6?
A6 is a quarter of A4: fold A4 in half twice, or cut it into four, and you have A6 (105 × 148 mm). Four A6 cards per A4 sheet, sixteen per A2.
Can you print A6 on A4?
Not at full size without a change. Shrink A6 to 200% to fit A4, which leaves a thin border, or print at 100% and lose 52.5 mm off each side and 74.5 mm top and bottom.
✓ Dimensions per the standards on the A4 and A6 pages. Differences and scale factors computed. Reviewed . Editorial Process →