Tabloid vs Legal
Tabloid (11 × 17 in) is much larger than Legal (8.5 × 14): wider by 2.5 inches, longer by 3. Tabloid is two Letter sheets side by side; Legal is one Letter sheet stretched.
Compare a Different Pair
Tabloid and Legal, Side by Side
| Tabloid | Legal | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 279.4 × 431.8 | 215.9 × 355.6 | 63.5 × 76.2 mm |
| Inches | 11 × 17 | 8.5 × 14 | 2.5 × 3 in |
| Centimetres | 27.9 × 43.2 | 21.6 × 35.6 | |
| Area | 0.121 m², 120,645 mm² | 0.0768 m², 76,774 mm² | 1.57× |
| Aspect ratio | 1 : 1.545 | 1 : 1.647 | different |
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 | Tabloid onto Legal | Legal onto Tabloid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 31.8 mm (1.25 in) each side | Tabloid loses it | blank band |
| Height | 38.1 mm (1.5 in) each end | Tabloid 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:
| Legal to fit Tabloid | 121% | leaves a thin border on one pair of edges |
|---|---|---|
| Tabloid to fit Legal | 77% | leaves a thin border on one pair of edges |
Which Should You Use?
Legal for a long single-column document. Tabloid for anything that needs width: a spread, a wide spreadsheet, a small newspaper page, or a poster that folds to Letter.
Beyond the Measurements
Envelopes: Tabloid fits 12 × 18; Legal fits #10, #14.
Worth Knowing
These two get compared mostly because they are the two "bigger than Letter" options in a US office and it is not obvious which to send a job to. They solve different problems. Legal adds length for a document that runs on; Tabloid adds width for something seen wide or folded into a booklet. If the content is a list, Legal. If it is a layout, Tabloid. A machine that does one does not always do the other, so check the tray before committing the design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tabloid bigger than Legal?
Tabloid is bigger. It is 279.4 × 431.8 mm against 215.9 × 355.6 mm for Legal, about 1.57 times the area.
What is the difference between Tabloid and Legal?
Tabloid (11 × 17 in) is much larger than Legal (8.5 × 14): wider by 2.5 inches, longer by 3. Tabloid is two Letter sheets side by side; Legal is one Letter sheet stretched.
Can you print Legal on Tabloid?
Not at full size without a change. Shrink Legal to 121% to fit Tabloid, which leaves a thin border, or print at 100% and lose 31.8 mm off each side and 38.1 mm top and bottom.
✓ Dimensions per the standards on the Tabloid and Legal pages. Differences and scale factors computed. Reviewed . Editorial Process →