US Paper Sizes
US paper sizes are the inch-based sheets used in the United States and Canada instead of ISO 216. Letter, Legal and Tabloid cover daily use, with the ANSI A to E series for engineering drawings.
ANSI E measures 863.6 millimetres wide and 1117.6 millimetres tall.
Dimensions of All US Paper Sizes
The US Paper Sizes run from ANSI E at 863.6 × 1117.6 mm to Junior Legal at 127 × 203.2 mm. Each size, with its closest ISO equivalent and typical use:
| Size | mm | cm | inches | Nearest ISO size | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANSI E | 863.6 × 1117.6 | 86.4 × 111.8 | 34 × 44 | A0 (approx) | Full-size engineering and architectural drawings |
| ANSI D | 558.8 × 863.6 | 55.9 × 86.4 | 22 × 34 | A1 (approx) | Working engineering drawings |
| ANSI C | 431.8 × 558.8 | 43.2 × 55.9 | 17 × 22 | A2 (approx) | Small assembly and detail drawings |
| ANSI B | 279.4 × 431.8 | 27.9 × 43.2 | 11 × 17 | A3 (approx) | Two-page spreads, small drawings |
| Legal | 215.9 × 355.6 | 21.6 × 35.6 | 8.5 × 14 | None | Contracts, legal filings, long forms |
| ANSI A | 215.9 × 279.4 | 21.6 × 27.9 | 8.5 × 11 | A4 (approx) | Engineering detail drawings at desk size |
| Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 | 21.6 × 27.9 | 8.5 × 11 | A4 (approx) | Office documents, letterhead, forms |
| Tabloid | 279.4 × 431.8 | 27.9 × 43.2 | 11 × 17 | A3 (approx) | Spreads, spreadsheets, small newspapers |
| Executive | 184.15 × 266.7 | 18.4 × 26.7 | 7.25 × 10.5 | B5 (approx) | Letterhead, personal correspondence |
| Statement | 139.7 × 215.9 | 14.0 × 21.6 | 5.5 × 8.5 | A5 (approx) | Half-sheet notes, invoices, booklets |
| Junior Legal | 127 × 203.2 | 12.7 × 20.3 | 5 × 8 | A5 (approx) | Legal pads, handwritten notes |
Dimensions are portrait (short edge first). Centimetre, inch and pixel values are derived by formula, not separate standards.
The Day-to-Day US Paper Sizes: Letter, Legal and Tabloid
Letter is the North American counterpart of A4: 8.5 by 11 inches, or 216 by 279 mm. It is what a US office printer loads by default and what a business letter is written on. Legal keeps the 8.5-inch width but adds three inches of length for contracts and court filings. Tabloid, also sold as Ledger, is two Letter sheets side by side and doubles as a small newspaper page. All three are American conventions rather than a metric standard, which is why a PDF laid out for A4 often prints with a clipped footer on Letter.
The ANSI Engineering Paper Sizes
ANSI/ASME Y14.1 fixed the names A to E onto engineering drawing sheets that were already in use. ANSI A equals Letter, ANSI B equals Tabloid, and then ANSI C (17 × 22 in), ANSI D (22 × 34 in) and ANSI E (34 × 44 in) each double the previous sheet. Because Letter is not a 1 : √2 rectangle, the series alternates between two shapes, so a drawing does not reduce from ANSI D to ANSI C as cleanly as an ISO drawing goes from A1 to A2. The architectural Arch A to Arch E sizes are a separate set built from a 9 × 12 in base.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the standard US paper sizes?
Letter (8.5 × 11 in), Legal (8.5 × 14 in) and Tabloid or Ledger (11 × 17 in) for day-to-day use, plus the ANSI engineering series A to E. Letter is by far the most common.
What is US Letter size?
8.5 by 11 inches, which is 215.9 by 279.4 mm or 21.6 by 27.9 cm. It is the default page size in the United States and Canada.
Why does the US not use A4?
The Letter size was settled before ISO 216 was published in 1975, and the country never switched. Canada, the Philippines and parts of Latin America follow US sizes for the same reason.
Is ANSI A the same as Letter?
Yes, exactly: 8.5 × 11 in. ANSI B is the same as Tabloid, 11 × 17 in. The ANSI names exist so the sizes form an A-to-E series for drawings.
What is the closest US size to A4?
Letter. A4 is 210 × 297 mm and Letter is 216 × 279 mm, so Letter is a little wider and noticeably shorter.
✓ Member dimensions per ANSI/ASME Y14.1. Centimetre, inch and pixel values derived by formula. Last verified . Editorial Process →