Like all objects around us, paper has its own dimensions and dimensions. Moreover, this is not just length, width or area, these are the accepted ratios of these parameters. There is a table of sizes of paper formats, where all the information is recorded regarding a sheet of paper, which are called A2, B1 or C3. These are not just letters and numbers, they are encoding for a specific paper format.

What is format

Format is the dimensions of the paper. It replaces words such as "length", "width", "diagonal" and "area". Agree, it is much easier to ask for A4 or A3 than to name the dimensions of sheets of paper in cm. The very concept of this term appeared relatively recently - only at the beginning of the 20th century. Before this, every publishing house, and every person who dealt with a printing house, used different paper sizes that were convenient for them.

The most popular was the Golden Ratio. Painters and sculptors of the Renaissance were very fond of it; accordingly, these parameters were also used to measure sheets. This was inconvenient for the development of printing and, in general, for widespread use.

In the end, a more convenient sheet size was found to be one whose sides were in the ratio of one to the square root of two. If such a “piece” is bent in half, we will get a rectangle, the sides of which are similar to the first one, only having a smaller scale. This was the first step towards the creation of an international standard: the ISO 216 system. But this is not the only classification of formats. There are others:

North American standard;

Japanese standard;

guest accepted in our country.

International system

ISO 216 and the North American standard are the most common. Sheet sizes A1 A2 A3 A4, etc. belong to the first system, which is common in Europe and the former Soviet republics.

The basis by which the dimensions of A-format paper are measured is Whatman A0 - it has an area equal to 1 m2, and all subsequent sizes are half of it.

That is, A1 is half of A0, A2 is a quarter of A0, and so on.

Printing paper is most often in A4 format - it is standard. In English-speaking countries such as Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia, it has long been the main size for business letters.

Our country had its own measurement system - according to GOST, the paper size format in cm differed from the international system. The main difference is that in ISO 216 measurements are made in millimeters, while for us, centimeters are more familiar. But since we mainly use imported equipment, which is oriented to European standards, format A is the most popular among us.

Other options

Paper sizes according to international standards are divided into several series:

Everyone understands where sheet sizes A1 A2 A3 A4 are used; they are very common in everyday life. Other series are also common, they are just not as well known.

For example, Series B is practically not used in the office, but is often used to create books, posters, envelopes or some kind of identification. B0 is somewhere between A0 and A1, and is 1 meter wide, unlike A0. But format C is used only for envelopes, and its definition can be found in the table of ISO 269 standards.

The North American standard is used in the USA, Canada and parts of Mexico. It is based on generally accepted parameters, but at the same time has slight differences: firstly, they use the inch as a unit of measurement, not mm, and accordingly, different paper sizes have a different designation from ours.

Knowledge of formats is essential if you are dealing with construction, architecture, or need to produce drawings and visual aids for other reasons.

size table

	Height x Length (mm)	Height x Length (" inches)	Pixels *
	2378 x 1682 mm	93.6 x 66.2" inches	28087 x 19866 px
	1682 x 1189 mm	66.2 x 46.8" inches	19866 x 14043 px
		46.8 x 33.1" inches
		33.1 x 23.4" inches
		23.4 x 16.5" inches
		16.5 x 11.7" inches
		11.7 x 8.3" inches
		8.3 x 5.8" inches
		5.8 x 4.1" inches
		4.1x. 2.9" inches
		2.9 x 2.0" inches
		2.0 x 1.5" inches
		1.5 x 1.0" inches

Most of the standard printing products are printed in standard formats: A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, DL “Euro format” - 99x210 mm (1/3 A4) or in sizes that fit comfortably onto the sheet format.

This is understandable; a minimal amount of paper “waste” during printing is beneficial to everyone: manufacturers of printing equipment, paper manufacturers, printing houses and printing centers. Therefore, when developing a layout, this point must be taken into account.

If you offer a printing house to print a non-format product, you will most likely have to overpay for paper that will end up in the trash, or, at best, recycled. This mainly applies to papers intended for digital and offset printing. But, for example, designer cardboards and papers have a size in most cases of 700x1000 mm (approximately B1 format 707x1000mm). When printing on such papers, you need to be more careful about the size of the product, since the cost of such materials is orders of magnitude higher.
I will try to describe as briefly but informatively as possible printed sheet format series A, as one of the main ones in the world. Understanding the difference in sizes, it will be much easier for you to communicate with printing house managers.

Paper size table (dimensions in mm), ISO 216 standard

A6– 105x148	A2– 420x594
A5– 148x210	A1– 594x841
A4– 210x297	A0– 841x1189
A3– 297x420

Paper size chart (dimensions in cm)

A6– 10.5x14.8	A2– 42x59.4
A5– 14.8x21	A1– 59.4x84.1
A4– 21x29.7	A0– 84.1x118.9
A3– 29.7x42

Sheet format SRA3

Mainly, digital printing machines have a basic print sheet size SRA3– 320x450 mm. Such products will fit into this size as much as possible and optimally (taking into account a 2mm bleed overhang on the side)

Most of the standard printing products are printed in standard formats: A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, DL “Euro format” - 99x210 mm (1/3 A4) or in sizes that fit comfortably onto the sheet format.

		Units
US sizes 4A0 2A0 A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 B format C format	V	mm cm inches	=

The most common ISO 216 standard format in the world according to GOST 5773-90.

All paper sizes according to the ISO 216 standard they have the same aspect ratio. To put it in simple words, the length of a sheet of format A1 equal to half the width of the sheet A0, and if it’s even easier to explain, then look at the picture below and you will understand everything that I tried to explain.

I propose to consider where and what paper formats are often used:

• Sheet A0 and A1— drawings, posters and posters
• Sheet A3, B4 and A2- drawings, diagrams, newspapers
• Sheet A4— office paper, documents, letters, forms, magazines, catalogs, in advertising materials, consumables for printers and copiers
• Sheet A5- greeting cards, identification cards, notebooks, notepads, leaflets, forms, promotional materials
• SheetB5, A5, B6, A6- books, booklets, brochures, postcards
• Formats C4, C5, C6- envelopes for letters on a sheet of A4 paper: unfolded (C4), folded in half (C5), folded in three (C6)
• C series formats- this size was designed for mailing envelopes to accommodate A-size paper

Paper size and dimensions

Paper sizes ISO 216
Formats paper A	width x length, size(mm.)	Format B	width x length in (mm.)	Format C	size (mm.)
A0	841x1189	B0	1000x1414	C0	1297x917
A1	594x841	IN 1	707x1000	C1	917x648
A2	420x594	AT 2	500x707	C2	648x458
A3	297x420	AT 3	353x500	C3	458x324
A4	210x297	AT 4	250x353	C4	324x229
A5	148x210	AT 5	176x250	C5	229x162

Standard Newspaper Size:

• A4 - 210x297 mm.
• Berliner format - 470 x 315 mm.
• A3 - 297x420 mm.
• A2 - 594x420 mm.

Standard Envelope Sizes:

• C4 format envelope - 324x229 mm.
• C5 format envelope - 229x162 mm.
• C6 format envelope - 114x162 mm. - basic mail format

Standard business card size:

• The standard of Russia and Ukraine is 90x50 mm.
• Euro business card 85x55 mm.

Photo format and dimensions

photo format	Linear dimensions for digital printing	Photo size in pixels (for printing 300 dpi)
9x13	89x127	1051x1500
10x15	102x152	1205x1795
13x18	127x178	1500x2102
15x20	152x203	1795x2398
15x21	152x216	1795x2551
20x30	203x305	2398x3602

Sizes A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 in millimeters and megabytes

Any image file format carries information about the width and height of the file in pixels, as well as the file resolution you specified. Depending on these three numbers, image editors and layout programs calculate the physical dimensions that will be obtained when printing the image and provide them as reference information to you, in any coordinate system you choose (cm, inches, pica, etc.).
It is more convenient to judge the size of an image by the file size in megabytes. Below is a table of the required file sizes (tif without compression) in megabytes for printing standard formats

	Size, mm			Grayscale 300dpi
A0
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6

To obtain paper dimensions in centimeters, convert from mm to cm by dividing by 10; to convert from inches to feet, divide inch by 12.

4A0 and 2A0 - DIN 476 high-dimensional formats

There are also paper sizes larger than A0 - these are 4A0 and 2A0. These sizes are not covered by the ISO 216 standard, but are typically used for large format paper. The origin of these formats comes from the German standard DIN 476, on the basis of which ISO 216 was created.

Size A paper size tolerances and errors

ISO 216 allows production tolerances for A-size paper up to the following values:

• ± 1.5 mm (0.06 in) for sizes up to 150 mm (5.9 in)
• ±2 mm (0.08 in) for sizes ranging from 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 of formats characteristics and properties

ISO 216 characterizes this paper size with the following parameters:

• The length divided by the width of the sheet is equal to the value 1.4142
• Each subsequent dimension A(N) is defined as A(N-1) cut in half parallel to its short side.
• A0 format has an area of ​​1 square meter.
• The standard length and width of each size are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Note: The last point is there because the square root of 2 in the aspect ratio does not always give integers.

International implementation and use of the sheet format

A paper sizes are now widely used throughout the world except the United States, Canada and parts of Mexico. A4 has become the standard size for business letters in English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK, which are accustomed to using the imperial number system throughout. In Europe, paper sizes were adopted as a formal standard in the mid-20th century, and from there they spread throughout the world.

The main sizes of paper sheets produced at all factories in the country are:

• A1 (594841 mm): Used in professional layout and design;
• A2 (420594 mm): A professional option for artistic works by masters from different fields of art. It is most often used in printing houses for printing banners, by students for diploma and term papers. DPI lovers will also like this format: it is quite extensive and will fit harmoniously into the surroundings;
• A3 (297420 mm): A4 sheet format increased by 2 times; optimal for professional student work assigned in educational institutions. Paintings, floristry, decorative panels, collages made in this size look elegant, miniature, and are a universal holiday gift
• A4 (210297 mm): a universal option for creative people, especially children starting to learn to draw. The A4 sheet format is suitable for small sketches with ink, felt-tip pens, pencils, gel pen, as well as for printed materials. Widely and often used in printing houses.

In accordance with ISO standards, which are international, paper is divided into a number of series (A, B, C). Below is a table with these series, format and sizes.

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Popular formats. Dimensions in cm, mm, inches. Size table.

Summary tables with the sizes of sheets of paper in popular formats A, B, C in millimeters, centimeters and inches are presented on the pages:

General background information and technical specifications for paper sizes are listed below.

Select the desired paper size and unit of measurement - the calculator will automatically recalculate the dimensions.

A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 mm cm inches → 21.0 × 29.7
B0 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 mm cm inches → 25.0 × 35.3
C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 c10 mm cm inches → 22.8 × 32.4

Formats A, B, C

In the modern world, three paper size formats are popular - A, B, C (ISO 216 standard). The dimensions of sheets of these formats are taken into account in the manufacture of writing paper, paper for printers and faxes, envelopes, etc. Each format has a range of paper sheet sizes from 0 to 10 (standard sizes): A0-A10, B0-B10, C0-C10. Type size 0 specifies the largest sheet sizes, type size 10 is the smallest, that is, A1 is smaller than A0. If we compare the corresponding standard sizes of these formats with each other, then sheets of format A are the smallest, C - medium, B - largest. The dimensions for format C are obtained as the geometric mean of A and B, that is, the square root of the multiplication of dimensions A × B. Format C was created from the consideration that sheets of format A (document) fit into sheets of format C (envelope). Total: A0-A10< C0-C10 < B0-B10.

The aspect ratio of the sheet of each format with a certain degree of error is expressed as: 1: 1.4142. Each subsequent standard size of a sheet of paper within one format is half the size of the previous one: the height of the subsequent standard size is equal to the width of the previous one, the width of the next one is ½ the height of the previous one. For example, A5 is A4 folded in half, since [height of A5 = width of A4] and [width of A5 = ½ height of A4]. Thus, knowing the size of a sheet of any standard size, you can calculate the sizes of others without resorting to tables.

In accordance with the standard, the largest sheet is in B0 format (1000 × 1414 mm), the smallest sheet is in A10 format (26 × 37 mm), which is comparable to the size of a modern stamp. The most common format in everyday life is A4.

Errors

ISO 216 defines the permissible errors in paper dimensions during production:

• ±1.5 mm (0.06 inch) for sheets with sides not exceeding 150 mm (5.9 inch)
• ±2 mm (0.08 inch) for sheets with sides from 150 to 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 inch)
• ±3 mm (0.12 in) for sheets with sides greater than 600 mm (23.6 in)

Other formats

In addition to formats A, B, C, there are paper formats 2A0, 4A0, A3+, RA, SRA, C7/6, DL and others.

Formats 2A0 and 4A0 are not described in the ISO 216 standard, but are in the DIN 476 standard (Germany). Formats 2A0 and 4A0 define sheets larger than A0. The table shows the dimensions.

The A3+ format is known, the dimensions of which are not described in the ISO 216 standard. The format is often used in printing. Its dimensions are 329 × 483 mm or 12.9 × 19 inches. The aspect ratio is 1:1.468, which is different from the standard 1:1.4142

There are rarely used formats, we list them: A2 Extra, A3 Extra, A3 Super, Super A3, A4 Extra, A4 Super, Super A4, A4 Long, F4, SO B5 Extra, A5 Extra and others.

In industry and printing, the following formats are used: RA (0-4), SRA (0-4), C7/6, DL.

Format	Size (width × height)
	millimeters	centimeters	inches
RA0	860×1220	86.0×122.0	33.9 × 48.0
RA1	610×860	61.0×86.0	24.0 × 33.9
RA2	430×610	43.0 × 61.0	16.9×24.0
RA3	305×430	30.5 × 43.0	12.0×16.9
RA4	215×305	21.5 × 30.5	8.5×12.0
SRA0	900×1280	90.0×128.0	35.4 × 50.4
SRA1	640×900	64.0×90.0	25.2 × 35.4
SRA2	450×640	45.0×64.0	17.7 × 25.2
SRA3	320×450	32.0×45.0	12.6 × 17.7
SRA4	225×320	22.5 × 32.0	8.9 × 12.6
C7/6	81×162	8.1 × 16.2	3.2×6.4
D.L.	110×220	11.0×22.0	4⅓ × 8⅔

Almost every modern user of PC and mobile gadgets is roughly familiar with the resolutions of anything and is able to distinguish by the number of pixels, the monitor with the best picture and the video with the best quality. However, when transferring content from digital to physical paper, many people have problems.

In contact with

Print Resolution

Actually, the catch is that when printing, we have a new variable that the average user is not familiar with - print resolution. Only a specialist involved in printing, advertising, photo printing, etc. can easily name the minimum required resolution to create a physical image on a huge billboard, small business card or printed T-shirt. In this material we will dwell on common examples of printing that each of us may encounter in everyday life (printing on sheets of A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 format), and also derive a simple formula for calculating the required resolution for any given task .

What is DPI

So, printing resolution is measured in DPI (dots per inch), that is, in the number of dots per square inch (1 inch = 25.4 mm). It is easiest to explain this parameter using the example of the operating principle of such an outdated device as a dot matrix printer - in this case, DPI corresponds to the number of times the paint needles hit an area of ​​1 × 1 inch.

How many pixels are needed for high-quality printing?

Naturally, the DPI parameter has absolutely no meaning as long as the image remains on your monitor, but the resolution of the source file is a critical indicator. You will not be able to print a high-quality photo on an A4 sheet with a quality of 300 DPI if the original image on the screen has a resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels.

Standard DPI values ​​used in printing

Resolution 75 DPI - for text documents;
Resolution 150 DPI is the minimum quality for printing images;
Resolution 300 DPI is a generally accepted quality for photo printing.

What size in pixels are sheets of A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 format depending on DPI?

Below you can find the correspondence between the resolution values ​​of the original image and the size of the sheet of paper on which the print is made (data calculated for print resolutions of 75 DPI, 150 DPI and 300 DPI).

A5 size (148 × 210 mm) in pixels

at DPI = 75, A5 format resolution has 437 × 620 pixels;
at DPI = 150, A5 format resolution has 874 × 1240 pixels;
at DPI = 300, A5 format resolution has 1748 × 2480 pixels.

A4 size (210 × 297 mm) in pixels

at DPI = 75, A4 format resolution has 620 × 877 pixels;
at DPI = 150, A4 format resolution has 1240 × 1754 pixels;
at DPI = 300, A4 format resolution has 2480 × 3508 pixels.

A3 size (297 × 420 mm) in pixels

at DPI = 75, A3 format resolution has 877×1240 pixels;
at DPI = 150, A3 format resolution has 1754×2480 pixels;
at DPI = 300, A3 format resolution has 3508×4961 pixels.

A2 format size (420 × 594 mm) in pixels

at DPI = 75, A2 format resolution has 1240 × 1754 pixels;
at DPI = 150, A2 format resolution has 2480 × 3508 pixels;
at DPI = 300, A2 format resolution has 4961 × 7016 pixels.

A1 format size (594 × 841 mm) in pixels

at DPI = 75, A1 format resolution has 1754 × 2483 pixels;
at DPI = 150, A1 format resolution has 3508 × 4967 pixels;
at DPI = 300, A1 format resolution has 7016 × 9933 pixels.

A0 format size (841 × 1189 mm) in pixels

at DPI = 75, A0 format resolution has 2483 × 3511 pixels;
at DPI = 150, A0 format resolution has 4967 × 7022 pixels;
at DPI = 300, A0 format resolution has 9933 × 14043 pixels.