North American office · 8.5 × 14 in
Legal paper size: 8.5 × 14 inches
US Legal paper measures 8.5 × 14 inches (215.9 × 355.6 mm). It is the same width as Letter paper and exactly 3 inches (76.2 mm) longer.
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Legal dimensions in every unit
In portrait orientation, width comes first: 215.9 mm × 355.6 mm. Rotate the sheet for landscape orientation and the same measurements reverse.
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimeters | 215.9 mm | 355.6 mm |
| Centimeters | 21.6 cm | 35.6 cm |
| Inches | 8.5 in | 14 in |
| Points | 612 pt | 1008 pt |
U.S. paper-size guide
Is 8.5 × 14 paper Legal size?
Yes. In North American paper and printer menus, 8.5 × 14 inches is Legal size. Do not confuse it with Letter at 8.5 × 11 inches or Tabloid at 11 × 17 inches. A document can appear normal in preview while the driver silently scales it to a shorter tray.
| Format | Exact dimensions | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in · 215.9 × 279.4 mm | Normal U.S. office sheet |
| US Legal | 8.5 × 14 in · 215.9 × 355.6 mm | The 8.5 × 14 format |
| Tabloid | 11 × 17 in · 279.4 × 431.8 mm | Wider and longer than Legal |
For printing, set both the document page size and the printer tray to Legal. “Fit to page” may shrink an 8.5 × 14 document onto Letter, changing text size, line breaks, and margins.
Digital artwork
Legal size in pixels at 72, 96, 150, 300 and 600 PPI
There is no single pixel size for Legal. The table uses image resolution in pixels per inch (PPI), often called DPI in paper-size searches. Printer DPI describes ink dots, not image pixels. Values are rounded to the nearest whole pixel and exclude bleed.
| Resolution | Pixel width | Pixel height | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 PPI | 612 px | 1,008 px | Screen preview |
| 96 PPI | 816 px | 1,344 px | Screen preview |
| 150 PPI | 1,275 px | 2,100 px | Draft print |
| 300 PPI | 2,550 px | 4,200 px | Quality print |
| 600 PPI | 5,100 px | 8,400 px | High-detail source |
Landscape, custom resolution and bleed
For landscape at 300 PPI, use 4200 × 2550 px. For any other resolution, calculate each side as millimeters ÷ 25.4 × PPI, then round once at the end. Use the millimeter values above rather than rounded inches.
If your printer asks for 3 mm bleed on every edge, add 6 mm to both dimensions: 221.9 × 361.6 mm, or approximately 2621 × 4271 px at 300 PPI. This is an example, not a universal bleed requirement.
Changing a low-resolution image’s PPI label alone does not add detail. A 72 or 96 PPI value also does not guarantee life-size display on a screen. Adobe explains image resolution and resampling.
Proportion & comparison
How Legal relates to nearby sizes
Legal is the same width as Letter but exactly 3 inches taller. It is narrower and shorter than 11 × 17 Tabloid.
A4 vs Letter · A3 dimensions · A5 dimensions · Printable A0–A6 size chart
- Portrait ratio
- 1 : 1.6471
- Area
- 0.0768 m²
- Orientation
- 215.9 × 355.6 mm
Works well for
Common Legal uses
- Contracts
- Government forms
- Long tables
- Documents with extended signatures
Check before using
Where it can go wrong
- International A4 workflows
- Printers without a Legal feed
- Envelopes sized only for folded Letter
Regional & printer note
Will a printer recognize Legal?
Commonly stocked in the United States and Canada. Printer support often requires selecting a Legal tray or manually changing the paper guide.
Always match the document size, print-driver size, paper tray, and physical sheet. A driver can silently scale a page even when the preview looks correct.
Measurement source
Checked against the defining standard
Paper Size Lab converts the stored millimeter measurements mathematically; it does not round-trip between units. The underlying sheet family is referenced to the standards organization below.
Read PWG Media Standardized Names 2.1Questions people ask
Legal paper FAQ
What are the dimensions of Legal paper?
Legal measures 215.9 × 355.6 millimeters, 21.6 × 35.6 centimeters, or 8.5 × 14 inches in portrait orientation.
How many pixels is Legal at 300 DPI?
Legal is 2550 × 4200 pixels at 300 DPI before adding bleed.
Is Legal the same as another paper size?
Legal is the same width as Letter but exactly 3 inches taller. It is narrower and shorter than 11 × 17 Tabloid.
What is Legal commonly used for?
Legal is commonly used for contracts, government forms, long tables, documents with extended signatures. Printer, postal, and finishing requirements still vary.
Is 8.5 × 14 paper Legal size?
Yes. US Legal paper is exactly 8.5 × 14 inches, equivalent to 215.9 × 355.6 mm.
How much longer is Legal paper than Letter?
Legal paper is 3 inches, or 76.2 mm, longer than Letter paper. Both are 8.5 inches wide.