ANSI / US · 8.5 × 14 in
Legal paper size
An 8.5 × 14 inch North American paper format used for contracts, forms, and documents that benefit from extra vertical space.
Open in the converterDirect answer
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 |
Digital artwork
Legal pixel dimensions by DPI
Pixel dimensions depend on output resolution. These values describe the trimmed page only and do not include printer bleed.
| Resolution | Pixel width | Pixel height | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 DPI | 612 px | 1,008 px | Screen preview |
| 96 DPI | 816 px | 1,344 px | Screen preview |
| 150 DPI | 1,275 px | 2,100 px | Draft print |
| 300 DPI | 2,550 px | 4,200 px | Quality print |
| 600 DPI | 5,100 px | 8,400 px | High-detail source |
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.
- 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 ASME Y14.1 sheet-size referenceQuestions 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.