ANSI / US · 8.5 × 11 in
Printer and copy paper size in the U.S.
In the United States and Canada, normal printer and copy paper is usually US Letter: 8.5 × 11 inches (215.9 × 279.4 mm). It is not the same size as A4 or Legal paper.
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Letter dimensions in every unit
In portrait orientation, width comes first: 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm. Rotate the sheet for landscape orientation and the same measurements reverse.
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimeters | 215.9 mm | 279.4 mm |
| Centimeters | 21.6 cm | 27.9 cm |
| Inches | 8.5 in | 11 in |
| Points | 612 pt | 792 pt |
U.S. paper-size guide
What size is normal printer or copy paper?
For an ordinary home or office printer in the United States, “printer paper,” “copy paper,” and “standard paper” usually refer to US Letter. The words describe the paper’s use; Letter is the page-size setting. A4 is the common office default in most other countries, so match the document, printer menu, and physical sheet before printing.
| Format | Exact dimensions | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in · 215.9 × 279.4 mm | Normal U.S. printer and copy paper |
| A4 | 8.27 × 11.69 in · 210 × 297 mm | Common international office paper; not identical to Letter |
| US Legal | 8.5 × 14 in · 215.9 × 355.6 mm | Same width as Letter, but 3 inches longer |
Paper weight, brightness, coating, and recycled content do not change the named sheet dimensions. A ream labeled “Letter” should state 8.5 × 11 inches even when the product is marketed as multipurpose, printer, or copy paper.
Digital artwork
Letter size in pixels at 72, 96, 150, 300 and 600 PPI
There is no single pixel size for Letter. 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 | 792 px | Screen preview |
| 96 PPI | 816 px | 1,056 px | Screen preview |
| 150 PPI | 1,275 px | 1,650 px | Draft print |
| 300 PPI | 2,550 px | 3,300 px | Quality print |
| 600 PPI | 5,100 px | 6,600 px | High-detail source |
Landscape, custom resolution and bleed
For landscape at 300 PPI, use 3300 × 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 × 285.4 mm, or approximately 2621 × 3371 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 Letter relates to nearby sizes
Letter is 5.9 mm wider and 17.6 mm shorter than A4. The formats are close, but they are not interchangeable at 100% scale.
A4 vs Letter · A3 dimensions · A5 dimensions · Printable A0–A6 size chart
- Portrait ratio
- 1 : 1.2941
- Area
- 0.0603 m²
- Orientation
- 215.9 × 279.4 mm
Works well for
Common Letter uses
- Office documents
- School work
- Forms
- Resumes in North America
Check before using
Where it can go wrong
- A4-only administrative forms
- Legal-length documents
- International templates with fixed A4 margins
Regional & printer note
Will a printer recognize Letter?
The default page size in the United States and Canada and widely available across North American printers and office suppliers.
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
Letter paper FAQ
What are the dimensions of Letter paper?
Letter measures 215.9 × 279.4 millimeters, 21.6 × 27.9 centimeters, or 8.5 × 11 inches in portrait orientation.
How many pixels is Letter at 300 DPI?
Letter is 2550 × 3300 pixels at 300 DPI before adding bleed.
Is Letter the same as A4?
Letter is 5.9 mm wider and 17.6 mm shorter than A4. The formats are close, but they are not interchangeable at 100% scale.
What is Letter commonly used for?
Letter is commonly used for office documents, school work, forms, resumes in north america. Printer, postal, and finishing requirements still vary.
What is the standard size of printer paper in the United States?
The standard home and office printer-paper size in the United States is US Letter, measuring 8.5 × 11 inches or 215.9 × 279.4 mm.
Are printer paper and copy paper the same size?
They are usually the same Letter size in U.S. offices, but the terms describe use rather than a guaranteed dimension. Copy and printer paper are also sold in Legal, A4, and other sizes, so check the package and printer tray.