Format A series B series C series Format sizes ANSI series
148mm 74mm
297mm 1189mm
The international paper size standard, ISO 216, is based on the German DIN 476 standard for paper sizes. The A series of paper is the most commonly used worldwide, with only the US and Canada not currently conforming to the ISO standard. The ISO A series of sheet sizes is based on a constant width to length ratio of 1:√2 to the nearest mm. The most frequently used paper size in this series is A4, which measures 210 x 297mm. A series is used for many different mediums such as; flyers, leaflets, publications, posters,
A8
594mm
A series
52mm105mm
A7
A6
A5
A3
841mm 210mm
A4
420mm
A2
A0 A1
176mm 88mm
353mm 1414mm
The ISO B series are geometric means between the A series and defined to satisfy the requirements of sizes between the A series sizes. For example, B1 is a geometric mean between A1 and A0. Many posters use B series paper or a close approximation, such as 50 cm Ă— 70 cm; B5 is a relatively common choice for books. The B series is also used for envelopes (for C series paper) and passports. The B series is widely used in the printing industry to describe both paper sizes and printing press sizes, including digital presses.
B8
707mm
B series
62mm125mm
B7
B6
B5
B3
1000mm 250mm
B4
B0 B1
500mm
B2
162mm 81mm
324mm 1297mm
The C series of paper is used only for envelopes; the C series formats are geometric means between the B series format with the same number and the A series format with the same number, C2 is the geometric mean between B2 and A2. This means that an A4 sheet is slightly smaller than a C4 sheet, which in turn is slightly smaller than a B4 sheet. In practice this means that an A4 letter could fit unfolded into a C4 envelope which could then fit into a B4 envelope. This is useful for measurements for envelopes in commercial design.
C8
648mm
C series
57mm114mm
C7
C6
C5
C3
917mm 229mm
C4
C0 C1
458mm
C2
Format sizes There are many paper size standards conventions which has existed at different times and in different countries. Today there is one widespread international ISO standard, including A series, B series and C series and a local standard used in North America including letter, legal, ledger, etc. The paper sizes affect many things in commercial design, such as; stationery, writing paper and cards. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. This table shows a clear way to see the measurements of each of the series.
Format
A series
B series
C series
Size
mm x mm
mm x mm
mm x mm
0
814 x 1189
1000 x 1414
917 x 1297
1
594 x 841
707 x 1000
648 x 917
2
420 x 594
500 x 707
458 x 648
3
297 x 420
353 x 500
324 x 458
4
210 x 297
250 x 353
229 x 324
5
148.5 x 210
176 x 250
162 x 229
6
105 x 148.5
125 x 176
114 x 162
7
74 x 105
88 x 125
81 x 114
8
52 x 74
62 x 88
57 x 81
9
37 x 52
44 x 62
40 x 57
10
26 x 37
31 x 44
28 x 40
864mm 216mm
1118mm
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) defines paper sizes based on the standard ‘US Letter’ size which is called ‘ANSI A’, the ‘US Ledger/Tabloid’ size was also included in the series as ‘ANSI B’. This series is similar to the ISO 216 standard as if you half the longest side, you get the next size down in the series. The ANSI series differs from the ISO 216 standard in that the arbitrary aspect ratio forces the series to have two alternating aspect ratios.
279mm
279mm
ANSI series
Size
Width (mm)
Height (mm)
ANSI A ANSI B
216
279 432
ANSI C
279 432
ANSI D
559
864
ANSI E
864
1118
559
559mm
Portrait
Format
432mm
A
Letter
B Ledger/Tabloid
C
E D