Paper, the types, sizes, thickness and finish; it can all become a little complicated, This go to guide will help you to choose the paper fit for the job and make the whole process just a little less stressful.Deciding on the paper type can sometimes be the hardest choice for this whole process, so to help you we’ve provided a list of types along with a description of each.Bond paper This type of paper is stronger and more durable than the average sheet of paper. Instead of being made from low grade wood pulp, it is mostly made up of rag pulp. It’s perfect for letterheads, typed reports and envelopes.Gloss coated paper Gloss paper is typically used for flyers and brochures as it has a high shine. As the ink dries well there is no need for a seal varnish as the ink does not rub off.Matt coated paper Matt paper is the opposite to gloss – it is coated with a matt finish to produce a paper that isn’t shiny, preventing glare. This type of paper is perfect for reports, flyers and leaflets.Recycled paper Made from re-used paper products, recycled paper is perfect for those who are trying to reduce their environmental impact. It can be used for most documents including reports, memo paper and forms.Silk coated paper The interim between gloss and matt, silk coated paper has a smooth silky coating, leaving it smooth to the touch but without the shine of glass paper. This type of paper can be used for many things such as magazines, books and catalogues.Uncoated paper Typically found in most office printers, uncoated paper has no coating, making it excellent for ink receptivity and absorbency. As it is uncoated it has the advantage of being used by both printer and pen, ideal for forms, letterheads and memo paper.Watermarked paper Used in high quality paper watermarked paper give a feel of luxury and high quality. To create its desired effect an impression is pressed into the paper by attaching a wire pattern. This type of paper is commonly used as a security feature for important documents, including exam certificates.So now you’ve decided on the paper type, next comes the size. As there are many sizes of paper you can become lost amongst differing measurements.The table below provides the dimensions of each paper size. So whether you just need to know the size name or the measurements, use the below for a quick reference.
Table of Paper Sizes from A0 to A10
SizeWidth x Height (mm)Width x Height (in)A0841 x 1189 mm33.1 x 46.8 inA1594 x 841 mm23.4 x 33.1 inA2420 x 594 mm16.5 x 23.4 inA3297 x 420 mm11.7 x 16.5 inA4210 x 297 mm8.3 x 11.7 inA5148 x 210 mm5.8 x 8.3 inA6105 x 148 mm4.1 5.8 inA774 x 105 mm2.9 x 4.1 inA852 x 74 mm2.0 x 2.9 inA937 x 52 mm1.5 x 2.0 inA1026 x 37 mm1.0 x 1.5 inFinally once you’ve decided on the type and size of paper, the thickness is the final stage. Weight value of paper is measured in gsm (grams per square metre). The higher the gsm the better quality and feel of the paper.
Paper Weight Descriptions
WeightFeels Similar to:35-55 gsmMost newspapers90 gsmMid-market magazine inner pages130-250 gsmA good quality promotional poster180-250 gsmMid-market magazine cover350 gsmMost reasonable quality business cardsStandard paper weights are between 75gsm and 100gsm for common business applications; photo paper is much higher and goes up to 280gsm in weight.While you’re looking at paper size and types why not take a look at our range of paper that we have to offer.
Dimensions Of A Series Paper Sizes
A Paper Sizes - Quick Lookup
SizeUnitDimensions US Sizes 4A0 2A0 A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 B Sizes C Sizes in mm inches More Units Pixels is210 x 297
The dimensions of the A series paper sizes, as defined by the ISO 216 standard, are given in the table below the diagram in both millimetres and inches (cm measurements can be obtained by dividing mm value by 10). The A Series paper size chart, below left, gives a visual representation of how the sizes relate to each other - for example A5 is half of A4 size paper and A2 is half of A1 size paper.
A Series Paper Sizes Chart.
Table of Paper Sizes From 4A0 to A10
Size Width x Height (mm) Width x Height (in)
4A0 1682 x 2378 mm 66.2 x 93.6 in
2A0 1189 x 1682 mm 46.8 x 66.2 in
A08 41 x 1189 mm 33.1 x 46.8 in
A1 594 x 841 mm 23.4 x 33.1 in
A2 420 x 594 mm 16.5 x 23.4 in
A3 297 x 420 mm 11.7 x 16.5 in
A4 210 x 297 mm 8.3 x 11.7 in
A5 148 x 210 mm 5.8 x 8.3 in
A6 105 x 148 mm 4.1 x 5.8 in
A7 74 x 105 mm 2.9 x 4.1 in
A8 52 x 74 mm 2.0 x 2.9 in
A9 37 x 52 mm 1.5 x 2.0 in
A10 26 x 37 mm 1.0 x 1.5 in
To obtain paper sizes in centimetres, convert mm values to cm by dividing by 10 and in feet by dividing inch values by 12. More units here and sizes in pixels here.
4A0 & 2A0 - The DIN 476 Oversize Formats
The paper sizes bigger than A0, 4A0 & 2A0, aren't formally defined by ISO 216 but are commonly used for oversized paper. The origin of these formats is in the German DIN 476 standard, that was the original base document from which ISO 216 was derived. 2A0 is sometimes described as A00, however this naming convention is not used for 4A0.
A Series Paper Size Tolerances
ISO 216 specifies tolerances for the production of A series paper sizes as follows:
±1.5 mm (0.06 in) for dimensions up to 150 mm (5.9 in)
±2 mm (0.08 in) for lengths in the range 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 Paper Sizes Defined
The A series paper sizes are defined in ISO 216 by the following requirements:
The length divided by the width is 1.4142
The A0 size has an area of 1 square metre.
Each subsequent size A(n) is defined as A(n-1) cut in half parallel to its shorter sides.
The standard length and width of each size is rounded to the nearest millimetre.
Note: For reference the last item is there because the root 2 aspect ratio doesn't always give a whole number.
For more information about A paper size areas and areas of sizes other than A0 in square metres and square feet click here.
International Usage
The A series paper sizes are now in common use throughout the world apart from in the US, Canada and parts of Mexico. The A4 size has become the standard business letter size in English speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK, that formerly used British Imperial sizes. In Europe the A paper sizes were adopted as the formal standard in the mid 20th century and from there they spread across the globe.
RA & SRA Untrimmed Sizes
RA & SRA sizes define untrimmed paper for commercial printing. These formats are designed to allow for ink bleed during the printing process so that the paper can then be trimmed to one of the A series sizes. Click here for more on RA & SRA sizes.
A3+ (Super A3)
A3 Plus, or Super A3 as it is sometimes known, is not an ISO 216 paper size. It has dimensions of 329mm x 483mm (13" x 19"). This gives it an aspect ratio of 1:1.468 rather than the 1:root 2 aspect ratio of the ISO series paper sizes. In actuality the A3+/Super A3 name is quite misleading as this paper size is known as B+ or Super B in the United States and is ANSI B with a 1" margin for print bleed.
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