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Document Size Guide
This guide takes you through some of the common paper sizes available for printed products. When designing for these document sizes, it’s worth noting that we require an oversized artwork file that includes a bleed area around the edge. For instructions on how to achieve this, check out our guide to creating your bleed area.
If you want to preserve image quality on larger documents, you’ll also need to make sure your artwork file is big enough for the job. Take a look at our guide to getting the resolution right when it comes to supplying artwork for bigger products.
An Introduction to ISO A and B Sizes
Ever wondered why there are so many different paper sizes? The answer lies in a system called ISO 216, which defines the internationally recognized A and B series of paper sizes. This introduction will guide you through these common formats, helping you choose the right size for every project.
The key to the ISO system is its elegant simplicity. Each size in the A series is exactly half the area of the next larger size, ensuring a consistent aspect ratio of the square root of 2 (approximately 1:1.414). This means you can easily fold or cut A4 paper in half to get A5, and so on, without any awkward trimming.
A for All Occasion
The A4 size (210 x 297 mm) is the undisputed king of the A series. It's the standard for business letters, reports, magazines, and countless other documents worldwide. Its smaller siblings, A5 (148 x 210 mm) and A6 (105 x 148 mm), are popular for brochures, flyers, and postcards, while A3 (297 x 420 mm) is perfect for posters and presentations.
A Paper Size Width (mm) Height (mm) A0 841 1189 A1 594 841 A2 420 594 A3 297 420 A4 210 297 A5 148 210 A6 105 148 A7 74 105 A8 52 74 The B Series
While the A series focuses on everyday use, the B series offers intermediate sizes for specific purposes. B4 (250 x 353 mm) is often used for book printing, while B5 (176 x 250 mm) serves as a larger alternative to A5.
B Paper Size Width (mm) Height (mm) B0 1000 1414 B1 707 1000 B2 500 707 B3 353 500 B4 250 353 B5 176 250 B6 125 176 B7 88 125 B8 62 88 Photo Lab Sizes: A Different Story
While the ISO system reigns supreme in the paper realm, photo labs operate with a slightly different set of standard sizes. These sizes are rooted in the history of film photography, where 35mm film produced negatives with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This ratio translated into common print sizes like 4 x 6 (102 x 152 mm) and 8 x 10 (203 x 254 mm), which closely approximate the 3:2 format.
However, photo labs offer a wider range than just the 3:2 options. You'll find square prints (5 x 5, 8 x 8), panoramic sizes (4 x 12, 8 x 24), and even larger formats (16 x 20, 20 x 30) for those truly impactful shots. While not directly tied to the ISO system, these sizes have become familiar to photographers and consumers alike, offering flexibility for presenting photos in various formats.
Photo Lab Sizes Inches (") Millimetres (mm) 4 x 6 102 x 152 5 x 7 127 x 178 6 x 8 152 x 203 8 x 10 203 x 254 8 x 12 203 x 305 10 x 12 254 x 305 10 x 15 254 x 381 11 x 14 279 x 354 11 x 16 279 x 406 12 x 16 305 x 406 12 x 18 305 x 457 14 x 20 356 x 508 16 x 20 406 x 508 16 x 24 406 x 610 18 x 24 457 x 610 20 x 24 508 x 610 24 x 36 610 x 914