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Guide

A4 vs Letter Paper Size

A4 is narrower and taller than US Letter. The difference is small, but it can crop margins or shift lines when you print a file made for the other size.

Updated · Grid & Line

The numbers

A4US Letter
Millimeters210 × 297215.9 × 279.4
Inches8.27 × 11.698.5 × 11
Points (1/72 in)595 × 842612 × 792
Aspect ratio1 : 1.414 (√2)1 : 1.294

A4 is about 6 mm (0.23 in) narrower and 18 mm (0.69 in) taller than Letter.

Who uses which

Letter is standard in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and several Latin American countries. A4 is standard almost everywhere else, including the UK, Europe, Australia, India, China and Japan.

A4 belongs to the ISO 216 series. Every A size has the same √2 proportions, so folding A4 in half gives A5 and two A4 sheets side by side make A3. That makes scaling between A sizes clean, which is not true of Letter and its neighbours (Legal, Tabloid).

Printing one on the other

  • A4 file on Letter paper: the page is taller than the paper, so about 9 mm can be cut off at the top and bottom. Choose “Fit to printable area” to shrink it about 6%, or keep “Actual size” if the content has generous margins.
  • Letter file on A4 paper: the page is wider than the paper, so a few millimeters can be cut off at the sides. “Fit” shrinks it about 3%.
  • Exact grids and rulings: scaling changes line spacing. If spacing must be exact, generate the template in the right size instead of scaling. Every generator on this site has a paper size option.

In practice

Someone in the US downloads a worksheet made for A4, prints it on Letter, and finds the bottom margin missing. The content was designed for a taller sheet. Matching the PDF page size to the paper in the tray avoids scaling, clipped edges and grids that no longer measure correctly.

Common mistakes

Problem Usually because What to do
The bottom of the page is cut off A4 PDF printed on Letter at 100% Choose the matching paper size before printing
The grid measures short “Fit to page” scaled the PDF Print at Actual size or 100%
Margins look uneven The printer’s unprintable area differs Leave at least 5 mm safe margin

Frequently asked questions

Is A4 bigger than Letter?

A4 is taller and slightly narrower: 210 × 297 mm (8.27 × 11.69 in) versus Letter at 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm). A4 has about 6% more area.

Which countries use Letter paper?

The United States, Canada, the Philippines and a few other countries use Letter. Most of Europe, Asia and Australia use A4.

Can I print an A4 PDF on Letter paper?

It will print, but the page will be scaled or cropped because the proportions differ. Choose the paper size in the generator before downloading the PDF for exact spacing.

Does paper size change the line spacing?

The spacing in millimetres or inches stays the same. Changing A4 to Letter changes the margins and how many lines fit, not the line height.

Which size should I choose for a PDF?

Match the paper in your printer. Use Letter for US/Canadian printers and A4 for UK, European, Australian and most Asian printers.

Printables used in this guide

Blank PDF preview Blank PDF Empty pages in any size Lined paper preview Lined paper Wide, college or narrow ruled Graph paper preview Graph paper 1/4 in, 5 mm, 1 cm and custom grids