Lined Paper Sizes Explained
A4, Letter, A5, Legal — what each measures, how many lines fit, and which one to print.
Quick answer
If you live in North America, print US Letter (8.5 × 11"). Everywhere else, print A4 (210 × 297mm). They differ by less than 2cm in each direction, but printing the wrong one either crops the page or shrinks the ruling.
Standard sizes compared
| Size | Dimensions | Used in | Lines per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm (8.3 × 11.7") | Everywhere except North America | ~31–33 (8mm ruling) |
| US Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11") | USA, Canada, Mexico | ~36 (college ruled) |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3") | Journals, planners worldwide | ~20–22 (7mm ruling) |
| Legal | 215.9 × 355.6 mm (8.5 × 14") | US legal pads | ~46 (college ruled) |
Why two competing standards exist
A4 belongs to the ISO 216 family, built on an elegant rule: every size has a 1:√2 aspect ratio, so folding a sheet in half produces the next size down (A4 halves into A5) with the same proportions. US Letter predates that system and was standardized from American industrial practice instead. The practical consequence for lined paper is simple: a template drawn for one size never fits the other exactly, which is why every template on this site offers both A4 and Letter downloads.
Print settings that keep measurements true
Ruled spacing like the 7.1mm of college ruled paper only stays accurate when the PDF prints at 100% scale ("Actual size"). The common default "Fit to printable area" shrinks pages by 3–5% to respect printer margins — enough to make your printed sheets mismatch a store-bought notebook. Set scale to 100%, match the paper size in the print dialog to what is physically in the tray, and the geometry is exact.
Need a custom size?
The free Wide Ruled Paper generator supports A4, Letter, Legal, and A5 with any line spacing and color — write on the page directly, then print or export a PDF sized exactly to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is A4 or Letter bigger?
Neither strictly contains the other: A4 (210 × 297mm) is about 6mm narrower but 18mm taller than US Letter (215.9 × 279.4mm). A4 holds slightly more ruled lines per page because of the extra height.
What happens if I print an A4 PDF on Letter paper?
At 100% scale the bottom ~18mm of the A4 layout falls off the shorter Letter sheet. Either download the Letter version of the template, or your ruling loses its true measurements if the viewer silently scales it down. Always match the PDF to the paper in your tray.
What size is standard notebook paper in the US?
US loose-leaf filler paper is typically 8 × 10.5 inches (slightly smaller than Letter to fit binders), while composition books are 7.5 × 9.75 inches. Printable templates use full Letter size, 8.5 × 11 inches.