US Letter Paper Size in cm, mm & Inches
US Letter is the standard paper size in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — used in virtually every office printer, laser printer, and copier in North America. Here are the exact dimensions in every unit.
Proportional size comparison — Letter vs Legal vs A4
US Paper Sizes & A-Series Comparison
| Size | mm | cm | inches | px @ 96ppi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 | 21.59 × 27.94 | 8.5 × 11.0 | 816 × 1056 |
| US Legal | 215.9 × 355.6 | 21.59 × 35.56 | 8.5 × 14.0 | 816 × 1344 |
| US Tabloid | 279.4 × 431.8 | 27.94 × 43.18 | 11.0 × 17.0 | 1056 × 1632 |
| A4 | 210 × 297 | 21.0 × 29.7 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 794 × 1123 |
| A3 | 297 × 420 | 29.7 × 42.0 | 11.69 × 16.54 | 1123 × 1587 |
| Half Letter | 139.7 × 215.9 | 13.97 × 21.59 | 5.5 × 8.5 | 528 × 816 |
US Letter in Pixels at Different DPI
| Resolution | Width (px) | Height (px) |
|---|---|---|
| 72 DPI (PDF legacy) | 612 | 792 |
| 96 PPI (web / screen) | 816 | 1056 |
| 150 DPI (medium print) | 1275 | 1650 |
| 300 DPI (high-res print) | 2550 | 3300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is US Letter paper size in inches?
US Letter paper is 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches tall. It is the standard paper size used in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for everyday documents, laser printers, and office printing.
What is US Letter size in cm?
US Letter is 21.59 cm wide and 27.94 cm tall. In millimeters, that is 215.9 × 279.4 mm. It is very close in width to A4 (21.0 cm) but shorter — A4 is taller at 29.7 cm.
What is US Letter in pixels at 300 DPI?
At 300 DPI (the standard for high-quality print), US Letter is 2550 × 3300 pixels. At 96 PPI (web/screen standard), it is 816 × 1056 pixels. At 72 DPI (legacy PDF), it is 612 × 792 pixels.
What is the difference between US Letter and A4?
US Letter (8.5 × 11 in / 215.9 × 279.4 mm) is slightly wider but shorter than A4 (8.27 × 11.69 in / 210 × 297 mm). A4 is taller and narrower. The US, Canada, and Mexico use Letter; most of the rest of the world uses A4.
Why does the US use Letter size instead of A4?
The US Letter size dates back to the early days of commercial papermaking in North America. The 8.5 × 11 inch format was standardized by the US government in 1921 and has remained in use. The ISO A-series (including A4) was standardized internationally in 1975 but was never adopted in the US.
What is US Legal paper size?
US Legal paper is 8.5 × 14 inches (215.9 × 355.6 mm). It is the same width as Letter but 3 inches taller. It is used for legal documents, contracts, and spreadsheets that need extra vertical space.