The Ultimate Guide to UK Paper Sizes
3rd Feb 2025
Simon Cross
We are all familiar with the most common paper size being A4. Most of us will also be familiar with paper sizes including A3, A2 and A6.
In this blog I’m going to cover different UK paper sizes including illustrations showing the different measurements and how each paper sizes compares with each other. UK paper sizes follow the ISO 216 (International Organisation for Standardisation) standard, the most widely used paper size system worldwide.
Before we get stuck in let’s have a look at an info graphic and a size chart to help visualise these UK paper sizes.
A0 to A10 Paper Size Chart
| Paper Size | Dimension in MM | Dimension in CM |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | 84.1 x 118.9 |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 59.4 x 84.1 |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 42 x 59.4 |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 29.7 x 42 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 21 x 29.7 |
| A5 | 148.5 x 210 | 14.85 x 21 |
| A6 | 105 x 148.5 | 10.5 x 14.85 |
| A7 | 74 x 105 | 7.4 x 10.5 |
| A8 | 54 x 74 | 5.4 x 7.4 |
| A9 | 37 x 52 | 3.7 x 5.2 |
| A10 | 26 x 37 | 2.6 x 3.7 |
A4 is the most commonly used paper in the UK, but what size is it?
As you’ve probably spotted from the size chart above, A4 paper measures 210 x 297 mm or 8.3 x 11.7 inches for those of us that still like to measure in imperial.
Before the metric system was introduced paper standards, certainly in the UK, the most common types of paper was Foolscape Folio and Foolscap 4to measuring 13 x 8 and 8 x 6.5 inches respectively.
Another was to look at is that A4 is twice the size of A5!
What about A3 paper sizes?
At this point you probably won’t be surprised to read that 2 sheets of A4 make an A3 sheet, measuring 297 x 420 mm.
A3 isn’t as widely used as A4 because it’s larger and therefore for expensive. It’s less practical because of its size, which also means A3 printers are more expensive.
What about A2 paper size?
A size up on A3 paper, A2 measures 210 x 297 mm and is, as to be expected, twice the size of A3.
A2 isn’t a size you’re likely to find in the home or even a lot of businesses because of it sizes and expensive printing costs associated with using that size paper. It is commonly used for printing posters, calendars, diagrams and architectural drawings.
Paper sizes and their common uses
| Paper Size | Common Uses |
|---|---|
| A0 | Architectural drawings, posters, diagrams |
| A1 | Architectural drawings, posters, diagrams |
| A2 | Architectural drawings, posters, diagrams |
| A3 | Posters, presentations, creative work |
| A4 | Standard printer paper |
| A5 | Notebooks, catalogues, books |
| A6 | Leaflets, postcards, photos |
| A7 | Leaflets, photos, stickers, tickets |
| A8 | Business cards, stickers, tickets |
| A9 | Labels, stickers |
| A10 | Labels, stamps |
If you have a print project coming up and you’re not sure what type of paper to use, you can find out exactly what paper is best for printing thanks to my blog covering exactly that subject.
Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.
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