What Is A4 Size Paper?

A4 paper is the international standard letter size.

In countries other than North America, A4 paper has historically been considered the international standard for letter size, as referenced in ISO 216, in which the International Organization for Standardization specifies all paper dimensions used globally.

Dimensions

A4 paper measures 8.27 inches wide by 11.69 inches in height, or 210 by 297 millimeters. Printers commonly measure A4 paper as 8.3 by 11.7 inches.

Common Uses

A4 is used for letters. Folded, A4 is used for brochures. Because it is the international standard, A4 is commonly used in marketing and advertising communications and documents.

Formatting

In word-processing programs, formatting to A4 size is done in "Page Setup" under the File menu. For brochures, additional formatting is needed.

Printing

Desktop printers typically use 8.5 by 11 inch paper, but automatically recognize and make formatting adjustments to A4. Commercial printers should be notified of A4 page layout, as they may need to make adjustments to trim before printing.

Mailing

A4 envelopes are readily available and fit a folded A4 letter or document. Because A4 is widely used in advertising and marketing, various styles such as clear, transparent and textured A4 envelopes are available. Additional postage charges may be applied.

References

• Printernational: ISO Paper Sizes