US standard
US Letter paper size
US Letter measures 8.5 × 11 inches (215.9 × 279.4 mm). It is the default paper size for offices, schools and home printers in the United States and Canada, and is what most American word processors open with when you start a new document.
Exact dimensions
US Letter is defined in inches; the millimetre values are derived. Pixel dimensions at every common DPI are listed below — 300 DPI is the print-ready default.
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 215.9 | 279.4 |
| Centimetres (cm) | 21.59 | 27.94 |
| Inches (in) | 8.5 | 11 |
| Pixels @ 72 DPI | 612 | 792 |
| Pixels @ 96 DPI | 816 | 1,056 |
| Pixels @ 150 DPI | 1,275 | 1,650 |
| Pixels @ 200 DPI | 1,700 | 2,200 |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 2,550 | 3,300 |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 5,100 | 6,600 |
US Letter — 8.5 × 11 in
US Letter vs A4
The two are close but not interchangeable. US Letter is slightly wider, A4 slightly taller. If you print an A4 document on US Letter without scaling, the bottom margin shrinks; if you print a US Letter document on A4, the right margin shrinks. The visible difference is small, but layouts with edge-aligned elements should be designed for the intended target.
- · US Letter: 216 × 279 mm
- · A4: 210 × 297 mm
- · Width difference: +6 mm (Letter wider)
- · Height difference: −18 mm (Letter shorter)
Common contexts
- · Office documents, memos and reports
- · Résumés (especially for US-based applications)
- · Legal and contract paperwork (alongside US Legal)
- · School handouts and assignments
- · Print-at-home flyers, invitations and worksheets
Designing for US Letter print
For commercial print at full bleed, add 0.125 in (3.175 mm) of bleed on each side, making the export size 8.75 × 11.25 in. Keep critical content inside a safe area roughly 0.25 in (6.4 mm) from the trim line. Most US print shops accept PDF, PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4.
For office printing, the default margin is typically 1 inch (25.4 mm) on every side. Narrower margins of 0.5 in are common for two-column layouts and printable forms.
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact dimensions of US Letter?
US Letter is 8.5 × 11 inches, which is 215.9 × 279.4 millimetres or 21.59 × 27.94 centimetres.
Where is US Letter used?
It is the default office and home paper size in the United States, Canada, parts of Mexico, the Philippines, and Chile. Most other countries use the ISO A-series (A4) instead.
How does US Letter compare to A4?
US Letter (216 × 279 mm) is about 6 mm wider and 18 mm shorter than A4 (210 × 297 mm). Documents made for one will print on the other, but margins shift and edge-aligned graphics will move.
How many pixels is US Letter at 300 DPI?
At 300 DPI, US Letter is 2550 × 3300 pixels. At 72 DPI (typical web display) it is 612 × 792 pixels.
Why does the US not use A4?
US Letter predates ISO 216 (introduced in 1975) and was already entrenched in American offices, government and printing. The standardisation effort never displaced it. The two standards now coexist, with most modern printers supporting both.