Dimensions of a Legal Size Paper
US Legal paper measures 8.5 × 14 inches, which is 215.9 × 355.6 millimetres. Use the converter to see legal — or any common paper size — in inches, millimetres, centimetres and pixels at the resolution you need, and compare it side by side with Letter and A4.
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Paper Size Reference & Legal Templates
Printable paper size chart (US and ISO) with pixel dimensions, legal-size lined and grid paper, a legal-size meeting notes template and a document formatting checklist.
- Paper size chart (PDF, XLSX)
- Legal lined & grid paper (PDF)
- Legal-size notes template (PDF, DOCX, XLSX)
- Formatting checklist (PDF, DOCX)
Formats: PDF, XLSX, DOCX. Instant download after payment (link valid 72 hours, up to 5 downloads). AI-assisted: the templates were drafted with AI help and reviewed and laid out before publishing.
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Printable Legal Size Formatting ChecklistLegal size paper dimensions
| Unit | Legal (portrait) |
|---|---|
| Inches | 8.5 × 14 in |
| Millimetres | 215.9 × 355.6 mm |
| Centimetres | 21.59 × 35.56 cm |
| Points | 612 × 1,008 pt |
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 2,550 × 4,200 px |
| Pixels at 150 DPI | 1,275 × 2,100 px |
| Pixels at 72 DPI | 612 × 1,008 px |
Legal paper is the same width as Letter (8.5 inches) but 3 inches longer. It is part of the North American paper sizes defined in the ANSI/ASME Y14.1 and related standards, and it is widely stocked in the US, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines.
Legal vs letter vs A4
| Size | Inches | Millimetres | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5 × 11 | 215.9 × 279.4 | 1 : 1.294 |
| Legal | 8.5 × 14 | 215.9 × 355.6 | 1 : 1.647 |
| A4 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 210 × 297 | 1 : 1.414 |
| Tabloid | 11 × 17 | 279.4 × 431.8 | 1 : 1.545 |
A4 is slightly narrower and a little longer than Letter, and much shorter than Legal. A document designed for Legal will not fit on A4 without scaling to about 83%, which makes text noticeably smaller.
What legal paper is used for
- Contracts and legal documents — the extra length historically allowed more text and signature space on a page.
- Real estate — some leases, disclosures and closing documents are printed on Legal.
- Government and court forms — some forms are still produced on Legal, although many US courts now require Letter size for filings.
- Spreadsheets and tables — long lists fit more rows per page in portrait, or wider tables in landscape.
- Menus and flyers — the tall shape suits restaurant menus and event programmes.
Printing on legal paper
- Load legal paper in the tray and adjust the length guide; some printers need the tray extended or a manual feed slot.
- In the document, set the page size to Legal (8.5 × 14 in) before editing so the layout does not reflow later.
- In the print dialog, choose paper size Legal and scale 100%.
- If only Letter paper is available, choose “Fit to page” — the content will be reduced to about 79%.
Many home printers accept Legal paper; check the printer specifications for supported media sizes.
Understanding pixels and DPI
Paper sizes are physical; pixel dimensions depend on resolution. DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch) tells you how many pixels make one inch. For printing, 300 DPI is the usual target for sharp images and text; 150 DPI is acceptable for large posters viewed from a distance; 72 and 96 PPI are screen conventions. To create a digital file for Legal at 300 DPI, make the canvas 2,550 × 4,200 pixels. For PDFs, sizes are expressed in points (1/72 inch), so Legal is 612 × 1,008 points.
North American and ISO paper sizes
North American sizes (Letter, Legal, Tabloid) are based on inches and have different aspect ratios from one another. ISO sizes (A4, A3, A5) all share the ratio 1 : √2, so halving an A3 sheet gives two A4 sheets of the same shape, and enlarging A4 to A3 on a copier needs exactly 141%. That consistency is why most of the world uses ISO sizes. The US Government moved from 8 × 10.5 inch paper to Letter in the 1980s, and US federal courts use Letter for filings.
Worked example
A property manager needs to email a lease originally formatted for Legal paper to a tenant in Europe who will print it on A4. The converter shows Legal at 215.9 × 355.6 mm and A4 at 210 × 297 mm. Printing with “Fit to page” shrinks the lease to about 83% — readable but small. Instead, the manager changes the document page size to A4 and lets the text reflow over more pages, keeping the font size unchanged, and checks that signature blocks have not split across pages.
Other common paper sizes
| Size | Inches | Millimetres | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabloid / Ledger | 11 × 17 | 279 × 432 | Newsletters, posters, large spreadsheets; Ledger is the same sheet in landscape |
| Executive | 7.25 × 10.5 | 184 × 267 | Personal stationery and notepads |
| Government Letter | 8 × 10.5 | 203 × 267 | Historic US government size |
| Junior Legal | 5 × 8 | 127 × 203 | Notepads and memo pads |
| A3 | 11.69 × 16.54 | 297 × 420 | Posters, drawings, large tables (ISO) |
| A5 | 5.83 × 8.27 | 148 × 210 | Notebooks, flyers, booklets (ISO) |
| B5 | 6.93 × 9.84 | 176 × 250 | Notebooks and books (ISO) |
| Foolscap | 8.5 × 13 | 216 × 330 | Older size still used in some countries; also called Folio (8.5 × 13 in) |
| Oficio (Mexico) | 8.5 × 13.4 | 216 × 340 | Legal size used in Mexico and parts of Latin America |
Envelopes and folders for legal documents
Legal documents are often mailed flat in 10 × 15 inch envelopes, or folded in thirds into a #10 envelope (which is designed for Letter; a Legal sheet folded in thirds is about 4.7 inches tall and will not fit well, so fold Legal in quarters or use a larger envelope). Legal-size file folders are about 9.5 × 14.75 inches, and legal-size filing cabinets are wider than letter-size ones to hold them.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of legal size paper?
8.5 × 14 inches, or 215.9 × 355.6 millimetres.
Is legal paper bigger than A4?
Yes. It is 5.9 mm wider and 58.6 mm longer than A4.
What is legal size in pixels?
2,550 × 4,200 pixels at 300 DPI.
Is legal the same as foolscap?
No. Foolscap (folio) is usually 8.5 × 13 inches, an inch shorter than Legal.
Do courts still use legal paper?
Many US courts now require Letter-size filings; check local court rules.
Can I print legal documents on letter paper?
Yes, with “Fit to page”, which shrinks content to about 79%.