Letter compared with A4
A4 vs Letter
A4 measures 210 × 297 mm (8.27 × 11.69 in); Letter measures 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in).Letter is 5.9 mm wider. A4 is 17.6 mm taller.
Try a comparison
AFirst paper
210 × 297 mm
BCompare with
215.9 × 279.4 mm
All measurements update together.
At a glance
Both sheets shown at the same scale
A4PortraitLetterPortrait
Proportional preview · not actual print size
Letter minus A4
Scale A4 to fit inside Letter
The details, side by side
A4 and Letter: dimensions in the selected orientation.
| Measurement | AA4 | BLetter |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 210 mm | 215.9 mm |
| Height | 297 mm | 279.4 mm |
| Area | 62370 mm² | 60322.46 mm² |
| Aspect ratio (width : height) | 1 : 1.41 | 1 : 1.29 |
Print scale uses the orientations shown above and excludes printer margins and bleed. Rotate a sheet to explore a different fit.
Area difference
Letter has 3.28% less area than A4, using A4 as the baseline.
Print scaling
A4 onto Letter: 94%. Letter onto A4: 97%. These portrait-to-portrait scales exclude printer margins and bleed.
Enter the percentage in your print dialog's Custom Scale field, select the destination paper size, and check the preview for the printer's unprintable margins.
Aspect ratios
A4: 1.41:1; Letter: 1.29:1 (long edge to short edge, rounded to two decimal places).
Which should you use?
Choose A4 when your document or recipient specifies that ISO format; choose Letter for a workflow that requires that US format. Match the document, driver and loaded sheet rather than treating the two names as interchangeable.
A4 vs Letter FAQ
What is the size difference between A4 and Letter?
A4 measures 210 × 297 mm (8.27 × 11.69 in); Letter measures 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in). Letter is 5.9 mm wider. A4 is 17.6 mm taller.
How does Letter compare with A4 in area?
Letter has 3.28% less area than A4, using A4 as the baseline.
What scale prints A4 on Letter, and vice versa?
A4 onto Letter: 94%. Letter onto A4: 97%. These portrait-to-portrait scales exclude printer margins and bleed.
Do A4 and Letter have the same aspect ratio?
A4: 1.41:1; Letter: 1.29:1 (long edge to short edge, rounded to two decimal places). Their proportions differ, so fitting one onto the other leaves unused space unless content is cropped.