Letter compared with Legal
Legal vs Letter
Legal measures 215.9 × 355.6 mm (8.5 × 14 in); Letter measures 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in).Both sheets have the same width. Legal is 76.2 mm taller.
Try a comparison
AFirst paper
215.9 × 355.6 mm
BCompare with
215.9 × 279.4 mm
All measurements update together.
At a glance
Both sheets shown at the same scale
LegalPortraitLetterPortrait
Proportional preview · not actual print size
Letter minus Legal
Scale Legal to fit inside Letter
The details, side by side
Legal and Letter: dimensions in the selected orientation.
| Measurement | ALegal | BLetter |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 215.9 mm | 215.9 mm |
| Height | 355.6 mm | 279.4 mm |
| Area | 76774.04 mm² | 60322.46 mm² |
| Aspect ratio (width : height) | 1 : 1.65 | 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 21.43% less area than Legal, using Legal as the baseline.
Print scaling
Legal onto Letter: 78%. Letter onto Legal: 100%. 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
Legal: 1.65:1; Letter: 1.29:1 (long edge to short edge, rounded to two decimal places).
Which should you use?
Choose Legal when your document template or recipient requests it, and Letter when that format is required. Legal offers more room for layouts and diagrams; the smaller sheet takes less space for compact documents.
Legal vs Letter FAQ
What is the size difference between Legal and Letter?
Legal measures 215.9 × 355.6 mm (8.5 × 14 in); Letter measures 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in). Both sheets have the same width. Legal is 76.2 mm taller.
How does Letter compare with Legal in area?
Letter has 21.43% less area than Legal, using Legal as the baseline.
What scale prints Legal on Letter, and vice versa?
Legal onto Letter: 78%. Letter onto Legal: 100%. These portrait-to-portrait scales exclude printer margins and bleed.
Do Legal and Letter have the same aspect ratio?
Legal: 1.65:1; 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.