A2 vs A3

Q: Can I print A2 on A3?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.7% and it fits inside A3 with 0 × 0 mm to spare.

	A2	A3
Millimetres	420 × 594	297 × 420
Inches	16.54 × 23.39	11.69 × 16.54
Centimetres	42 × 59.4	29.7 × 42
Aspect ratio	1:1.41	1:1.41
Area	2494.8 cm²	1247.4 cm²

Which is bigger

A2 and A3 are one step apart in the A series, so one is exactly twice the other. Two A3 sheets side by side make an A2, and folding an A2 in half across its long edge gives two A3. That is what the series is for, and it is why the scale factors below come out at 70.7% and 141.4% — one over the square root of two, and the square root of two.

A2 is 123 mm wider than A3. A2 is 174 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A A3 page fits inside A2 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 61.5 mm border down each side and 87 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
A2 artwork on A3 paper	70.7%	0 × 0 mm margin
A3 artwork on A2 paper	141.4%	0 × 0.1 mm margin

These are the numbers for the "custom scale" box in a print dialog. "Fit to page" computes the same thing, but knowing the figure tells you in advance whether the result will look deliberate or accidental.

Why the shapes matter

Both sheets have the same 1:1.41 proportions, so artwork scales between them without any cropping or extra margin — only the size changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between A2 and A3?

A2 is 420 × 594 mm and A3 is 297 × 420 mm. A2 is the larger of the two by 100% in area.

Can I print A2 on A3?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.7% and it fits inside A3 with 0 × 0 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, A2 or A3?

A2 — 420 × 594 mm against 297 × 420 mm, which is 100% more area.

Related comparisons

A2 in full · A3 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes