A2 vs A4

Q: Can I print A2 on A4?

Not at full size. Scale it to 50% and it fits inside A4 with 0 × 0 mm to spare.

	A2	A4
Millimetres	420 × 594	210 × 297
Inches	16.54 × 23.39	8.27 × 11.69
Centimetres	42 × 59.4	21 × 29.7
Aspect ratio	1:1.41	1:1.41
Area	2494.8 cm²	623.7 cm²

Which is bigger

A2 is 4 times the area of A4. They are 2 steps apart in the A series and each step halves the sheet, so the multiple is two to the power of 2. The number in the name going up while the sheet goes down is why this has to be asked rather than read off.

A2 is 210 mm wider than A4. A2 is 297 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A A4 page fits inside A2 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 105 mm border down each side and 148.5 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
A2 artwork on A4 paper	50%	0 × 0 mm margin
A4 artwork on A2 paper	200%	0 × 0 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 A4?

A2 is 420 × 594 mm and A4 is 210 × 297 mm. A2 is the larger of the two by 300% in area.

Can I print A2 on A4?

Not at full size. Scale it to 50% and it fits inside A4 with 0 × 0 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, A2 or A4?

A2 — 420 × 594 mm against 210 × 297 mm, which is 300% more area.

Related comparisons

A2 in full · A4 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes