A4 vs A8

Q: Can I print A4 on A8?

Not at full size. Scale it to 24.8% and it fits inside A8 with 0 × 0.5 mm to spare.

	A4	A8
Millimetres	210 × 297	52 × 74
Inches	8.27 × 11.69	2.05 × 2.91
Centimetres	21 × 29.7	5.2 × 7.4
Aspect ratio	1:1.41	1:1.42
Area	623.7 cm²	38.5 cm²

Which is bigger

A4 is 16 times the area of A8. They are 4 steps apart in the A series and each step halves the sheet, so the multiple is two to the power of 4. The number in the name going up while the sheet goes down is why this has to be asked rather than read off.

A4 is 158 mm wider than A8. A4 is 223 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A A8 page fits inside A4 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 79 mm border down each side and 111.5 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
A4 artwork on A8 paper	24.8%	0 × 0.5 mm margin
A8 artwork on A4 paper	401.4%	1.3 × 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

The proportions differ: A4 is 1:1.41 and A8 is 1:1.42. That difference is why a layout moved between them never quite lines up — scale it to fit one edge and the other is left with 0.5 mm of unwanted margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between A4 and A8?

A4 is 210 × 297 mm and A8 is 52 × 74 mm. A4 is the larger of the two by 1520.8% in area.

Can I print A4 on A8?

Not at full size. Scale it to 24.8% and it fits inside A8 with 0 × 0.5 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, A4 or A8?

A4 — 210 × 297 mm against 52 × 74 mm, which is 1520.8% more area.

Related comparisons

A4 in full · A8 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes