Half Letter vs Envelope No. 12
| Half Letter | Envelope No. 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 139.7 × 215.9 | 120.65 × 279.4 |
| Inches | 5.5 × 8.5 | 4.75 × 11 |
| Centimetres | 14 × 21.6 | 12.1 × 27.9 |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1.55 | 1:2.32 |
| Area | 301.6 cm² | 337.1 cm² |
Which is bigger
Envelope No. 12, by 11.8% in area. Half Letter is 19 mm wider than Envelope No. 12. Envelope No. 12 is 63.5 mm taller.
Printing one on the other
Neither sheet fits inside the other at full size: Half Letter is the wider of the two while Envelope No. 12 is the taller, so each overruns the other on one edge. Whichever way you go, something has to scale or crop.
| You want | Set the print scale to | Leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Half Letter artwork on Envelope No. 12 paper | 86.4% | 0 × 92.9 mm margin |
| Envelope No. 12 artwork on Half Letter paper | 77.3% | 46.5 × 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: Half Letter is 1:1.55 and Envelope No. 12 is 1:2.32. 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 92.9 mm of unwanted margin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Half Letter and Envelope No. 12?
Half Letter is 139.7 × 215.9 mm and Envelope No. 12 is 120.65 × 279.4 mm. Envelope No. 12 is the larger of the two by 11.8% in area.
Can I print Half Letter on Envelope No. 12?
Not at full size. Scale it to 86.4% and it fits inside Envelope No. 12 with 0 × 92.9 mm to spare.
Which is bigger, Half Letter or Envelope No. 12?
Envelope No. 12 — 120.65 × 279.4 mm against 139.7 × 215.9 mm, which is 11.8% more area.
Related comparisons
- A10 Envelope (US) vs Envelope No. 12
- Envelope No. 11 vs Envelope No. 12
- Envelope No. 12 vs Envelope No. 14
- A5 vs Half Letter
- A5 vs Envelope No. 12
- B5 vs Half Letter
- B5 vs Envelope No. 12
- B6 vs Half Letter
- C5 vs Half Letter
- C5 vs Envelope No. 12
- DL vs Half Letter
- DL vs Envelope No. 12
Half Letter in full · Envelope No. 12 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes