Letter paper size
215.9 × 279.4 mm
8.5 × 11 inches · 21.59 × 27.94 cm · aspect ratio 1:1.29
Letter in every unit
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 215.9 mm | 279.4 mm |
| Centimetres | 21.59 cm | 27.94 cm |
| Inches | 8.5 in | 11 in |
| Points (PostScript) | 612 pt | 792 pt |
Letter in pixels
Pixel dimensions depend entirely on the resolution you are working at — there is no single "pixel size" for a sheet of paper.
| Resolution | Pixels | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 72 DPI | 612 × 792 | Screen preview only — far too coarse to print |
| 150 DPI | 1275 × 1650 | Draft printing, internal documents |
| 300 DPI | 2550 × 3300 | The standard for commercial print |
| 600 DPI | 5100 × 6600 | Fine detail, line art, archival scanning |
Setting up a print document? Use 300 DPI and add 3 mm of bleed on every edge unless your printer specifies otherwise.
About Letter
The North American default: 8.5 × 11 inches. Slightly wider and shorter than A4, which is why documents laid out for one never quite fit the other.
Letter vs A4
Letter is 6 mm wider and 18 mm shorter than A4. That small difference is why a PDF laid out for A4 prints with clipped edges or unexpected margins on US paper, and why "Fit to page" exists in every print dialog. There is no scaling factor that makes them match — the aspect ratios genuinely differ (1:1.294 for Letter, 1:1.414 for A4).
Other North American sizes
| Size | Millimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Legal | 215.9 × 355.6 mm | 8.5 × 14 in |
| Tabloid | 279.4 × 431.8 mm | 11 × 17 in |
| Executive | 184.15 × 266.7 mm | 7.25 × 10.5 in |
| Half Letter | 139.7 × 215.9 mm | 5.5 × 8.5 in |
| Junior Legal | 127 × 203.2 mm | 5 × 8 in |
| ANSI C | 431.8 × 558.8 mm | 17 × 22 in |
| ANSI D | 558.8 × 863.6 mm | 22 × 34 in |
| ANSI E | 863.6 × 1117.6 mm | 34 × 44 in |
Frequently asked questions
What size is Letter in mm?
215.9 × 279.4 mm.
What size is Letter in inches?
8.5 × 11 inches.
What size is Letter in pixels?
There is no single answer — it depends on resolution. At the print standard of 300 DPI it is 2550 × 3300 pixels; at 72 DPI it is only 612 × 792.