PDF Page Sizes: A4, Letter, Legal and More in mm, Inches and Points
Standard paper sizes are defined in physical units, but PDF files store them in points. Here is a quick reference you can use to check whether a PDF is really A4, Letter, or something else.
ISO A-series (used almost everywhere outside North America)
| Size | mm | Inches | PDF points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | 33.11 x 46.81 | 2384 x 3370 |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 23.39 x 33.11 | 1684 x 2384 |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 16.54 x 23.39 | 1191 x 1684 |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11.69 x 16.54 | 842 x 1191 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.27 x 11.69 | 595 x 842 |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.83 x 8.27 | 420 x 595 |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | 4.13 x 5.83 | 298 x 420 |
North American sizes
| Size | Inches | mm | PDF points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5 x 11 | 215.9 x 279.4 | 612 x 792 |
| Legal | 8.5 x 14 | 215.9 x 355.6 | 612 x 1008 |
| Tabloid / Ledger | 11 x 17 | 279.4 x 431.8 | 792 x 1224 |
| Executive | 7.25 x 10.5 | 184.2 x 266.7 | 522 x 756 |
A4 vs US Letter
A4 is slightly narrower and taller than Letter: 210 x 297 mm against 215.9 x 279.4 mm. That difference is why a document made for one often has odd margins or gets scaled when printed on the other. If a PDF prints with unexpected scaling, check its actual page size first.
How to check the size of your PDF
Open the file in PdfRuler, choose your unit and read the page width and height from the status bar. Values are rounded for display, so a real A4 page may show as 210 x 297 mm or 595.28 x 841.89 pt. See also how to find a PDF's page size in other tools.
Custom sizes
Plenty of PDFs are not a standard size: business cards, posters, labels, packaging dielines and drawings. For these, open the file and measure it directly rather than guessing which standard it is closest to.
Frequently asked questions
What size is A4 in inches?
A4 is 8.27 x 11.69 inches (210 x 297 mm, about 595 x 842 PDF points).
What size is US Letter in mm?
US Letter is 215.9 x 279.4 mm (8.5 x 11 inches, 612 x 792 PDF points).
How many points is an A4 page?
An A4 page is about 595.28 x 841.89 PDF points, usually rounded to 595 x 842.
