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Paper Sizes, Qualities, Finishes and Colours
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There is an international standard of paper sizes known as the A series. The base size is known as A0, which is defined to have an area of 1m2. The other sizes in the series are numbered to indicate how many times the base size needs to be folded. For example, A1 is A0 folded in half, ie. 1 fold, and A4 is A0 folded 4 times, etc. A4 is the most common size that we sell and is the standard size used in printers, photocopiers, etc.
Paper Qualities and Finishes
Paper comes in various qualities and types, and is usually measured as a weight or density, generally referenced as gsm (grams per square meter). Standard paper weights range from 75gsm for the most basic quality for everyday use, 80gsm is probably the most popular, up to 100gsm for high quality. On top of that, there is photo quality paper which goes up to 280gsm, and card from 160gsm upwards. Sometimes card is measured in microns, for example, 160gsm is 200 microns. Then you might need to consider the finish of the higher quality paper, such as Silk, Matt, Gloss and Hammer. There must be 100s of different combinations of quality and type, so please contact us if you need more information.
Ordering Paper
When ordering paper, the smallest unit that we sell is commonly referred to as a ream (500 sheets for standard quality). However, for some of the higher quality paper, a ream may contain a smaller number of sheets. Again, please call us if you are not sure of the minimum order quantity.
Larger sizes relative to A4
Smaller sizes relative to A4
Letter Size
The Letter size is more common in the United States, but is used in the UK. It is slightly wider and slightly shorter than A4, ie. 215.9 x 279.4 mm or 8.5 x 11 inches.
Foolscap
The Foolscap size, sometimes known as Folio, was an original size used in the British Commonwealth and Europe prior to the introduction of the international standard of the 'A' series, eg. A4. It measures 216 x 343 mm or 8.5 x 13.5 inches.
Table of Sizes
| Size | W x H (mm) | W x H (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | 33.1 x 46.8 |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 23.4 x 33.1 |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 16.5 x 23.4 |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11.7 x 16.5 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.3 x 11.7 |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.8 x 8.3 |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | 4.1 x 5.8 |
| A7 | 74 x 105 | 2.9 x 4.1 |
| A8 | 52 x 74 | 2.0 x 2.9 |
| A9 | 37 x 52 | 1.5 x 2.0 |
| A10 | 26 x 37 | 1.0 x 1.5 |
| Letter | 216 x 279 | 8.5 x 11.0 |
| Foolscap | 216 x 343 | 8.5 x 13.5 |
Colour Swatch:
