Printing Product Sizes
A comprehensive and practical guide to the standard printing product sizes commonly used in print projects across the globe. This guide provides detailed insights into the dimensions and formats preferred for a variety of print materials, including books, brochures, magazines, catalogs, posters, and packaging. Understanding these standard sizes ensures your designs are compatible with industry practices, optimizes printing efficiency, and helps achieve professional results for any project.
You may not realize, but different countries have developed different “standard” sizes for a number of printed products, such as paperback books, hardcover books, or leaflets. The reasons are historical, cultural, technological, and practical. We won't go into all that here, but it's important to understand the differences if you're ordering a print job from another country. It's the same for paper sizes, too, as well as the units used to measure paper weight.
In offset printing, we usually feed sheets of A1-sized paper into the press, having organized the pages on the sheet in “signatures” which will later be folded and cut. When we look at paper for printing, sizes are relative to this A1—which is the largest standard sheet—and determined by halving and halving again. So, for example, our famous A4 sheet is half the size of A3, which is half the size of A2, which is half the size of A1. Likewise, A5 is half the size of A4, and so on. This also means that we can fit “x” number of pages perfectly on any sized sheet, which keeps costs down for you compared to printing each page individually.
Paper Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (inch) |
|---|---|---|
A1 | 594 mm x 841 mm | 23.4" x 33.1" |
A2 | 420 mm x 594 mm | 16.5" x 23.4" |
A3 | 297 mm x 420 mm | 11.7" x 16.5" |
A4 | 210 mm x 297 mm | 8.3" x 11.7" |
A5 | 148 mm x 210 mm | 5.8" x 8.3" |
A6 | 105 mm x 148 mm | 4.1" x 5.8" |
A7 | 74 mm x 105 mm | 2.9" x 4.1" |
A0 | 841 mm x 1189 mm | 33.1" x 46.8" |
Now, while it's true that different countries have different standards for products, there's actually an international paper standard with regard to sizes. It's called ISO 216 – except in the USA, Canada, and some Latin American countries, which determine their own paper sizes. So, paper sizes influence product sizes, as you can imagine. But standardization makes sense in terms of machinery manufacture, packing, storage, distribution, retail display, and use. So, let's take a look at these standard dimensions for books, catalogs, magazines, booklets, calendars, and more.
North American Standard Printing
Product Sizes
Standard Book Sizes
8.5" x 11"
6" x 9"
8" x 10"
5.5" x 8.5"
Standard Catalog, Magazine and Booklet Sizes
8.5" x 11"
5.5" x 8.5"
Standard Calendar Sizes
8.5" x 11"
12" x 12"
Standard Poster Sizes
36" x 48"
24" x 36"
18" x 24"
12" x 18"
Standard Presentation Folder Size
9" x 12"
Standard Tarot Card Size
2.75" x 4.75"
Standard Playing Card Size
2.25" x 3.5"
Standard Book Sizes
210 mm x 297 mm
152 mm x 230 mm
148 mm x 210 mm
Standard Catalog, Magazine and Brochure Sizes
210 mm x 297 mm
148 mm x 210 mm
Standard Calendar Sizes
297 mm x 210 mm
300 mm x 300 mm
Standard Poster Sizes
610 mm x 900 mm
450 mm x 600 mm
297 mm x 420 mm
Standard Presentation Folder Size
230 mm x 310 mm
Standard Playing Card Size
59 mm x 92 mm
Chinese Standard Printing Product Sizes
Standard Book Sizes
210 mm x 285 mm
170 mm x 240 mm
142 mm x 210 mm
Standard Catalog, Magazine and Brochure Sizes
210 mm x 285 mm
142mm x 210mm
Standard Calendar Sizes
297 mm x 210 mm
420 mm x 297 mm
300 mm x 300 mm
Standard Poster Sizes
870 mm x 570 mm
570 mm x 420 mm
420 mm x 285 mm
Standard Presentation Folder Size
225 mm x 300 mm
Standard Playing Card Size
59 mm x 92 mm
To accommodate a wide range of printing product sizes, Chinese paper manufacturers rely on three standard base paper sizes as the foundation for all print projects. These base sizes are designed to maximize efficiency and minimize waste, allowing them to be folded and cut into a variety of dimensions suitable for different printing needs. These foundational sizes serve as the starting point for producing everything from books and brochures to magazines, posters, and packaging materials. They include:
-
787 mm x 1092 mm
-
889 mm x 1194 mm
-
890 mm x 1250 mm
Custom Printing Sizes
There are many advantages to sticking with standard sizes for your printing projects. Standard sizes are typically more cost-effective since they align with industry norms and minimize material waste. They also meet consumer and retail expectations, making them ideal for distribution and sales. Additionally, standard-sized products are often easier to store and ship, saving time and reducing logistical challenges.
However, your creativity doesn’t have to be limited by these conventions. If you have a unique vision for your book, catalog, brochure, flyer, or any other product, Ally Sourcing is here to help. We specialize in custom printing solutions tailored to your specific size and design requirements. Whether you're looking for a distinctive layout to stand out from the competition or need a specialized format to meet unique needs, our team is ready to bring your ideas to life. Let us help you make your custom print project as impactful and professional as possible!