Guides · Printing and framing
A4 vs US Letter: what's the difference?
US Letter is 8.5 × 11 in (215.9 × 279.4 mm); A4 is 210 × 297 mm (8.3 × 11.7 in). Letter is 5.9 mm wider and A4 17.6 mm taller, so they are different shapes. With “fit to page”, an A4 page prints at 94% on Letter. A design kept inside 210 × 279.4 mm fits both.
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How big are A4 and US Letter?
Side by side, in every unit you might need:
| Measure | US Letter | A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | 8.5 × 11 in | 8.27 × 11.69 in |
| Millimetres | 215.9 × 279.4 mm | 210 × 297 mm |
| Shape | 17:22 (0.773) | 1:√2 (0.707) |
| Area | 603.2 cm² | 623.7 cm² |
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 2,550 × 3,300 px | 2,480 × 3,508 px |
| Standard in | US, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, parts of Latin America | Most other countries (ISO 216) |
What happens if you print an A4 file on Letter paper?
At 100%, the page is 17.6 mm too tall for the sheet, so the top and bottom are cut, and it is 5.9 mm narrower, so a sliver of white shows at the sides. With “Fit to page” the printer shrinks it to about 94%, or 89% inside a 0.25 in printer margin, with wider white space at the sides.
And a Letter file on A4?
The other way round, the page is 5.9 mm too wide, so “Fit to page” shrinks it to about 97% (91% inside the margins), leaving white space at the top and bottom. For forms, planners and worksheets that is usually fine; for anything measured, like a ruler or a pattern, it isn't.
How do you make a printable that works on both?
- Two files, one per paper. Lay out an A4 version and a Letter version, each using its own sheet. This is the cleanest: buyers print at 100% on their own paper.
- One file with a shared safe area. Keep everything inside 210 × 279.4 mm (the area both sheets share), or 197.3 × 266.7 mm to stay clear of a 0.25 in printer margin, centred on the page. It prints at 100% on either paper with a little more white space on one side.
- Wall art. A4 is part of the A-series (one file prints A5 to A1); 8.5 × 11 is its own 17:22 shape, closest to 11:14. Which file for which frame lists the options.
Printing a photo on either paper
A photo at a set size, say 5x7, prints the same on both sheets; only how many fit changes (2 on Letter, 2 on A4). A print as big as the sheet is different: an A4 photo on A4 paper prints 1 at 93% or borderless, and an 8.5 × 11 on Letter 1 at 93% or borderless. “At 97%”: the print page fits the photo inside your printer's margins, a few percent smaller, with a thin white edge — fine behind a mat. “Borderless”: full size, edge to edge, on a printer with a borderless setting. Both are options on the print-at-home page.
Frequently asked questions
Is A4 bigger than US Letter?
A4 is 17.6 mm taller but 5.9 mm narrower, with about 3% more area. Neither sheet fits inside the other.
Can I print an A4 PDF on Letter paper?
Yes, with “Fit to page” (or “Shrink oversized pages”): it prints at about 94% of its size, with white space at the sides. At 100%, 17.6 mm of its height doesn't fit on the sheet.
What is US Letter in pixels at 300 DPI?
2,550 × 3,300 pixels (8.5 × 300 by 11 × 300). A4 at 300 DPI is 2,480 × 3,508.
Which countries use Letter paper?
The US, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and parts of Latin America use Letter; most other countries use A4.
Will an A4 print fit an 8.5 × 11 frame?
No: it is 5.9 mm narrower but 17.6 mm too tall. Trim it, use an A4 frame, or use a larger frame with a mat cut for A4.
Sources and how the numbers were worked out
Pixel, crop and size figures on this page are calculated from the same size data the FrameReady tools use (inches or millimetres × DPI), not copied from elsewhere.