Is A3 bigger than A4?

Printing is something we may be guilty of taking for granted from time to time. But now and then, we’ll need to print something particular that isn’t your standard A4, one-pager Word doc.
This usually involves using different sized paper, which always raises questions such as ‘is A3 bigger than A4?’.

With paper sizes operating on a reverse scale, with the most significant dimensions being the smallest number, you can see why this could get confusing.

To help you out with these endless questions, we’ll run through some standard paper sizes, what they look like, and how they’re used.

Read on to discover the sizes and uses for these paper sizes and their compatible printers.

A0

Despite having the lowest number, this is the largest of them, with A0 paper size being 841 x 1189 mm. In other words, they’re over a metre in height, which is the same as 16 pieces of A4 paper. Typically, these would be used for making large signs and posters.

A1

Like A0 paper, these sheets of paper would be used to create signs, window displays, and posters. However, they aren’t as big as A0, with A1 paper size coming in at 594 x 841 mm.

A2

The A2 paper size is 420 x 594 mm, which is scaled down from the above. The kinds of things this size of paper would be used for are notices, posters, art prints and window displays. It’s slightly larger overall than a British broadsheet newspaper.

A3

A form of paper you’ll have encountered at work or school, A3 paper size stands at 297 x 420 mm, a similar height but slightly different in proportions to a tabloid newspaper. One of the more popular paper sizes posters, plans, charts and presentations. While not a go-to paper size for home use, many business innovative inkjet printers offer A3 print capability, with some even offering this from an A4 size machine!

A4

The most common and recognised sheet of paper, A4, is 210 x 297 mm. Used throughout the UK, this is used for everyday printing for everything from Word documents to stationery letterheads. These are the universal home printing format, and all laser and inkjet printers – along with some mobile printers – should have A4 capability.

A5

Another set of dimensions you’ll be used to seeing, A5 paper size is 148.5 x 210 mm, and has many everyday uses. From flyers and invitations to booklets, planners and diaries, it makes for a handy and portable size. While several mobile printers offer A5 printing facilities, many standard home printers offer A5 prints, as it is half the size of A4, allowing two A5 prints to be printed on one sheet of A4.

A6

Standard A6 paper size is 105 x 148.5 mm, making it too small for long blocks of text, but it still has plenty of uses. Some mobile printers offer the capability to print this size, which is most regularly used for flyers, postcards, leaflets and save the dates.

Paper size chart

While we’ve talked you through A0 to A6, the A-Class runs to a tiny A10 size. Below, you’ll find a paper size chart detailing all the A-class measures, including those not mentioned above, in cm, mm and inches.