Paper Sizes Australia: A0 to A7 and DL in mm
Australia uses the ISO A series, so every size follows one rule. Fold a sheet in half across its long edge and you get the next size down. Double it and you get the next size up.
That rule is the whole system. It also means artwork scales between sizes without cropping, because the proportions never change.
Below are the dimensions in millimetres, centimetres and inches, what each size is normally used for, and which stock weight suits which job.
A series paper sizes in mm
| Size | Millimetres | Centimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 42.0 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 29.7 x 42.0 | 11.7 x 16.5 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 21.0 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 14.8 x 21.0 | 5.8 x 8.3 |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | 10.5 x 14.8 | 4.1 x 5.8 |
| A7 | 74 x 105 | 7.4 x 10.5 | 2.9 x 4.1 |
| DL | 99 x 210 | 9.9 x 21.0 | 3.9 x 8.3 |
All measurements are width by height in portrait. DL is not part of the A series, which is covered further down.
Download the paper size chart as a PDF and keep it next to your desk.
Why the sizes halve so neatly
Every A size has the same proportions, 1 to 1.414. Halving the long edge produces a sheet with those proportions again, which is why the system never runs out of matching sizes.
A0 is the anchor. It is one square metre of paper, and everything below it is A0 halved a number of times.
- Fold A4 in half across the long edge and you have A5.
- Fold that A5 in half again and you have A6.
- Put two A4 sheets side by side along their long edges and you have A3.
- Two A3 make A2, two A2 make A1, two A1 make A0.
For artwork this matters more than it sounds. A design built at A5 can be scaled to A3 or A0 without cropping, redrawing or letterboxing, because nothing about the shape changes.
What is DL size?
DL is 99 x 210 mm. It is not made by halving an A size. It is an A4 sheet divided into three down its 297 mm length, which gives three panels of 99 mm.
That is why DL is the standard for letterbox drops, rack cards, drink menus and anything designed to sit inside a DL envelope.
The DL trap worth knowing. A DL flyer is 99 x 210 mm. A DL envelope is 110 x 220 mm. The envelope is deliberately larger so the flyer slides in without jamming. Artwork supplied at envelope size will be trimmed wrong.
What each size is normally used for
| Size | Typical use |
|---|---|
| A0 | Large format posters, retail display graphics, architectural plans, exhibition panels |
| A1 | A frame signs, event posters, point of sale, presentation graphics |
| A2 | Indoor posters, wall displays, presentation charts |
| A3 | Posters, placemat menus, diagrams, and the flat sheet for a four page A4 brochure |
| A4 | Letterheads, reports, presentation folders, A4 flyers, catalogue pages |
| A5 | Flyers, saddle stitched booklets, invitations, menus |
| A6 | Postcards, handouts, packaging inserts, loyalty cards |
| A7 | Swing tags, event tickets, vouchers, small cards |
| DL | DL flyers, rack cards, direct mail, compliments slips |
Business cards sit outside the A series. The Australian standard is 90 x 55 mm.
Ordering a folded brochure? The flat sheet and the finished piece are different sizes, and "an A4 brochure" can mean three different jobs. Folded brochure sizes explained: 4pp, 6pp, 8pp and 12pp.
Which stock weight for which job
GSM is grams per square metre. It describes weight, which on most stocks means thickness and how the piece feels in the hand.
| Weight | Feels like | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 150 gsm | Light, flexible | Letterbox flyers, handouts, letterheads, folded brochures |
| 250 gsm | Firm, holds its shape | Postcards, premium flyers, menus, anything meant to be kept |
| 300 gsm | Substantial, rigid | Invitations, swing tags, tickets, heavy cards |
| 420 gsm | Thick, high end | Business cards |
Weight is a tactile decision before it is a technical one. A business card is handed over and judged in the first second, so it earns the heavier stock. A flyer going into two thousand letterboxes does not.
Western Press folded brochures print on 150 gsm as standard, and business cards on 420 gsm with matt or gloss celloglaze on one side, both sides, or neither.
Setting up the file? CMYK, 3 mm bleed, crop marks, the safe zone, resolution and the pre flight checklist are on one page: how to supply print ready artwork.
Common questions
What size is DL in mm?
A DL flyer or brochure is 99 x 210 mm. A DL envelope is larger, at 110 x 220 mm, so the printed piece fits inside it.
What size is A4 in mm?
A4 is 210 x 297 mm, or 21.0 x 29.7 cm.
Does Australia use A4 or Letter?
Australia uses A4, along with Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and most of the world. Letter and Legal are used in the United States and Canada.
What does A4 fold down to?
Folded once across the long edge, A4 becomes A5, 148 x 210 mm. Folded twice into thirds, it becomes DL, 99 x 210 mm. Page counts and fold types are in the folded brochure guide.
Is A6 the same as a postcard?
Yes. A6 at 105 x 148 mm is the standard postcard size in Australia, usually printed on 250 or 300 gsm.
What is the standard business card size in Australia?
90 x 55 mm. It is not part of the A series.
Trade printing, priced for people who resell it
Western Press prints for resellers, designers, agencies and brokers. Trade accounts only, no public sales, so your buy price stays yours.
Apply for a trade account or see the product range and sizes.