PDF Page Sizes and Dimensions: A4, Letter, Legal and More
This guide lists standard PDF page sizes in millimeters, inches, pixels at two resolutions and PDF points, with notes on each.
The Standard Sizes
Pixel counts are computed as inches times dpi, rounded to the nearest whole number. PDF points are fixed at 72 per inch regardless of any dpi setting.
| Size | mm | inches | px at 72 dpi | px at 300 dpi | PDF points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11.69 x 16.54 | 842 x 1191 | 3508 x 4961 | 842 x 1191 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.27 x 11.69 | 595 x 842 | 2480 x 3508 | 595 x 842 |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.83 x 8.27 | 420 x 595 | 1748 x 2480 | 420 x 595 |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | 4.13 x 5.83 | 298 x 420 | 1240 x 1748 | 298 x 420 |
| B5 | 176 x 250 | 6.93 x 9.84 | 499 x 709 | 2079 x 2953 | 499 x 709 |
| US Letter | 216 x 279 | 8.5 x 11 | 612 x 792 | 2550 x 3300 | 612 x 792 |
| US Legal | 216 x 356 | 8.5 x 14 | 612 x 1008 | 2550 x 4200 | 612 x 1008 |
| Tabloid | 279 x 432 | 11 x 17 | 792 x 1224 | 3300 x 5100 | 792 x 1224 |
| Executive | 184 x 267 | 7.25 x 10.5 | 522 x 756 | 2175 x 3150 | 522 x 756 |
Points vs Pixels vs DPI
A PDF page is defined in points, a fixed physical unit, 72 to the inch. A pixel only exists once you rasterize the page for a screen or an image export, and the pixel count depends entirely on the dpi you choose. The same A4 page is 595 x 842 points whether you view it at 72 dpi or export it at 300 dpi; only the pixel dimensions of the exported image change.
Why a PDF Has No Resolution
Text and vector graphics in a PDF are drawn from mathematical outlines, not a pixel grid, so they scale to any size without becoming blurry. Only embedded raster images, such as scanned pages or photos, have a fixed pixel resolution. That is why a page can look sharp at any zoom level while a low-resolution photo inside it still looks soft.
Bleed and Margins
Print shops often ask for extra bleed, a margin of content that extends past the trim line so that any slight misalignment during cutting does not leave a white edge. A common bleed allowance is 3 to 5 mm on each side. Margins inside the trim line keep text away from the edge and away from any bleed area.
Choosing a Size for Print vs Screen
For paper documents, match the size your printer or print shop expects, A4 almost everywhere outside North America and US Letter within the United States and Canada. For on-screen reading, page size matters less than readable text width, since most viewers zoom to fit the screen anyway.
Mixed Page Sizes in One PDF
A single PDF file can contain pages of different sizes, which is legal and renders correctly in every standard viewer. This is common when combining a cover page, a landscape chart and a portrait report into one file. Some print workflows and older printers handle mixed sizes poorly, so check before sending a mixed-size file to a print shop.
Working With Page Sizes
Use Resize PDF to change a document to a standard size, Crop PDF to trim margins or unwanted edges, and PDF to Image (HQ) to export pages as high-resolution images at a chosen dpi. Going the other way, Image to PDF places photos onto pages of a size you pick, and Markdown to PDF lays out plain text documents onto A4 pages automatically. For more on file size and image quality inside a PDF, see the PDF compression guide.