Paper size guide
US Legal paper size
US Legal measures 215.9 × 355.6 mm, which is 8.5 × 14 inches (21.59 × 35.56 cm). US Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) is a longer office size used for legal documents.
US Legal dimensions
| Millimetres | 215.9 × 355.6 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 21.59 × 35.56 cm |
| Inches | 8.5 × 14 in |
| Points | 612 × 1008 pt |
| Pixels at 72 dpi | 612 × 1008 px |
| Pixels at 150 dpi | 1275 × 2100 px |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 2550 × 4200 px |
| Proportion | 1 : 1.647 |
Drawing on US Legal
Legal is a less common drawing format, but its tall proportions can suit tall subjects such as trees, standing figures and architectural details.
Typical uses: tall compositions, printing long references.
Usable drawing area with a margin
Most artists leave a margin so the drawing can be mounted and the edges stay clean.
| Margin | Drawing area (mm) | Drawing area (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mm all round | 195.9 × 335.6 | 7.71 × 13.21 |
| 20 mm all round | 175.9 × 315.6 | 6.93 × 12.43 |
| 30 mm all round | 155.9 × 295.6 | 6.14 × 11.64 |
To copy a reference photo accurately onto US Legal, try the grid drawing tool, which scales a grid to your paper size. Choosing paper? See the best paper for coloured pencils and paper weight explained.
Framing US Legal
Frames sized exactly to US Legal are not universal, so most artists mount the drawing and choose a larger standard frame. With a mount overlapping by roughly 6 mm each side, the visible image (aperture) is about 203.9 × 343.6 mm.
Standard frames that leave at least 20 mm of mount border around a US Legal sheet:
| Frame | Side border | Top and bottom |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 46.6 mm | 38.2 mm |
| A2 | 108.1 mm | 125.2 mm |
| A1 | 195.1 mm | 248.7 mm |
| 12 × 16 inch | 50.5 mm | 31.4 mm |
| 16 × 20 inch | 101.2 mm | 82.2 mm |
Try your own numbers in the frame and mount calculator, or read how to frame and mount a drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What size is US Legal in inches?+
US Legal is 8.5 × 14 inches (215.9 × 355.6 mm, or 21.59 × 35.56 cm).
What is US Legal in pixels?+
At 72 dpi US Legal is 612 × 1008 pixels, at 150 dpi it is 1275 × 2100, and at 300 dpi it is 2550 × 4200. Use 300 dpi to scan or print artwork at full quality.
How much of the sheet can I draw on at US Legal?+
With a 20 mm margin around the edge, the drawing area on US Legal is 175.9 × 315.6 mm. Leave more if you plan to mount the drawing, because a mount overlaps the paper by around 6 mm on each side.