Paper size measurements used by photocopy machines

Did you know that photostat paper is produced in various sizes necessary for various uses such as fax, scanning or printing?

However, standards for paper size measurements exist in different countries and in different years. This led to the availability of paper sizes of different standards and created a lot of confusion.

Most photocopiers in Malaysia use paper measurements that follow international standards in their systems. This can reduce confusion and help in standardizing the size of the paper supplied in the market.

Let’s explore the paper sizes that follow the international standards that are often used in Malaysia.

International Standard Paper Size

The international paper size standard is ISO 216 and was originally based on the German DIN 476 standard.

The ISO 216 document sets international standards for paper measurement in most countries around the world, except in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

The internationally commonly used paper size consists of THREE main series, namely Series A, Series B and Series C.

Series A Paper Size Size

Series A paper size is one of the most commonly used paper sizes for in offices to produce documents, reports and presentations.

The paper size decreases in dimensions when moving to a higher number up to the highest number on the scale, which is A10. This means the A0 paper size is the largest, while A10 has the smallest paper size.

A sheet of paper in series A, when folded in two, will result in a smaller next size. For example, the A3 paper size, when folded in half, will be the size of A4 paper.

Series A Paper Size Table (mm & inch)

Photostat machine models that support Series A paper size

This is a list of Ricoh & Fuji Xerox photocopier machines that support various paper sizes of series A.

Series B Paper Size Table

The paper size of series B was created to provide other size options that are not covered by Series A.

This is why the paper size of series B is between 2 sizes of series A. For example, the paper size B4 is located between the sizes A3 and A4. If you need a paper size smaller than A3, but wider than A4, you can use the B4 paper size.

Series B also follows the same concept as series A where the size shrinks to the next size when folded in two. For example, the B3 paper size is half of B2, B2 is half of B1, and so on.

Series B Paper Size Table (mm & inch)

Photostat machine model that supports B series paper size

B series paper is also widely used in most of the latest photostat machines such as the following models.

Series C Paper Size Table

C series paper is mainly used for envelopes and its dimensions are determined by the ISO 269 International Standard.

This C-series paper is not commonly used in photocopiers in offices. Therefore, most photocopiers for offices do not support this paper size.

Paper Size Table Series C (mm & inch)

Often Used American Paper Size Sizes

North America, which includes the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico, is the only first world area not to use the ISO 216 standard.

Let’s take a look at the very different measurements of American paper sizes in terms of their designations in the following table.

American Paper Size Size Table

ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is the American National Standards Institute, and it sets various sizes for paper, based on the letter format. Specifications include A, B, C, D and E as per the table below.

ANSI Paper Size Size Table

There are also B+ sizes (also called A3+, Super A3, or SRA3) that have dimensions of 320 x 450mm.

This size is the size of ANSI B with a margin of 1 inch for printing which includes a ‘bleed area’ of paper (the edges of the paper that are usually not printed).

This paper size can be used with some newer models of photocopiers.

Photostat machine model that supports SRA3 paper size

Conclusion

Different photocopier machines will accommodate the use of different paper sizes. Make sure you know the paper size that the photocopier model you want to buy/rent before making a decision.