letterpaper

Letter paper, commonly known as US Letter, is a standard sheet size used primarily in the United States and Canada. The typical dimensions are 8.5 by 11 inches (216 by 279 millimeters). This size is part of the North American paper size system and is not part of ISO 216, which covers A-series sizes such as A4.

It is widely used for everyday documents, including letters, memos, forms, and office reports. It is designed for compatibility with common home and office printers and copiers, as well as filing systems and notebooks that assume letter-size sheets. In addition to standard letter, other common North American sizes include legal (8.5 by 14 inches) and tabloid/ledger (11 by 17 inches).

Paper weight for typical letter-grade office paper is about 20 pounds (75 g/m2), with common higher grades such as 24 pounds (90 g/m2) and 28 pounds (105 g/m2) used for professional or presentation purposes. Finishes range from plain uncoated to various coatings used for inkjet or laser printing.

Because ISO paper sizes are widely used elsewhere, letter size sometimes requires trimming or margins when exchanging documents with international counterparts. Recycled content and certifications are available from many suppliers. The term “letter” can also refer to letterhead paper or stationery printed on this size.