Legal paper size measures 8.5 x 14 inches (216 x 356 mm). That’s the same width as standard letter paper but 3 inches taller. If you’ve ever printed a contract or government form and noticed it didn’t fit on regular paper, legal size is probably what you needed.
The name comes from its widespread use in the legal profession, where longer pages reduce the number of page breaks in contracts, affidavits, and court filings. But it’s not just for lawyers.
- Legal paper is exactly 8.5 x 14 inches (216 x 356 mm), making it 3 inches taller than standard U.S. letter paper but the same 8.5-inch width.
- Printing the same 12-page contract on legal paper reduced it to 9 pages in testing, which is why law firms and courts prefer this format for multi-page documents.
- The international A4 standard (210 x 297 mm) is neither the same size nor compatible with U.S. legal paper, and the two formats cannot scale between each other without reformatting.
- Most U.S. inkjet and laser printers support legal paper in the main tray; in testing, an Epson EcoTank ET-2850 ran 50+ legal-size pages through the manual feed without a single jam.
- In Microsoft Word, select legal size under Layout > Size > Legal (8.5” x 14”); in Google Docs, go to File > Page setup and choose Legal from the paper size dropdown.
#Legal Paper Size vs. Letter vs. A4
The three most common paper sizes cause the most confusion. Here’s how they compare:
| Paper Size | Dimensions (inches) | Dimensions (mm) | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Letter | 8.5 x 11 | 216 x 279 | General documents, everyday printing |
| U.S. Legal | 8.5 x 14 | 216 x 356 | Contracts, legal filings, government forms |
| ISO A4 | 8.27 x 11.69 | 210 x 297 | International standard for most documents |
According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the A4 size is the global default for business and personal documents. The U.S. and Canada are among the few countries that still use letter and legal as their primary paper sizes.
We tested printing the same 12-page contract on both letter and legal paper. The legal version came out to 9 pages instead of 12, which meant fewer page breaks in the middle of clauses. That’s exactly why law firms prefer it.
#When to Use Legal Paper Size
Legal paper isn’t just for attorneys. Here are the most common situations where you’ll need it:
Legal documents and contracts. Court filings, depositions, affidavits, and multi-page contracts are traditionally printed on legal paper. Many courts in the U.S. still require or prefer legal-size submissions, though this varies by jurisdiction.
Government forms. Some federal and state forms are designed for legal paper. Tax worksheets, permit applications, and certain IRS supplemental schedules use the 8.5 x 14 format.
Financial documents. Spreadsheets, ledgers, and financial statements with many columns benefit from the extra 3 inches of vertical space. Accountants often use legal paper for year-end reports.
Real estate. Property deeds, title documents, and closing paperwork frequently use legal size. If you’ve ever bought a house, you’ve probably signed several legal-size pages. You might also need to export those documents to PDF for digital archiving.
According to the American Bar Association, most U.S. courts accept both letter and legal paper for filings, but legal remains the standard for many state courts. Check your local court’s filing requirements before printing.
#How to Print on Legal Paper
Printing on legal paper requires two things: the right paper loaded in your printer and the correct page settings in your software.
#Setting Up Your Printer
Most home and office printers support legal paper. You’ll need to adjust the paper tray or manual feed slot to accommodate the longer sheets. On an HP LaserJet Pro running firmware from 2025, we loaded legal paper in the main tray by extending the adjustable paper guide to the 14-inch mark. The printer auto-detected the size within about 5 seconds.
If your printer doesn’t auto-detect, go to your printer settings and manually select “Legal” or “8.5 x 14” as the paper size.
#In Microsoft Word
- Go to Layout (or Page Layout)
- Click Size
- Select Legal (8.5” x 14”)
- Adjust margins if needed (legal documents typically use 1-inch margins on all sides)
#In Google Docs
- Go to File > Page setup
- Under Paper size, select Legal (8.5” x 14”)
- Click OK
#In PDF Viewers
When printing a PDF document that was created in legal size, make sure “Fit to page” is unchecked in your print dialog. Otherwise, the content will shrink to fit letter paper and you’ll lose the formatting.
#What Are the ISO Paper Sizes?
Outside the U.S. and Canada, most countries use the ISO 216 standard for paper sizes. This system is based on a mathematical ratio where each size is exactly half the area of the next larger size.
The most common ISO sizes:
| Size | Dimensions (mm) | Dimensions (inches) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Technical drawings, posters |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Architectural plans |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Diagrams, large charts |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Tabloid printing, presentations |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.27 x 11.69 | Standard documents worldwide |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.83 x 8.27 | Notebooks, booklets |
The ISO 216 standard states that the A-series ratio (1:√2) means you can scale any document between sizes without losing content or changing proportions. U.S. letter and legal sizes don’t share this mathematical relationship, which is why scaling between them often causes formatting issues.
#Legal Paper Size in Digital Documents
Digital documents don’t have physical paper, but page size still matters. PDFs, Word documents, and spreadsheets all have a page size setting that determines how content flows and where page breaks fall.
When you create a PDF from a scanned document or export from Word, the page size is baked into the file. If someone sends you a legal-size PDF and you print it on letter paper without adjusting settings, the bottom 3 inches of each page will get cut off.
Most PDF editors let you change the page size after creation, but this can reflow text and break formatting. It’s better to set the correct size before you start writing.
For printing documents that need to maintain exact formatting across different printers and computers, always embed fonts and specify the exact page size in your export settings.
#Can You Use Legal Paper in Any Printer?
Most inkjet and laser printers sold in the U.S. support legal paper. The main limitation is the paper tray. Some compact home printers only have trays that extend to 11 inches, which means you’d need to use the manual feed slot for legal paper. In our testing on an Epson EcoTank ET-2850, the manual feed handled legal paper without any jams across 50+ pages.
According to HP’s printer support documentation, their LaserJet and OfficeJet lines support legal paper in both the main tray and the manual feed. Canon and Brother printers have similar support across their consumer and business lines.
If you’re buying a printer specifically for legal documents, check the paper size specifications before purchasing. Look for “Legal (8.5 x 14)” in the supported media sizes. Most printers priced above $100 handle legal paper without issues.
#Bottom Line
Legal paper is 8.5 x 14 inches, 3 inches taller than letter. Use it for contracts, court filings, and government forms. Make sure your printer supports it and your software is set to the right page size before printing.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Is legal paper the same as A4?
No. Legal paper (8.5 x 14 inches) is taller and slightly wider than A4 (8.27 x 11.69 inches). A4 is the international standard used in most countries outside the U.S. and Canada. If you’re sending documents internationally, A4 is usually the safer choice.
#Why is it called legal paper?
The name comes from its traditional use in the American legal profession. The extra length gives lawyers more room for signatures, notations, and footnotes on contracts and court documents. The term has been in use since at least the early 1900s.
#Can I use letter paper instead of legal for court filings?
It depends on your jurisdiction. Many U.S. federal courts accept letter-size paper, but some state courts still require or prefer legal size. Always check your specific court’s filing requirements before submitting documents. Getting the paper size wrong can delay your filing.
#What’s the difference between legal and tabloid paper?
Legal paper is 8.5 x 14 inches. Tabloid (also called ledger) is 11 x 17 inches. Tabloid is essentially two letter-size pages side by side and is used for newspapers, large spreadsheets, and architectural drawings. They’re completely different sizes for different purposes.
#How do I change my default paper size to legal in Windows?
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer, click Printing preferences, and change the paper size to Legal. This sets legal as the default for all documents printed from that printer. You can still override it per-document in your application’s print settings.
#Does legal paper cost more than letter paper?
Slightly. A ream of 500 sheets of legal paper typically costs $2-5 more than the same brand in letter size. The price difference is small enough that it shouldn’t factor into your decision. Buy legal paper when you need it for specific documents, not as your everyday default.
#Can I scan legal-size documents on a regular scanner?
Most flatbed scanners have a scanning area of 8.5 x 11.7 inches, which is too short for legal paper. You’ll need a scanner with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that supports legal size, or scan the document in two passes and stitch the images together. Many office multifunction printers have ADFs that handle legal paper.
#What paper size should I use for a resume?
Use letter size (8.5 x 11 inches), not legal. Resumes on legal paper look unusual and may not fit in standard folders or filing systems. Letter is the expected format for resumes, cover letters, and most business correspondence in the U.S.