Paper Sizes for Inkjet and Laserjet Printers

Paper Sizes for Inkjet and Laserjet Printers are enough to make any one mad with various terminologies and types. Here is the most easy guide for Paper Sizes. I had no idea that Paper Sizes can make anyone mad until someone I respect personally asked me to print something on Demi Paper. I live in India and you will find all terminologies from the whole world here. A4 is used, side by side old British names are also used. After searching standard websites like HP, I understood that Paper Sizes is a big topic and for a newbie who has no idea about Inkjet and Laserjet Printers, Paper Sizes can totally make confused. Here is a real working summary of Paper Sizes for Inkjet and Laserjet Printers, as none of us have a room sized bigger printer like printing press in our home (I hope).

Demi Paper is nothing but a deteriorated name of Half Demy paper used for archival purpose for Government, Legal and accountancy purposes. I guess this special name is limited within few countries. It is special paper that will stay longer. Closest is Legal size paper – among the Paper Sizes for Inkjet and Laserjet Printers mentioned in software interface of the printers, you will find Legal size.

Commonly used Paper Sizes for Inkjet and Laserjet Printers

Most common among the Paper Sizes is A4. There is a standard for Paper Sizes named International Paper Sizes and A to D is assigned to make the thing simple. The nominal area of an A0 sheet is a square. There is complex root formula for  International Paper Sizes. There is not much need to understand those things for an average user except the fact, your Inkjet and Laserjet Printer can not print beyond a size because of the feeder is not a huge plate. A5 is the highest size among the Paper Sizes, that a normal printer can print. Legal  is quite longer among printable paper sizes – its 8.5 × 14 inches, a bit wider than A4 and much longer.

Paper Sizes and Special Papers

There are various special papers. Glossy usually used for printing Photos and usual Paper Sizes are mentioned as per International Paper Sizes standard. Matt, archival like Demi in my case needs special care to print. Select manually the quality and Paper Sizes from software interface. For example, most commonly used Paper Sizes will be supported by both Laser printer and Inkjet Printer but Laser Printer can melt down a special paper intended for Inkjet with plastic coating.

Foolscap came from – Fool’s cap. Older names of Paper Sizes are quite funny and has nice history behind.