# Understanding Paper Size

## Why we use these sizes

Paper size standards govern the size of sheets of paper used as writing paper, stationery, cards, and for some printed documents. The **ISO** 216 **paper size** system is an international standard that is used in many places in the world in copy and print devices that defines **paper sizes**. Based on the metric system, the **ISO paper size** system uses a height-to-width ratio with an aspect ratio of 1 to 1.414 (The square root of 2).  

![](https://582941369-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXMYlP_If1eQDx1vi03%2F-M5ZkyEdh69tegZgLuza%2F-M5_ev_o0pfgWQC68c3s%2FA4Series_PaperSize.jpg?alt=media\&token=89d8edf9-9ed2-4cd3-a78f-8e1ba6f6198e)

Table of Paper Sizes From A0 to A4

| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
| ---- | ------------------- | ------------------- |
| A0   | 841 x 1189 mm       | 33.1 x 46.8 in      |
| A1   | 594 x 841 mm        | 23.4 x 33.1 in      |
| A2   | 420 x 594 mm        | 16.5 x 23.4 in      |
| A3   | 297 x 420 mm        | 11.7 x 16.5 in      |
| A4   | 210 x 297 mm        | 8.3 x 11.7 in       |

## Limitations of the media size in the printers

| Printer                                                                                                    | Available paper size |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| [MSD 1 and 2](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/print-room/printers-services/mfd-print-scan-and-copy)       | A4; A3               |
| [Plotter A](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/print-room/printers-services/plotter-4-large-format-printing) | A0; A1; A2; Banner   |
| [Plotter B](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/print-room/printers-services/plotter-3-large-format-printing) | A0; A1; A2; Banner   |
| [Plotter C](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/print-room/printers-services/plotter-3-large-format-printing) | A0; A1; A2; Banner   |