What Is College-Ruled Paper? Spacing, Margin, and Best Uses
College-ruled (medium-ruled) paper is a popular default for notes. Learn the exact line spacing, typical margin layout, and when to choose it over wide-ruled or narrow-ruled paper.
College-ruled paper (also called medium-ruled paper) is lined paper designed for efficient note-taking. It’s one of the most common rulings in US notebooks because it fits a lot of writing while staying readable.
The exact spacing: college ruled in mm and inches
The commonly referenced standard for college ruled is:
- line spacing: 9/32 in (7.1mm)
- left margin line: about 1 1/4 in (32mm) from the left edge
That spacing is why college ruled feels “denser” than wide ruled but not as tight as narrow ruled.
What college-ruled paper is best for
College ruled is a strong default if:
- you have average-to-small handwriting
- you write a lot per page (lectures, reading notes, study notes)
- you want room for annotations without wasting paper
If you use big lettering or need extra white space, wide ruled can be more comfortable.
College ruled vs wide ruled vs narrow ruled (quick table)
| Ruling | Typical spacing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wide ruled | 11/32 in (8.7mm) | larger handwriting, younger students, easier reading |
| College ruled (medium) | 9/32 in (7.1mm) | general note-taking, higher note density |
| Narrow ruled | 1/4 in (6.4mm) | small handwriting, maximum lines per page |
If you want a deeper “which spacing should I choose” guide: Best line spacing for notes
Printable college-ruled templates (Letter, A4, Legal)
- US Letter: College ruled template
- A4: A4 college ruled
- US Legal: Legal college ruled
Printing tip: keep the spacing accurate
When you print ruled paper, the printer can accidentally scale the page. That changes the line spacing and makes it feel “off.”
- Choose the correct page size (A4 vs Letter)
- Print at Actual Size / 100%
- Avoid “Fit” and “Shrink”
Step-by-step: How to print templates without scaling