Journal / Paper guides / Legal Size Paper Dimensions: 8.5 x 14 in, mm, and cm

Published February 25, 2026 · Updated June 3, 2026 · 8 min readSection / Journal

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Legal Size Paper Dimensions: 8.5 x 14 in, mm, and cm

Legal size paper is 8.5 x 14 inches, 215.9 x 355.6 mm, or 21.59 x 35.56 cm. Compare Legal vs Letter and print Legal pages correctly.

PGPaperGens · writing about print·February 25, 2026·Updated June 3, 2026·8 min read

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Legal size paper is 8.5 x 14 inches. In metric units, that is 215.9 x 355.6 mm, or 21.59 x 35.56 cm. It is the same width as US Letter paper, but it is three inches taller.

If you only need the exact dimensions, use the Legal paper size reference. This guide explains the practical questions behind that search: when Legal paper is worth using, how it compares with Letter and Tabloid, and how to print a Legal PDF without shrinking it onto Letter paper.

This page is about paper size and printing logistics. It is not legal advice. If a court, agency, client, or workplace specifies a required page size, follow that requirement first.

Quick answer

Legal paper measurement	Value
Inches	8.5 x 14 in
Millimeters	215.9 x 355.6 mm
Centimeters	21.59 x 35.56 cm
Same width as Letter?	Yes, both are 8.5 in wide
Extra height vs Letter	3 in
Best use	Tall forms, contracts, legal pads, long notes, narrow tables

Choose Legal size paper when the extra height helps the document stay readable. Do not choose Legal just because a page feels crowded. If a document will be copied, scanned, mailed, hole-punched, or stored in ordinary office folders, US Letter is often easier for everyone handling it.

Legal size paper dimensions

Legal paper belongs to the North American paper-size system. Its shape is simple: keep the familiar Letter width and extend the page downward.

Size	Inches	Millimeters	Centimeters
Letter	8.5 x 11 in	215.9 x 279.4 mm	21.59 x 27.94 cm
Legal	8.5 x 14 in	215.9 x 355.6 mm	21.59 x 35.56 cm

That extra vertical space is why Legal paper still appears in contracts, real estate packets, notary workflows, legal pads, inspection forms, and long note pages. The width stays familiar, so one-column content can continue downward without turning into a wider sheet.

Legal vs Letter

Legal and Letter are not interchangeable. They share the same width, but a Legal PDF printed on Letter paper will either be cropped or scaled down unless you change the output intentionally.

Question	Letter	Legal
Everyday printer default?	Usually yes	No
Common office storage?	Easy	Requires longer folders or careful handling
Best for binders and school handouts?	Usually yes	Only when the extra height is required
Best for long forms or signature blocks?	Sometimes	Often
Risk when printed on the wrong paper	Lower	Higher

Use Legal when keeping one long page matters more than convenience. Use Letter when the document needs to move through everyday office, classroom, scanner, binder, or mailing workflows.

Legal vs Tabloid

Legal adds height. Tabloid adds width.

Size	Inches	Use when
Legal	8.5 x 14 in	You need a taller one-column page
Tabloid	11 x 17 in	You need a wider page, large chart, poster draft, or diagram

Legal is a poor fix for a wide table. If the table needs more columns, try landscape Letter, Tabloid, Ledger, or a redesigned table. Legal works best when the content is still a narrow page but needs more rows, more clauses, more form fields, or a longer writing area.

When Legal paper is the right choice

Legal paper makes sense when the page length is part of the workflow:

contracts with signature blocks
forms with long fields
exhibit lists and continuation pages
legal-pad notes
inspection sheets
review checklists
one-column drafts that should not break across pages
office forms where the recipient expects Legal paper

The strongest reason to use Legal is continuity. A long clause, form section, or signature block may read better when it stays on one sheet. The weakest reason is habit. If the recipient expects Letter, a Legal sheet can create scanning, filing, and reprinting work.

Printable Legal paper vs legal pads

People often search for legal size paper when they mean one of two different things:

Search intent	Better starting point
Exact paper dimensions	Legal paper size reference
Printable ruled Legal sheet	Legal ruled paper template
Yellow top-bound note style	Yellow legal pad paper
Contract or form page size	Legal PDF printed at 100%
Ordinary note page	Letter or notebook paper may be easier

A legal pad is a writing-pad style. Legal paper is a page size. A legal pad can be yellow, ruled, top-bound, and sometimes Legal size, but not every legal pad uses exactly 8.5 x 14 inches. If the print size matters, verify the dimensions instead of relying on the name.

Print Legal size without shrinking it

The most common Legal paper mistake is sending an 8.5 x 14 PDF to a printer that is still set to Letter. The file may look fine on screen, but the printer can shrink, crop, rotate, or center it unexpectedly.

Check three settings before printing:

The PDF page size should be 8.5 x 14 in.
The print dialog should use Legal as the document or paper size.
The printer tray or media setting should also be Legal.

Use Actual size or 100% when margins, form lines, signature blocks, Bates numbers, or page breaks matter. Avoid Fit to page, Shrink oversized pages, and Fit to printable area unless you intentionally want a reduced proof.

Tray, feed, and duplex checks

Many printer drivers list Legal paper even when the physical tray is set up for Letter. Check for a tray extension, rear feed, bypass slot, or manual feed path before printing a batch.

Run one proof sheet:

Proof check	Why it matters
Top and bottom labels	Confirms orientation
Border near the printable edge	Reveals clipping
Footer near the 14-inch edge	Shows whether the long edge prints cleanly
Duplex test	Catches short-edge vs long-edge flipping errors
Scanner test	Confirms the full sheet can be captured

If the proof fails, fix the driver or tray setting before editing the PDF. A correct Legal template should not need to be redesigned just because the printer is silently using Letter paper.

Common mistakes

Printing Legal on Letter by accident. This usually creates a smaller proof, not a true Legal page.

Using Legal for a wide table. Legal gives more height, not more width.

Forgetting the storage workflow. Legal sheets may need legal-length folders, compatible scanners, and longer clipboards.

Confusing long bond and Legal. In some regions, long bond commonly means 8.5 x 13 inches, which is shorter than US Legal.

Assuming every legal pad is Legal size. Check the pad or template dimensions if the final size matters.

FAQ

What size is Legal paper?

Legal paper is 8.5 x 14 inches, 215.9 x 355.6 mm, or 21.59 x 35.56 cm.

Is Legal paper the same width as Letter?

Yes. Legal and Letter are both 8.5 inches wide. Legal is three inches taller.

Is Legal paper the same as long bond paper?

Not always. In some regions, long bond commonly means 8.5 x 13 inches. US Legal is 8.5 x 14 inches.

Can I print a Legal PDF on Letter paper?

You can print a reduced proof on Letter, but it will not preserve the original page size. For final output, use Legal paper and print at Actual Size or 100%.

Why does my Legal PDF print too small?

The usual cause is a scaling setting such as Fit, Shrink oversized pages, or Fit to printable area. Check both the PDF viewer and printer driver.

Which printable templates work well on Legal paper?

Legal ruled sheets, yellow legal pad layouts, longer lined note pages, and tall checklists are good matches. Wide charts usually work better on Tabloid or landscape paper.

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