US Legal paper Size in Inches & cm

US Legal paper is 8.5 x 14 inches, or 215.9 x 355.6 mm. It is the same width as US Letter but three inches longer, and it survives mainly for contracts, court filings, and other documents that benefit from the extra vertical space.

This guide covers the exact Legal dimensions, how it differs from Letter and A4, why it is becoming rarer, and how a sheet compares to a laptop, a legal pad, and the old British Foolscap size.

Quick Answer: How Big Is US Legal Paper?

US Legal is 215.9 x 355.6 mm (8.5 x 14 in). A single 20 lb (75 gsm) sheet weighs about 5.7 grams. It matches Letter’s 8.5 in width and adds 76 mm (3 in) of length.

US Legal Dimensions at a Glance

• Size: 215.9 x 355.6 mm / 21.59 x 35.56 cm / 8.5 x 14 in
• vs Letter (215.9 x 279.4 mm): same width, 76.2 mm (3 in) longer
• vs A4 (210 x 297 mm): 5.9 mm wider, 58.6 mm longer
• Aspect ratio: 1:1.647, noticeably more elongated than Letter (1:1.294)
• Common weights: 20 lb / 75 gsm (5.7 g), 24 lb / 90 gsm (6.9 g), 32 lb / 120 gsm (9.2 g)

What Does US Legal Paper Look Like in Size?

A Legal sheet is a Letter sheet with a hand’s width added to the bottom. It matches a legal pad (the yellow ruled pads are named for this size), and stood upright it runs from a desktop to about mid-forearm height. It does not fit a standard Letter-size folder or tray without folding or a Legal-specific accessory.

6 Everyday Comparisons for US Legal Paper

1. US Letter (215.9 x 279.4 mm): identical width, 3 inches shorter.
2. A legal pad is built to this exact size.
3. A4 paper (210 x 297 mm) is narrower and almost 59 mm shorter.
4. British Foolscap (203 x 330 mm, 8 x 13 in) is close to Legal but slightly narrower and shorter.
5. A 17-inch laptop (about 400 x 260 mm closed) is wider and shorter than a Legal sheet.
6. Two A5 sheets end to end (148 x 420 mm) are narrower and longer.

US Legal Size in Different Units

Why Legal Paper Exists (and Is Fading)

The extra length let lawyers fit long clauses, signature blocks, and side-by-side columns on one page without a second sheet, and it made altering a document harder because more text fit before a page break. Many US federal courts moved to Letter-size filings in the 1980s, and modern word processors and PDFs made the format less necessary. It persists in some state courts, real-estate paperwork, and contracts, and every office printer still offers it as a tray option.

Common Mistakes When Comparing US Legal Paper

1. Assuming Legal is wider than Letter. It is the same 8.5 in width; only the length changes.
2. Calling it “A4 Legal”. Legal is a US size unrelated to the ISO A series.
3. Confusing Legal with Foolscap. Foolscap is 8 x 13 in (203 x 330 mm), close but smaller.
4. Expecting it to fit Letter folders. It does not; it needs Legal-size filing.
5. Using the wrong pixel count. Legal at 300 DPI is 2550 x 4200 px.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is US Legal paper in mm?

215.9 x 355.6 mm.

How big is Legal paper in cm?

21.59 x 35.56 cm.

Is Legal paper wider than Letter?

No. Same width (8.5 in); Legal is 3 inches longer.

Is Legal the same as A4?

No. A4 is 210 x 297 mm; Legal is 215.9 x 355.6 mm, wider and much longer.

How much does a sheet of Legal paper weigh?

About 5.7 g for standard 20 lb / 75 gsm paper.

Why is it called “legal” paper?

The extra length suited legal documents and made tampering harder; the yellow legal pad takes its name from the size.

Is Legal paper still used?

Less than before. Many courts switched to Letter, but it remains common for contracts and some state filings.

Final Takeaway

US Legal paper is 215.9 x 355.6 mm (8.5 x 14 in) and weighs about 5.7 grams per sheet. It is the same width as Letter with three extra inches of length, it is close to but larger than British Foolscap, and while its use is shrinking, it is still a standard printer-tray option across North America.