Choosing The Correct Paper Size 8.5 x 11 or letter size paper: 8.5 x 11 is the standard size for most printers. It’s also the size used for a wide range of standard documents, including magazines, catalogs, letters, and forms. 8.5 x 14 or legal size paper: This paper size – the same width but longer than letter size – is often used for contracts within the legal, real estate, and accounting professions. 11 x 17 or ledger size paper: 11 x 17 paper is used in offices for diagrams and documentation that would not fit on smaller sheets, such as architectural and CAD drawings. The term tabloid is also used to describe this size. Key Factors to Consider When Buying Printing Paper Size Yes, size does matter when buying printing paper. No matter what type of job that needs to be printed out – ranging from a business card to a large-format printout of an architectural plan – there’s a paper size to accommodate it. Weight The higher the weight of a paper, the thicker and stiffer the stock. Cover stocks are at the higher end of the weight spectrum and feel like thin cardboard. Text stocks are papers of regular weight. This refers to how light interacts with a paper. Measured on a 0 to 100 scale, the brightness of a page will affect the sharpness of a printed job’s images and text. Most paper is in the 90s on this scale. Ream A ream of paper is a wrapped pack containing 500 sheets of paper. Copy and printer paper is sold by individual reams but also in cases which might include 5 or 10 reams. Other cases are reamless and could have 2000 sheets of paper not separated into reams. Material While most paper is made from wood fibers, there is also paper made from cloth, synthetic fibers, and even plastic, all serving specialized purposes. Coated or Uncoated Printing papers are either coated or uncoated. Uncoated is nonreflective paper, while coated stocks feature matte or gloss finishes and produce sharper, higher-quality printed images. Specialty Paper While many papers are sustainably sourced, some are more so because of the materials used or how fast they biodegrade. Color There’s more to paper than plain, white stock. Printer paper can come in a rainbow assortment of colors, ranging from clear, off-white and yellow to purple, tan, and black (and many hues in between). Color paper can pop out in a sea of white, helping a design or graphic stand out with innovative uses. Premium Paper Beyond standard paper stock are the premium ones that include all the top attributes of weight, coating, brightness, opacity, and material, making them good for presentations and print jobs where quality matters. For example, paper made from a blend of wood pulp and cotton (commonly 75% and 25%) has a luxurious feel and is made to last, so it can be good for archival projects.