Quick answer: Tabloid and Ledger paper are both 11 × 17 inches (279.4 × 431.8 mm). “Tabloid” normally means portrait orientation; “Ledger” normally means the same sheet used landscape.
Measurement note: dimensions are stated width × height in portrait orientation. Turn the sheet through 90 degrees for landscape use. Millimetres are the controlling values for ISO sizes; inch figures are rounded conversions.
Dimensions
| Name | Orientation | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Tabloid | Portrait | 11 × 17 in / 279.4 × 431.8 mm |
| Ledger | Landscape | 17 × 11 in / 431.8 × 279.4 mm |
Common uses
- Newsletters and small newspapers
- Spreads, diagrams and proof sheets
- Menus and folded brochures
- Engineering and office drawings
- Posters and signs
Tabloid paper versus tabloid newspapers
The office-paper designation does not define every newspaper called a tabloid. Newspaper formats vary by publisher and press. A commercial tabloid newspaper can have different page dimensions from an 11 × 17 inch office sheet. See the separate newspaper-size guide for current print-provider examples.
Printing and folding
Many office multifunction printers support 11 × 17 inch output, often from a bypass or dedicated tray. A Ledger sheet folded once produces four 8.5 × 11 inch pages when printed both sides. Booklet imposition, page creep and printer gripper margins still need attention.
Comparison with A3
A3 is 297 × 420 mm, while Tabloid is 279.4 × 431.8 mm. A3 is wider on its short side and slightly shorter on its long side. See the full A3 versus Tabloid comparison before converting artwork.
Frequently asked questions
Are Tabloid and Ledger different paper sizes?
No. They are the same physical sheet named according to orientation.
Is 11 × 17 twice Letter size?
It has twice the area of 8.5 × 11 Letter and can be folded to Letter pages.
Will an A3 printer print Tabloid?
Many do, but not all. Check the maximum media dimensions and the printer driver’s supported sizes.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering rounded inch conversions when exact millimetres are available.
- Confusing finished trim with bleed or parent-sheet dimensions.
- Allowing the printer driver to scale automatically.
- Assuming a named size is identical in every national standard.
- Ordering paper before checking the printer’s minimum, maximum and supported weight.
- Judging readability only on a zoomed computer display.
For Tabloid and Ledger Paper Sizes, the most dependable approach is to retain the standard’s controlling unit, state the dimensions in the purchase order, use a supplier template and approve a full-size proof. This is especially important when the project moves between countries, software packages or production methods.
How to specify the size without ambiguity
For Tabloid and Ledger Paper Sizes, a reliable print specification states more than the familiar format name. Give the finished width and height, measurement unit, orientation, number of pages or panels, paper weight, surface, colour process, bleed, finishing and quantity. This prevents regional names and printer defaults from silently changing this particular job.
- Finished size: write width × height and identify portrait or landscape.
- Artwork size: distinguish the trimmed page from any larger bleed canvas or parent sheet.
- Stock: specify grammage or basis weight, coating, colour and recycled or certified requirements.
- Finishing: state folds, scoring, binding, drilling, corner rounding, lamination or mounting.
- Tolerance: ask the supplier what cutting, folding and registration variation should be expected.
When ordering Tabloid and Ledger Paper Sizes, a short name alone leaves important decisions unstated. A specification such as “finished size as stated above; portrait; 3 mm bleed; 170 gsm uncoated white stock; full colour both sides; scored where shown” is harder to misinterpret. When the format has regional variants, include the governing standard or exact dimensions every time.
Make a full-size physical proof
Screens do not communicate the physical scale of Tabloid and Ledger Paper Sizes reliably. Before a large order, print a representative page at 100%, trim it to the stated size and use it as the finished item will be used. Measure one horizontal and one vertical feature with a ruler. Fold it, place it in its envelope or holder where relevant, view it from the intended distance and ask someone unfamiliar with the design to find the main information.
A proof of Tabloid and Ledger Paper Sizes should check more than spelling. Look for text that is technically present but difficult to read, lines that sit too close to the trim, images whose important details enter a fold or binding area, barcodes or QR codes that do not scan, and stocks that crack or show through. For colour-critical work, a calibrated contract proof or press proof is more informative than an office print.
Sources and standards
The measurements and production guidance in this guide were checked against the following standards bodies, postal operators and print-platform specifications. Standards can be revised or withdrawn, so check the linked record when a contractual or regulated specification matters.