What Paper Size Options are there for Filing?
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In the UK Foolscap filing is popular
You've decided you need a storage place for your work but are not sure what you need.
In the UK, most printers use A4 paper size and therefore it's ideal to have filing to accommodate this format.
If you use hanging files (suspension) which hang over a drawer then you can choose A4 or Foolscap
Daft facts for quiz nights!
- Foolscap was named after the fool's cap and bells watermark commonly used from the 15th century onwards on paper of these dimensions. The earliest example of such paper was made in Germany in 1479.
- Did you know that in America and Canada the legal size is 8.5 x 14 inches (216 x356mm)?
- See below for lots of interesting paper sizes for Europe if you don't know your Double elephant from your Royal Hand or Potts!!!
Thank goodness that a standard was introduced which is why we use the "A" guide for paper
However, there are some other sizes which are:
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) | Area sq m | Area sq yd | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | 8.3 x 11.7 in | 0.062 sq m | 0.074 sq yd | 1:1.4142 |
| Letter | 216 x 279 mm | 8.5 x 11.0 in | 0.060 sq m | 0.072 sq yd | 1:1.2941 |
| Legal | 216 x 356 mm | 8.5 x 14.0 in | 0.077 sq m | 0.092 sq yd | 1:1.6471 |
| Foolscap | 203 x 330 mm | 8.0 x 13.0 in | 0.067 sq m | 0.080 sq yd | 1:1.625 |
Most companies use A4 and cabinets are designed to accommodate this size.
Filing cabinets are standard sizes and will generally hold A4 paper, back to front in suspension folders (see image below)
Foolscap is more popular as it allows space for card folders which makes sorting filing much easier and it is slightly bigger than A4. Foolscap filing cabinets are usually 45 to 47cm wide and A4 filing cabinets are 40 to 41cm wide.
We often get asked how many files one can get in a drawer and the answer is :
- It depends on how many papers you put in each suspension file.
- Drawers are approx 55cm front to back and therefore 20 pieces of paper in a file will result in 30 to 35 files per drawer
If you aren't using suspension filing, remember most filing cabinets are designed for this format, you may invalidate a warranty if you file incorrectly. Most manufacturers provide base plates (they call them compressor plates) and drawer dividers if you want to use filing cabinets for box files etc.
For box files or lever arch files we suggest cupboards (with fixed opening doors) or Tambours (with sliding doors) and the illustration below is a good indication of filing with:
- 80 hanging suspension files
- 11 Lever Arch Filers
- 10 Archive boxes in a 1m wide cabinet
Paper Names and Sizes over the years
- Atlas - 26 x 34 in, 660 x 864 mm
- Extra Large Atlas - 27 x 35 in, 686 x 889 mm
- Cartridge - 21 x 26 in, 534 x 661 mm
- Colombier - 24 x 34 1/4 in, 597 x 876 mm
- Crown - 15 x 20 in, 381 x 508 mm
- Double Crown - 20 x 30 in, 508 x 762 mm
- Quad Crown - 30 x 40 in, 762 x 1016 mm
- Eagle - 28 1/4 x 42 in, 730 x 1067 mm
- Elephant - 20 x 27 in, 508 x 686 mm
- Double Elephant - 27 x 40 in, 686 x 1016 mm
- Emperor - 48 x 72 in, 1219 x 1829 mm
- Foolscap - 13 1/2 x 17 in, 343 x 432 mm
- Double Foolscap - 17 x 27 in, 432 x 686 mm
- Quad Foolscap - 27 x 34 in, 686 x 864 mm
- Hand - 16 x 22 in, 406 x 559 mm
- Royal Hand - 20 x 25 in, 508 x 635 mm
- Imperial - 22 x 30 in, 559 x 762 mm
- Large Imperial - 22 x 32 in, 559 x 813 mm
- Half Imperial - 15 x 22 in, 381 x 559 mm
- Double Imperial - 30 x 44 in, 762 x 1118 mm
- Medium - 18 x 23 in, 457 x 584 mm
- Double Medium - 23 x 36 in, 584 x 914 mm
- Quad Medium - 36 x 46 in, 914 x 1168 mm
- Post - 15 x 19 in, 387 x 489 mm
- Large Post - 16 1/2 x 21 in, 419 x 533 mm
- Double Post - 21 x 33 in, 533 x 838 mm
- Pott - 12 x 15 1/2 in, 317 x 394 mm
- Super Royal - 20 x 28 in, 508 x 711 mm
- Double Royal - 25 x 40 in, 635 x 1016 mm
- Quad Royal - 40 x 50 in, 1016 x 1270 mm
FRENCH TRADITIONAL PAPER SIZES
- Carre - 17 3/4 x 22 in, 450 x 560 mm
- Cloche - 11 7/8 x 15 3/4 in, 300 x 400 mm
- Colombier - 24 3/4 x 35 1/2 in, 630 x 900 mm
- Couronne - 14 1/8 x 17 3/4 in, 360 x 450 mm
- Ecolier - 13 3/8 x 16 7/8 in, 340 x 430 mm
- Ecu - 15 3/4 x 19 5/8 in, 400 x 500 mm
- Grand Aigle - 27 1/2 x 41 in, 700 x 1040 mm
- Jesus* - 22 x 28 3/4 in, 560 x 720 mm
- Pot - 12 5/8 x 15 3/4 in, 320 x 400
- Raisin - 19 5/8 x 25 1/4 in, 500 x 640 mm
- Soleil - 22 7/8 x 31 1/2 in, 580 x 800 mm
- Telliere - 13 3/8 x 17 1/4 in, 340 x 440 mm
GERMAN TRADITIONAL PAPER SIZES
- Bienenkorb - 14 1/8 x 17 3/4 in, 360 x 450 mm
- Bischof - 15 x 18 7/8 in, 380 x 480 mm
- Kanzlei - 13 x 16 1/2 in, 330 x 420 mm
- Lexicon - 19 5/8 x 25 5/8 in, 500 x 650 mm
- Pro Patria - 13 3/8 x 16 7/8 in, 340 x 430 mm
- Register - 16 1/2 x 20 7/8 in, 420 x 530 mm
TRADITIONAL DUTCH PAPER SIZES
- Olifants - 24 3/8 x 28 3/8 in, 620 x 720 mm
- Royaal - 20 1/2 x 24 3/8 in, 520 x 620 mm
- Schrijfformat - 13 3/8 x 16 1/2 in, 340 x 420 mm
- Vierkant - 16 1/8 x 24 3/4 in, 410 x 620 mm
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