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Reference library

Legal Paper Size

Legal measures 215.9 x 355.6 mm, 21.59 x 35.56 cm, or 8.5 x 14 in. See pixel dimensions by DPI, aspect ratio, bleed setup, comparisons, and related tools.

Last checked: 2026-05-01

Last checked: 2026-05-01 Source: HP paper size reference Found a spec change? Send correction.

How we calculate this

Methodology and source handling

We convert physical sizes to inches, multiply by the selected DPI/PPI value, and round to whole pixels.

Quick answer

Copy-ready answer

Legal is 215.9 x 355.6 mm, 21.59 x 35.56 cm, or 8.5 x 14 in. At 300 DPI, Legal is 2550 x 4200 px.

215.9 x 355.6 mm

Dimensions and specs

Millimeters 215.9 x 355.6 mm
Centimeters 21.59 x 35.56 cm
Inches 8.5 x 14 in
300 DPI pixels 2550 x 4200 px
Aspect ratio 1:1.6471
Standard family North American Office

Pixels

Pixel dimensions by DPI

DPI / PPIWidthHeightUse
72 DPI 612 px 1008 px Screen or draft reference density
96 DPI 816 px 1344 px Screen or draft reference density
150 DPI 1275 px 2100 px Screen or draft reference density
300 DPI 2550 px 4200 px Common high-quality print setup
600 DPI 5100 px 8400 px High-resolution archival or print workflow

Formula

How to calculate this size

Pixel formulapixels = millimeters / 25.4 x PPI

215.9 mm x 300 PPI = 2,550 px wide.

Trim result2,550 x 4,200 px

Use this when the artwork stops at the finished edge.

Bleed result2,621 x 4,271 px

Add 3 mm per side before calculating pixels when artwork reaches the edge.

Common mistakes

Avoid these legal paper size problems

Mixing screen pixels with print quality

A paper size needs a PPI target before pixels mean anything for print.

Forgetting orientation

Portrait and landscape use the same dimensions, but width and height swap in the export.

Adding bleed to a paper reference

Paper pages show trim size first; add bleed only when the design prints to the edge.

Calculator

Calculate pixels and bleed

Enter any DPI to calculate the pixel dimensions for this physical size.

Compare

Compare Legal Paper Size

Open a curated comparison or send both sizes into the compare tool with a fragment URL.

Legal belongs to the North American Office family. Use this reference for print setup, document layout, template sizing, pixel conversion, and comparisons with nearby paper sizes. Pixel dimensions are calculated from the physical size and selected DPI.

Workflow

Use Legal Paper Size in a finished file

Confirm the physical size

Copy the millimeter, centimeter, or inch dimensions for the selected paper standard.

Choose PPI

Use 300 PPI for most sharp print exports, or match the printer requirement.

Calculate pixels

Multiply inches by PPI, then add bleed only when artwork reaches the trimmed edge.

Related

Related pages and tools

Same branch

Nearby pages

FAQ

Common questions

What is the exact Legal size?

Legal measures 215.9 x 355.6 mm, 21.59 x 35.56 cm, or approximately 8.5 x 14 in.

What is Legal in pixels at 300 DPI?

Legal at 300 DPI is 2550 x 4200 px when rounded to the nearest whole pixel.

What aspect ratio is Legal?

Legal has an aspect ratio of about 1:1.6471 based on its 215.9 x 355.6 mm physical dimensions.

Should I add bleed to a Legal design?

For print work, a common starting point is 3 mm bleed on each side, making the document 221.9 x 361.6 mm before trimming. Confirm final bleed with your printer.

References

Sources and references

North American office paper standards physical dimensions. Pixel values are calculated from millimeters / 25.4 x DPI and rounded to whole pixels.

Last checked: 2026-05-01