Legal paper size
in inches, mm and pixels.

Legal size paper is 8.5 × 14 in (215.9 × 355.6 mm): the width of US Letter and 3 in longer. In pixels, Legal is 2550 × 4200 px at 300 DPI.

Design this size

Updated November 2026

All sizes at a glance

Legal is the long US sheet: the same width as Letter, with extra room at the bottom.

Sizes and aspect ratios
Use	Size	Ratio	Note
Portrait (recommended)	8.5 × 14 in	17:28
Landscape	14 × 8.5 in	28:17
In millimetres	215.9 × 355.6 mm	17:28	Often rounded to 216 × 356 mm

Pixels at each resolution

The same physical size needs more pixels the sharper you want it. 300 DPI is the usual target for print, 150 DPI for large posters seen from afar.

Pixel size at 72, 96, 150 and 300 DPI
Resolution	Pixels	Good for
72 DPI	612 × 1008 px	Screen previews
96 DPI	816 × 1344 px	Web and office documents
150 DPI	1275 × 2100 px	Posters and large prints
300 DPI	2550 × 4200 px	Print at full quality

Physical size

Size in millimetres, centimetres and inches
Physical size	Size
Millimetres	215.9 × 355.6 mm
Centimetres	21.59 × 35.56 cm
Inches	8.5 × 14 in

Limits and safe zone

Standard: US paper size, not part of ISO 216

Semurai Canvas

Design it in Semurai Canvas

Start at the exact size, from a template or a blank page, and apply your Brand Kit: logo, colours and fonts. The AI chat edits the design when you ask.

Create a design, open Resize, choose “Resize this design” and set 2550 × 4200 px (any size from 200 to 6000 px).

Start free

After sign-up and a short brand setup, Canvas opens a blank 2550 × 4200 px design.

Already have an account? Open Canvas at 2550 × 4200 px

What legal size paper is used for

Legal suits documents that need more length than Letter, such as contracts, long forms and menus, or a wide table printed in landscape.

Legal shares its width with Letter, so a printer that takes Letter only needs a tray or feed that holds 14 in long sheets.

Legal size in pixels

At 300 DPI, Legal is 2550 × 4200 px. At 150 DPI it is 1275 × 2100 px, at 96 DPI 816 × 1344 px, and at 72 DPI 612 × 1008 px.

Use the 300 DPI size for anything printed, such as a menu or a form with small text.

Legal vs Letter and A4

Legal is 8.5 × 14 in and Letter 8.5 × 11 in: same width, 3 in (76.2 mm) more length. A4, at 210 × 297 mm, is shorter than Legal by almost 6 cm.

There is no ISO equivalent of Legal. If you send a Legal document to readers who print on A4, expect it to be scaled down to fit.

Tips

Set the size to 2550 × 4200 px before you design if the page will be printed.
For a landscape spreadsheet or menu, swap the numbers: 14 × 8.5 in, or 4200 × 2550 px at 300 DPI.
Check that your printer tray takes 14 in long paper before you print a Legal page.
Keep text and logos a few millimetres inside the edges of the sheet.

How to make it in Semurai Canvas

Create a design in Semurai Canvas, open Resize, choose “Resize this design” and set 2550 × 4200 px, which is Legal at 300 DPI.
Lay out the page yourself or ask the AI chat to draft it, then adjust text, images and colours.
Export a PNG or PDF and print it, or send it to your printer after checking their bleed and colour requirements.

The Resize window in Semurai Canvas with preset sizes and a custom width and height

FAQ

Questions about this size

How big is legal size paper in cm?

21.59 × 35.56 cm, which is 215.9 × 355.6 mm or 8.5 × 14 in.

What is the difference between legal and letter size?

Only the length. Both are 8.5 in wide; Letter is 11 in long and Legal is 14 in long, so Legal has 3 in more room at the bottom.

Is there an A-series size equal to Legal?

No. Legal has no ISO 216 equivalent. A4 is the closest everyday sheet, but it is about 6 cm shorter, so Legal documents get scaled down when printed on A4.