2A0 paper size and dimensions
2A0 measures 1189 × 1682 mm, which is 118.9 × 168.2 cm or 46.8 × 66.2 inches. It is twice the size of A0, with an area of 2 m².
Contents of this page
2A0, portrait
1189 × 1682mm
- Centimetres
- 118.9 × 168.2 cm
- Inches
- 46.81 × 66.22 in
- Pixels at 300 dpi
- 14,043 × 19,866 px
- Points (pt)
- 3370 × 4768 pt
- Area
- 1.9999 m²
- Weight at 80 gsm
- 160 g
2A0 is what you get when you place two A0 sheets side by side along their long edges. Its short side is therefore exactly as long as the long side of A0, 1189 mm. Like 4A0, the size comes from the German DIN 476, and ISO 216 only mentions it in passing.
2A0 in every unit
| Unit | Width × height |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 1189 × 1682 mm |
| Centimetres | 118.9 × 168.2 cm |
| Metres | 1.189 × 1.682 m |
| Inches | 46.81 × 66.22 in |
| DTP points (1/72 in) | 3370 × 4768 pt |
| Area | 19,999 cm², or 1.9999 m² |
| Diagonal | 2059.8 mm |
| Aspect ratio | 1 : 1.415 |
2A0 in pixels
| Resolution | Pixels | Megapixels | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 dpi | 3370 × 4768 px | 16.1 MP | Screen, preview |
| 96 dpi | 4494 × 6357 px | 28.6 MP | Screen (Windows default) |
| 150 dpi | 7022 × 9933 px | 69.7 MP | Large format, posters seen from a distance |
| 300 dpi | 14,043 × 19,866 px | 279 MP | Offset and digital print |
At 150 dpi a 2A0 poster needs 7022 × 9933 pixels, just under 70 megapixels. That is enough for a print viewed from one or two metres. A full 300 dpi at 14,043 × 19,866 pixels only pays off when people step right up to it, for example with infographics in small type.
2A0 at bus shelters
You see 2A0 more often than the name suggests. The 6-sheet poster in UK bus shelters measures 1200 × 1800 mm, and the German City-Light-Poster 1185 × 1750 mm. Both are almost as wide as 2A0 but taller by 7 to 12 cm. If you want to use a 2A0 design in such a case, you have to add space at the top or bottom. The frame also covers a few centimetres all round, so keep text well away from the edges.
Printing 2A0
The short side of 1189 mm does not fit the common 914 mm (36 in) or 1118 mm (44 in) rolls. From a roll width of 1270 mm (50 in) or 1524 mm (60 in), 2A0 prints in one piece. With only an A0 plotter, you print two A0 sheets and join them along the long edge, ideally with a few centimetres of overlap.
- 115 to 135 gsm poster paper indoors, blueback paper for pasting on poster sites
- Special backlit film or paper for illuminated cases, otherwise the image looks patchy
- Type for distant viewing: headlines from about 150 pt
2A0 compared
| Size | mm | Area | Compared with 2A0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4A0 | 1682 × 2378 mm | 4 m² | twice the area |
| 2A0 | 1189 × 1682 mm | 2 m² | |
| B0 | 1000 × 1414 mm | 1.414 m² | 71 % of the area |
| A0 | 841 × 1189 mm | 1 m² | half the area |
How much does a 2A0 sheet weigh?
| Paper weight | 1 sheet | 100 sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 80 gsm | 160 g | 16 kg |
| 135 gsm | 270 g | 27 kg |
| 170 gsm | 340 g | 34 kg |
| 200 gsm | 400 g | 40 kg |
Frequently asked questions
How big is 2A0 in cm?
2A0 is 118.9 cm wide and 168.2 cm tall.
How many A4 sheets fit on 2A0?
32. 2A0 equals two A0 sheets of 16 A4 sheets each.
Is 2A0 the size of a bus shelter poster?
Close. A UK 6-sheet poster is 1200 × 1800 mm, slightly wider and about 12 cm taller than 2A0.
How many pixels does a 2A0 poster need?
7022 × 9933 pixels at 150 dpi, or 14,043 × 19,866 pixels at 300 dpi.
What roll width do I need for 2A0?
At least 1189 mm. In practice that means a printer with 1270 mm or 1524 mm rolls.