A2 paper size and dimensions
A2 measures 420 × 594 mm, which is 42 × 59.4 cm or 16.5 × 23.4 inches. It is twice the size of A3 and holds four A4 pages.
Contents of this page
A2, portrait
420 × 594mm
- Centimetres
- 42 × 59.4 cm
- Inches
- 16.54 × 23.39 in
- Pixels at 300 dpi
- 4961 × 7016 px
- Points (pt)
- 1191 × 1684 pt
- Area
- 0.2495 m²
- Weight at 80 gsm
- 20 g
A2 is the smallest of the proper poster sizes. It fits an office wall, a classroom door and most shop windows. Wall calendars, sketch pads and educational posters often come in A2 as well.
A2 in every unit
| Unit | Width × height |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 420 × 594 mm |
| Centimetres | 42 × 59.4 cm |
| Metres | 0.42 × 0.594 m |
| Inches | 16.54 × 23.39 in |
| DTP points (1/72 in) | 1191 × 1684 pt |
| Area | 2494.8 cm², or 0.2495 m² |
| Diagonal | 727.5 mm |
| Aspect ratio | 1 : 1.414 |
Pixels for A2
An A2 poster at 300 dpi needs 4961 × 7016 pixels, around 35 megapixels. At 150 dpi it is 2480 × 3508 pixels, exactly the same as A4 at 300 dpi. A handy rule follows from that: an image sharp enough for A4 is also fine for A2 at half the resolution.
| Resolution | Pixels | Megapixels | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 dpi | 1191 × 1684 px | 2 MP | Screen, preview |
| 100 dpi | 1654 × 2339 px | 3.9 MP | |
| 150 dpi | 2480 × 3508 px | 8.7 MP | Large format, posters seen from a distance |
| 200 dpi | 3307 × 4677 px | 15.5 MP | |
| 300 dpi | 4961 × 7016 px | 34.8 MP | Offset and digital print |
What A2 is used for
- Posters for offices, children's rooms and schools
- Wall calendars and year planners
- Drawing and sketch pads for art classes
- Notices, menus in display stands, information boards
- Smaller plans and floor plans
A size with a long history
A2 has a surprisingly old ancestor. A French stamp law from 1798, during the Revolution, set out paper sizes in the ratio 1 to √2. One of them, the “Grand registre”, measured 420 × 594 mm, which is precisely today's A2, more than a hundred years before DIN 476. More on the history of paper sizes page.
A2 compared
A3 to A2 is 141 %, A4 to A2 is 200 %. Copy shops usually print A2 on roll plotters. In an office the only option is to split the design across two A3 sheets.
Frequently asked questions
How big is A2 in cm?
A2 is 42 cm wide and 59.4 cm tall.
How big is A2 in inches?
16.5 × 23.4 inches.
How many A4 pages fit on A2?
Four, two across and two down.
How many pixels does an A2 poster need?
4961 × 7016 at 300 dpi, 2480 × 3508 at 150 dpi.