Paper size standards: ISO 216 and others
The A and B series are defined internationally in ISO 216, adopted in Europe as EN ISO 216 (BS EN ISO 216 in the UK, DIN EN ISO 216 in Germany). The C series for envelopes is now only covered by the German national standard DIN 476-2. Raw sheets such as SRA3 are in ISO 217.
Contents of this page
Which standard covers what?
| Standard | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 216 (BS EN ISO 216, DIN EN ISO 216) | A and B series (trimmed sizes), tolerances | ISO 216:2007 |
| DIN 476-2 | C series | edition 2008-02 |
| DIN 476 | the original standard with A, B, C and D series | 1922, replaced by today’s standards |
| ISO 217 | raw sizes RA and SRA | current |
| ISO 269 | C series for envelopes (international) | withdrawn in 2009 without replacement |
| DIN 678 | envelopes, sizes such as DL, C6/5, E4 | current |
| DIN 680 | window envelopes, sizes and window positions | edition 2008-02 |
| DIN 5008 | German rules for typing and laying out documents, business letters | edition 2020-03 |
| DIN 824 | folding technical drawings down to A4 filing size | current |
| DIN 6730 | paper and board, terminology | current |
| ISO 536 | determining grammage | current |
| ISO/IEC 7810 | identification cards ID-1 (credit card), ID-2, ID-3 (passport) | current |
| ISO 3394 | packaging dimensions based on the 600 × 400 mm module | current |
| ISO 6780, EN 13698-1 | pallet dimensions, Euro pallet | current |
| ISO 15930 (PDF/X) | PDF formats for print, for example PDF/X-4 | current |
| ISO 12647-2 | process standard for offset printing, the basis for colour profiles | current |
| JIS P 0138 | Japanese paper sizes, the JIS B series | current |
| ANSI/ASME Y14.1 | US drawing sizes ANSI A to E | current |
“Current” means that, as far as we know, the standard has not been withdrawn. The exact edition date changes with revisions. The current version from the relevant standards body is always the binding one.
How ISO, EN, BS and DIN fit together
ISO standards are international. When the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) adopts an ISO standard, it becomes an EN ISO standard. Each European country then publishes it under its national prefix: BS EN ISO in the UK, DIN EN ISO in Germany, NF EN ISO in France. That is why the full name of the A4 standard in Britain is BS EN ISO 216. The content is identical to ISO 216.
Purely national standards such as DIN 476-2 or DIN 5008 apply only in their own country. For the C series that is unusual: since ISO 269 was withdrawn in 2009, there has been no international standard for it, even though C envelopes are used all over the world.
What ISO 216 actually specifies
- The sizes A0 to A10 and B0 to B10 in whole millimetres
- The aspect ratio of 1 to √2
- A0 with an area of one square metre, B0 with a short side of one metre
- The tolerances: ±1.5 mm up to 150 mm, ±2 mm up to 600 mm, ±3 mm above that
- The special sizes 2A0 and 4A0, mentioned in the text
Where to get standards
Standards are protected by copyright and have to be bought. ISO sells its standards directly, the BSI sells British editions, and DIN Media (formerly Beuth Verlag) sells German ones. Many university and public libraries offer access through standards databases. For most practical questions, the figures on this website are enough. If you need to work to the letter, for example in a tender, refer to the original standard.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard defines A4?
ISO 216, adopted in the UK as BS EN ISO 216 and in Germany as DIN EN ISO 216.
Does DIN 476 still exist?
The original DIN 476 of 1922 has been replaced by DIN EN ISO 216. Only part 2, with the C series, remains in force as DIN 476-2.
Which standard covers envelopes?
In Germany, DIN 678 for envelope sizes and DIN 680 for windows. The C series itself is in DIN 476-2.
Is ISO 269 still valid?
No. ISO 269 was withdrawn in 2009 without a replacement.