A6 paper size and dimensions: everything you need to know

A6 paper is smaller than the other sheets with the same proportions in the A series, and these bijou dimensions make it suitable for use in various everyday situations. But what are the dimensions of A6 paper? How much does it weigh? And what are its most common uses?

In the next few paragraphs, we’ll answer all these questions, as well as providing all the technical information you need to make the most of sheets of A6 paper in your projects.

Enjoy!

A6 paper and ISO 216

Like other paper sizes, A6 is defined by ISO 216, the standard that sets the dimensions for printed paper across large swathes of the world. ISO 216 comprises three families of sizes (A, B and C), each of which is divided up into 11 subgroups. It is worth remembering that ISO 216 does not apply in the USA and in Canada, as these countries follow a different set of rules.

A6 paper measures 10.5 x 14.8 cm or 4.1 x 5.8 inches. As ever, the number of pixels will depend on the resolution, measured in dpi (dots per inch). The higher the resolution, the higher the dpi value. Here are a few examples:

• 72 dpi: 298 x 420 px
• 150 dpi: 620 x 874 px
• 300 dpi: 1,240 x 1,748 px
• 600 dpi: 2,480 x 3,508 px

Thinking about A6 compared to other paper sizes, A6 is one-quarter the size of A4, one-eighth the size of A3 and double the size of A7.

The weight of a sheet of A6 paper depends on its grammage, or basis weight, which is dictated by the paper’s density. Here are a few practical examples: a sheet of A6 paper with a grammage of 240 gsm weighs 3.75 g, a 160 gsm sheet of A6 paper weighs 2.5 g, and an 80 gsm sheet weighs 1.25 g.

The summary table below provides all the dimensions of the full series of paper sizes in millimetres, inches and pixels for printing at 300 dpi.

Paper size	Millimetres	Inches	Pixels (300 dpi print quality)
A0	841 x 1,189	33 x 47	9,933 x 14,043
A1	594 x 841	23 x 33	7,016 x 9,933
A2	420 x 594	16.5 x 23	4,961 x 7,016
A3	297 x 420	11.5 x 16.5	3,508 x 4,961
A4	210 x 297	8.3 x 11.7	2,480 x 3,508
A5	148 x 210	5.8 x 8.3	1,748 x 2,480
A6	148 x 105	5.8 x 4.1	1,240 x 1,748
A7	105 x 74	4.1 x 2.9	874 x 1,240
A8	74 x 52	2.9 x 2.0	614 x 874
A9	52 x 37	2.0 x 1.5	437 x 614
A10	37 x 26	1.5 x 1.0	307 x 437

Table of dimensions for A series paper sizes in millimetres, inches and pixels

A6 paper: what is it used for?

Now you know the size of A6 paper, we can discuss its most frequent uses. The main one is A6 envelopes: a classic size, smaller than a standard letter size, often used for birthday greetings or other celebrations.

A6 is also a popular size for diaries, which are commonly used for jotting down appointments or reminders. It is also used for pocket-sized flyers, which do not need to contain much detailed information.

A6 paper: resolution and printing tips

A6 can be very handy, and, as we’ve seen, it’s perfect for numerous uses. Whether you choose this paper size to create greetings cards, or give your creativity free rein and produce some A6 diaries, the important thing is to use modern publishing software: as the years progress, programs are increasingly well equipped for handling and creating print-ready files.

Best of luck!