The size and dimensions of legal papers are important for creating and maintaining legal documents. Legal paper sizes have been standardized to ensure consistency and ease of use for all types of legal documents, from official agreements and contracts to court filings and transcripts.
Legal paper measures 8.5 inches wide and 14 inches long, which is equivalent to 216 millimeters by 356 millimeters.
My goal in this guide is to provide detailed information about the legal paper size, including its uses and how it differs from letter-size paper.
Legal Paper Types
There are several types of legal papers that are used for various legal documents, such as contracts, deeds, wills, and pleadings. Here are some of the most common types:
Bond paper: This is a high-quality paper that is commonly used for legal documents that require a professional appearance, such as contracts or legal correspondence. It is typically heavier and thicker than regular paper and has a smoother finish.
Pleading paper: This type of legal paper has numbered lines on the left side, which are used for legal pleadings, motions, and briefs. It is usually printed on 28-pound paper and has a standard size of 8.5 inches by 11 inches.
Legal pads: Legal pads are used by lawyers and other legal professionals for taking notes or writing drafts of legal documents. They are typically yellow and have a stiff cardboard back for support.
The manuscript covers: Manuscript covers are used to protect and present legal documents, such as wills or trust agreements. They are usually made of heavy-duty paper or cardstock and can be personalized with the name of the document or the name of the law firm.
Resume paper: While not strictly a type of legal paper, resume paper is often used by lawyers and other legal professionals for resumes, cover letters, and other job search documents. It is typically a high-quality, heavyweight paper with a professional appearance.
When to use each type of legal paper?
Bond paper is often used for contracts and other legal documents that require a professional appearance while pleading paper is used for legal pleadings, motions, and briefs.
Legal pads are used for taking notes and writing drafts, while manuscript covers are used to protect and present legal documents. Resume paper is used for job search documents.
Differences between the various types of legal paper
The main differences between the various types of legal paper are their weight, texture, and finish. Bond paper is typically heavier and smoother than regular paper while pleading paper has numbered lines on the left side.
Manuscript covers are usually made of heavy-duty paper or cardstock, while legal pads are typically yellow with stiff cardboard back.
Resume paper is often a high-quality, heavyweight paper with a professional appearance.
What Is The Thickness Of A Legal Sheet?
The thickness of a sheet of legal paper can vary depending on the weight of the paper.
The weight of paper is measured in pounds per ream (500 sheets) or grams per square meter (gsm). Standard legal paper is usually 20 lb or 75 gsm weight.
For 20 lb legal paper, the thickness of a single sheet is approximately 0.1 millimeters (mm) or 0.004 inches. This means that a stack of 500 sheets of 20 lb legal paper would be approximately 50 mm or 2 inches thick.
However, it’s worth noting that the thickness of legal paper can vary depending on factors such as the manufacturer, the quality of the paper, and whether it is coated or uncoated.
Related: A6 Card Size
What Is The Weight Of A Sheet Of Legal Paper?
The weight of a sheet of legal paper can vary depending on the weight and thickness of the paper.
Standard legal paper is usually 20 lb or 75 gsm weight. A single sheet of 20 lb legal paper weighs approximately 0.16 ounces (4.5 grams). This means that a ream (500 sheets) of 20 lb legal paper weighs approximately 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms).
How Is Legal Paper Used?
Legal paper is a type of paper that is commonly used in legal documents and correspondence. It is typically 8.5 inches by 14 inches in size, which is longer and thinner than the standard 8.5 inches by 11 inches letter size paper.
Legal paper is used for all kinds of legal paperwork, including contracts, deeds, wills, and court filings. Documents are printed on different types of legal paper depending on their appearance. The following are some examples of how legal paper is used:
Contracts:
It is typical for legal contracts to be printed on high-quality bond paper in order to give them a professional appearance. It is also possible to convey an impression of importance and formality by the weight and finish of the paper. A contract may also be printed on specialized paper, such as watermarked paper, in order to deter fraud.
Deeds:
A deed is a legal document that conveys ownership of real estate from one party to another. In order to be legally binding, deeds are usually printed on legal-sized paper and must be signed and notarized.
Wills:
A will is a legal document that determines how an individual’s assets will be distributed after their death. Documents such as wills may be printed on bond paper or manuscript covers in order to protect them and present them. For a will to be legally binding, it must be signed in front of witnesses and may be required to be notarized.
Court filings:
To ensure proper formatting, legal pleadings, motions, and briefs must be printed on pleading paper, which has numbered lines on the left side. All filings in court must be made on 28-pound paper.
Correspondence:
To ensure that legal correspondence appears professional, bonds or resume papers may be used for letters and memos. According to the situation, the weight and finish of the paper can convey an impression of importance and formality.
Related: Executive Paper Size
What Is The Size Difference Between Legal and Letter Paper?
The size difference between legal and letter paper is significant.
Letter paper, which is also known as “8.5 x 11” paper, is 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches long. This is the standard paper size used for most documents in the United States and many other countries.
On the other hand, legal paper is longer and thinner than letter paper. It measures 8.5 inches wide and 14 inches long, which makes it 3 inches longer than letter paper.
The extra length of the legal paper provides more space for text and information, which can be useful for legal documents that are often lengthy and detailed, such as contracts, agreements, and legal briefs
What Is The Size Difference Between Legal and A4 Paper?
As I have mentioned above the dimension of the legal paper sheet. If we compare it to the A4 Paper, which is the international standard paper size, is slightly narrower and longer than legal paper. It measures 8.27 inches wide by 11.69 inches long (210 mm x 297 mm).
The difference in size between legal and A4 paper is therefore approximately 0.23 inches (6 mm) in width and 2.31 inches (59 mm) in length.
FAQs
Is legal size paper the same as A4?
Legal size paper is not the same as A4 paper. Legal size paper measures 8.5 x 14 inches or approximately 216 x 356 mm, while A4 paper measures 8.27 x 11.69 inches or approximately 210 x 297 mm.
Is A3 the same as the legal size?
A3 paper is not the same as legal-size paper either. A3 paper measures 11.69 x 16.54 inches or approximately 297 x 420 mm.
What size is legal paper in cm?
In centimeters, legal size paper measures approximately 21.6 x 35.6 cm.
What is legal size paper in mm?
In millimeters, legal size paper measures approximately 216 x 356 mm or 2160 x 3560 micrometers.