Why is the standard size for paper 8 1/2 by 11? Where did that come from?

Answer 1

I don't think there was an original intent for the size, but rather it evolved through usage, then became standardized by convention. There appear to be no historical precedents for the size, and it most likely followed manufacturers' production methods which were adopted by more manufacturers eventually resulting in the size being commonly available and thus widely used.

The fact that different sizes are in use supports the theory of a lack of any historical need for the particular size apart from user-defined needs and the developments of supply and demand.

Source: much tedious and fruitless research. Am I really this bored?

Owl Wings, I grew up thinking there were two standard paper sizes (US) -- letter/notebook (8.5 X 11) and legal (8.5 X 14). I don't think I ever heard of other paper sizes (European) even in high school. I recall frequent "discourses" with my Mom when purchasing school supplies. I, like my buddies, wanted legal size notepads, because they were "cool." Mom, of course, always prevailed, and I always got the bargain ream of standard 8.5 X 11.

Answer 2

Wikipedia seems to be the only one that mentions it:

The origin of the exact dimensions of "Letter" size paper (8.5" x 11", 216 mm × 279 mm) are lost in tradition and not well documented. The author of the American Forest and Paper Association website argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's arms"

It is odd that it seems to be a size only found in the US. One might have thought that the size would be a carry over from one of the British sizes but I can't see any relationship. Before we standardised on A4, we had Quarto (10" x 8") and Foolscap (13" x 8") and another size used for legal documents, as far as I remember.

Most of the rest of the world is using A4.

Answer 3

Basically the different countries adopted as official the most popular size as provided by their largest paper manufacturers, it really was as ad-hoc as that. Later, the modern world needed to standardize production & the A-series was born. This standardization only become necessary with the advent of paper using machines, copiers, faxes etc.

Answer 4

Cuz 9" X 12" kept sticking out of the notebooks kids were taking to school.

Answer 5

That is the U.S letter size , UK used to be 11.75 inches x 8.25 inhces till we changed to metric. then it became 297mm x 210mm

Answer 6

Trees, originally!

Answer 7

the teacher gave it to me

Answer 8

No idea whatsoever...

Answer 9

i thought it was a4?