Paper Sizes South Africa: A0-A6 Chart + Business Card Size [2026]

The Quick Answer#

South Africa uses the ISO 216 paper size standard (A-series). Here are the most common sizes:

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Understanding Paper Sizes in South Africa#

South Africa follows the ISO 216 international standard for paper sizes. This means every A-size paper is exactly half the size of the previous one when folded in half.

Here's how it works:

• 1A0 is the largest standard size (841 × 1189 mm) — roughly 1 square metre
• 2A1 is half of A0
• 3A2 is half of A1
• 4A3 is half of A2
• 5A4 is half of A3 (the most common size)
• 6A5 is half of A4
• 7A6 is half of A5
• 8A7 is half of A6
• 9A8 is half of A7

This halving pattern means every A-size paper has the same aspect ratio (1:√2 or approximately 1:1.414). This is why you can scale documents between sizes without distortion.

Complete A-Series Paper Size Chart#

Here's every A-size paper dimension in millimetres, centimetres, and inches:

A3 Paper Size#

A3 dimensions: 297 × 420 mm (29.7 × 42.0 cm, 11.7 × 16.5 inches)

A3 is twice the size of A4 and is commonly used for:

• 1Posters — Small promotional posters and event flyers
• 2Diagrams and charts — Technical drawings, architectural plans
• 3Presentations — Flip charts, presentation boards
• 4Menus — Restaurant menus and food catalogues
• 5Certificates — Award certificates and diplomas

Printing tip: A3 is the largest size most standard office printers can handle. For larger sizes (A2, A1, A0), you'll need a professional printing service like Printulu.

A4 Paper Size#

A4 dimensions: 210 × 297 mm (21.0 × 29.7 cm, 8.3 × 11.7 inches)

A4 is the most common paper size in South Africa and is used for:

• 1Letters and documents — Standard business correspondence
• 2Flyers and leaflets — Promotional materials and handouts
• 3Reports — Business reports and academic papers
• 4Magazines — Standard magazine format
• 5Forms — Application forms and invoices

Fun fact: A4 is the default paper size in South Africa, Europe, Australia, and most of the world. The US and Canada use "Letter" size (8.5 × 11 inches) instead, which is slightly wider and shorter than A4.

A5 Paper Size#

A5 dimensions: 148 × 210 mm (14.8 × 21.0 cm, 5.8 × 8.3 inches)

A5 is half the size of A4 and is commonly used for:

• 1Booklets and brochures — Small brochures and product catalogues
• 2Notepads — Personal notepads and journals
• 3Flyers — Half-page flyers and handouts
• 4Invitations — Wedding and event invitations
• 5Programmes — Event programmes and theatre playbills

A6 Paper Size#

A6 dimensions: 105 × 148 mm (10.5 × 14.8 cm, 4.1 × 5.8 inches)

A6 is half the size of A5 and is commonly used for:

• 1Postcards — Mailing postcards and promotional cards
• 2Business cards — Standard South African business cards (though 90 × 50 mm is more common)
• 3Thank you cards — Greeting cards and thank you notes
• 4Tickets — Event tickets and raffle tickets
• 5Labels — Product labels and address labels

B-Series Paper Sizes#

The B-series is less common but used for specific applications:

C-Series Paper Sizes (Envelopes)#

C-series sizes are designed to fit A-series paper:

Paper Weight (GSM) Guide#

Paper size is only half the story. Paper weight (GSM) determines how thick and sturdy the paper feels:

Not sure which paper weight to use? Try our free Paper Weight Calculator to calculate the exact weight and cost for your print job.

Common Printing Applications by Paper Size#