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When you print documents, whether at home or in a workplace, it’s essential to have plenty of paper stocked up. But at an office supply store, your choices are somewhat limited. The standard paper size measures 8.5 inches by 11 inches.
This raises an interesting question: Who decided on these dimensions?
As reported by Marketplace writer Jack Stewart, the answer traces back to the early days of paper-making, when workers submerged wooden paper molds into vats filled with pulp and water. Once dried, the result was paper.
This method was first introduced by Dutch paper makers in the 1660s. After much experimentation, they established a standard mold size of 44 inches long to match the span of the workers' arms. Dividing it into four sections resulted in a paper size of 11 inches.
The width is a bit more uncertain. The Dutch may have allotted 17 inches on the mold to accommodate watermarks. When halved, this gave a paper width of 8.5 inches.
But this is just part of the story behind standardization. With typewriters, copiers, and printers in use, having various paper sizes didn't make sense. A unified paper size was needed. The 8.5 by 11-inch format was the solution, as it allowed for a comfortable 65 to 78 characters across 6.5 inches of text after accounting for the 1-inch margins.
The paper size became more widespread when Presidents Herbert Hoover and Ronald Reagan both mandated these dimensions for government documents in the 1920s and 1980s, respectively. Hoover, in particular, wanted to reduce paper waste.
Another standardized paper size is 14 inches. The extra 3 inches likely came about due to the legal profession needing more space for lengthy contracts, which is why it’s commonly referred to as legal-sized paper. It's also gained popularity in restaurants where the extra room helps to list menu items. However, the majority of paper sizes stem from craftsmen who couldn't manage anything larger.
