Page Sizes for Architectural Drawings

What is the standard blueprint paper size?

Blueprints and house plans will come in several standard sizes. Two of the most common architectural drawing sizes are 18” x 24” and 24” x 36”, but the Business Box also prints construction plans of 36” x “48” sizes. Large sizes are necessary on bigger and more detailed projects. Regardless of the blueprint paper size being used, its purpose is to show a trained person how to build that particular projects.

North American architects typically use the ARCH sizes for their large format drawings.  There are two main paper size standards in use around the world: the international (ISO) A series and the North American ANSI sizes.  For reference purposes, all common sheet sizes for technical drawings are listed below.

North American ARCH Series Paper Size

SIZE INCHES MILLIMETERS
ARCH A 9 x 12 229 × 305
ARCH B 12 x 18 305 × 457
ARCH C 18 x 24 457 × 610
ARCH D 24 x 36 610 × 914
ARCH E 36 x 48 914 × 1219
ARCH E1 30 x 42 762 × 1067

North American Loose Paper Sizes

SIZE INCHES MILLIMETERS
Letter 8.5 × 11 216 × 279
Legal 8.5 × 14 216 × 356
Tabloid 11 × 17 279 × 432
Ledger 17 × 11 432 × 279

North American ANSI Series Paper Sizes

SIZE INCHES MILLIMETERS
ANSI A 8.5 × 11 216 × 279
ANSI B 11 × 17 279 × 432
ANSI C 17 × 22 432 × 559 
ANSI D 22 × 34 559 × 864
ANSI E 34 × 44

864 × 1118

 

International ISO 216 A-Series Paper Sizes

SIZE INCHES MILLIMETERS
A0 33.1 × 46.8 841 × 1189
A1 23.4 × 33.1 594 × 841
A2 16.5 × 23.4 420 × 594
A3 11.7 × 16.5 297 × 420
A4 8.3 × 11.7 210 × 297

 

For ANSI drawings, or A-Paper sized drawings, the Business Box will print on slightly larger sheets, but to scale, meaning more white margins, but drawings will respect the proper scale.  For a slight charge, we can trim sheets if absolutely necessary.

ANSI E and A0 will be printed on 36x48

ANSI D and A1 will be printed on 24x36

ANSI C and A2 will be printed on 18x24