Product guides
A4, A3, Short and Long Bond Paper: Sizes, Uses and Wholesale Buying Guide
The Philippines is one of the few markets that uses US-style and international paper sizes side by side. Getting the size mix right avoids wasted stock.
The four sizes at a glance
| Size | Inches | Millimetres | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (Letter) | 8.5 × 11 | 215.9 × 279.4 | School work, private-company documents, US/Canada correspondence |
| Long | 8.5 × 13 | 215.9 × 330.2 | Government forms, legal documents, payroll, school records |
| A4 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 210 × 297 | International companies, exports, embassies, most countries outside North America |
| A3 | 11.69 × 16.54 | 297 × 420 | Drawings, spreadsheets, posters, booklets, layouts |
Who buys which size
Schools
Short is still common for school work, with A4 growing. Records offices often need Long.
Government and legal
Long bond paper remains standard for many forms and legal documents.
Corporations and BPOs
Multinationals and BPOs usually standardise on A4 or Short.
Printers, architects and engineers
A3 for drawings, proofs and folded booklets.
Planning a mixed order
You can mix sizes in one wholesale order of 100 boxes or more. Start from last year's usage by size and add a buffer for peak periods such as enrolment. Browse Short, Long, A4 and A3 bond paper, then request a wholesale quotation.
Short vs A4: why they're easy to confuse
Short (8.5 × 11 in) is slightly wider and shorter than A4 (8.27 × 11.69 in). Documents formatted for one size can lose margins or page breaks on the other. Check your templates, especially government and school forms, before switching sizes.
Long bond paper: the Philippine standard for forms
Long (8.5 × 13 in) remains the default for many government forms, affidavits, payroll and school records. It is not the same as US Legal (8.5 × 14 in), so printers need the correct tray setting.
When to buy A3
A3 is used for engineering and architectural drawings, spreadsheets, posters and booklets folded to A4. Because demand is lumpy, many print shops keep a small A3 safety stock and reorder with their main A4 orders.
Printer settings by size
- Set the paper size in both the tray and the print driver to avoid "paper mismatch" errors.
- Long paper often needs the bypass tray on smaller printers.
- A3 requires an A3-capable printer or copier.
Ordering assorted sizes in one order
You can assort Short, Long, A4 and A3 in a single wholesale order. Our quotation form lets you tick each size and enter the boxes for each, and the 100-box minimum and discounts apply to the total. Browse Short, Long, A4 and A3, or request a wholesale quotation.
Which size for which document?
| Document | Common size |
|---|---|
| Government forms, affidavits | Long |
| School activity sheets | Short or A4 |
| Corporate letters, contracts | A4 or Short |
| Export documents | A4 |
| Engineering drawings, posters | A3 |
FAQ
Is Long bond paper the same as Legal size?
Can I mix sizes in one order?
What size is short bond paper in mm?
What size is long bond paper in mm?
Can I order assorted sizes?
Need a quotation? See our wholesale prices, browse the catalogue or request a quote.
