A5 to Half Letter Paper Size
Compare A5 and Half Letter paper dimensions instantly. Free paper size converter.
A5
Half Letter
Comparison
A5 is half the size of A4, used for small flyers and notebooks. Half Letter (5.5 x 8.5 inches) is the North American equivalent, commonly used for small brochures and cards.
Width difference:8.3 mm (0.33 in) wider
Height difference:5.9 mm (0.23 in) shorter
Detailed Dimensions
| Format | Millimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.83 x 8.27 |
| Half Letter | 139.7 x 215.9 | 5.5 x 8.5 |
A5 vs Half Letter: Both Compact, But Different Shapes
A5 is 148 x 210 mm (5.83 x 8.27 in). Half Letter is 139.7 x 215.9 mm (5.5 x 8.5 in). A5 is 8.3 mm wider and 5.9 mm shorter than Half Letter. The two formats look similar at a glance and many people use them interchangeably for personal planners, notebooks and small printables, but they don't share dimensions and a printable designed for one will get cropped or leave whitespace if printed on the other.
A5 follows the ISO 216 standard used everywhere outside the US and Canada: every A-size has the same 1:1.414 width-to-height ratio, so cutting an A4 in half gives you exactly two A5 sheets. Half Letter follows the ANSI standard used in North America: it's exactly half a US Letter sheet (216 x 280 mm folded in half lengthwise gives Half Letter at 139.7 x 215.9 mm). The aspect ratios are different (1.42 for A5, 1.55 for Half Letter), so A5 is squarer and Half Letter is more elongated.
When You'll Hit This Conversion in Practice
Three common scenarios. First: you've downloaded a printable planner template made in the US (Half Letter) and you're trying to print it on UK paper (A5 closer match) - it'll look slightly off because the proportions differ. Second: you sell digital planner inserts to an international audience and need both sizes to cover both markets (you'll need separate files; you can't just resize one to the other without distortion). Third: you're buying notebook refills internationally - Filofax 'Personal' size is closer to Half Letter, Filofax 'A5' is genuinely A5, and the two are not interchangeable.
The cleanest workflow for designers: build your master in A5 if your audience is UK/EU/global, build it in Half Letter if it's North America-first, then create a 'fit-to-page' export for the other format. For paper-only use (just printing onto whichever paper you have), set the printer to 'fit to printable area' and accept a 4 mm white margin difference. For high-design work where bleed and registration matter (zines, art prints), build separate files; the proportional difference will warp critical layout otherwise.
Other Paper Sizes Near This Range
A5 sits between A6 (105 x 148 mm, postcard size) and A4 (210 x 297 mm, standard office). Half Letter sits between Quarter Letter (140 x 108 mm) and Letter (216 x 280 mm). Statement (5.5 x 8.5 in / 139.7 x 215.9 mm) is the same as Half Letter; the names are interchangeable in North America. 'Junior Legal' (5 x 8 in) is smaller than both. If you're buying a notebook and the spec sheet says 'B5' (176 x 250 mm), that's significantly bigger than A5; don't assume.
For paper purchases: A5 paper is ubiquitous in the UK/EU at any office supply shop. Half Letter is harder to find as actual sheets in the UK; you usually buy Letter paper and cut it in half. North American shops do the opposite. If you're shipping printed product internationally, A5 will be familiar to UK/EU customers; Half Letter to US/Canada. The [A4 to Letter dimensions](/a4-to-letter-dimensions) and [A3 to Tabloid dimensions](/a3-to-tabloid-dimensions) tools cover the larger sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are A5 and Half Letter close enough to use interchangeably?
For personal use (a planner, a journal, sketch notes), yes. The 8.3 mm width and 5.9 mm height differences are small enough that most people don't notice. For design work with critical margins, bleeds or registration marks, no - the aspect ratios are different (1.42 vs 1.55), so a layout designed for one will visibly stretch or crop when forced into the other. If your printables include backgrounds that go to the edge of the page, design separately for each.
Can I print an A5 PDF onto Half Letter paper?
Yes, with a fit-to-page setting on your printer. The result will have a 4-5 mm white margin on the longer sides because A5 is squarer than Half Letter. Most home printers default to fit-to-printable-area which scales down slightly to avoid clipping; this gives a slightly smaller print than full A5 size. For best results, set the PDF reader to 'actual size' and the printer to A5 paper if you have it.
Is Half Letter the same as Statement?
Yes. Half Letter and Statement are two names for the same size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches (139.7 x 215.9 mm). Microsoft Word historically labelled it 'Statement' in the page setup dropdown. Stationery retailers in the US sometimes use 'Half Letter' on product packaging and 'Statement' on internal SKUs. They're identical.
What's the difference between A5 and Filofax Personal?
Filofax 'Personal' size is 95 x 171 mm - much smaller than both A5 and Half Letter. Filofax 'A5' is genuinely 148 x 210 mm and accepts standard A5 inserts. If you're buying refills, check the Filofax size name carefully because a 'Personal' insert won't fit an 'A5' binder and vice versa. The naming convention is unique to Filofax and predates ISO standardisation.