Variations
What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | A4 — 210 × 297 mm (8.27 × 11.69 in) |
|---|---|
| Square size | 5 mm = 0.197″ |
| Squares per inch | 5.08 |
| Squares per cm | 2 |
| Grid on this page | 38 × 55 squares |
| Margins | 10 mm |
| Line weight | 0.18 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
The everyday metric grid
Across most of Europe, Asia and elsewhere, “squared paper” means 5 mm squares. It is the default ruling in math exercise books from primary school onward: students write one digit per square, draw number lines two squares per unit, and sketch geometry with the squares as a built-in ruler. Because two squares make exactly one centimeter, measurements need no conversion.
The same grid fills engineering logbooks, lab notebooks and design journals. It is fine enough to sketch a part or a circuit at a useful scale but open enough to write labels and calculations alongside. Many people who keep a dot-grid journal for planning use squared pages for anything that involves numbers. If you prefer dots, our 5 mm dot grid uses the same pitch. Squares are better when you rely on straight lines to guide a sketch, dots when you want the page to feel almost blank.
Plain or with bold lines
A plain grid is the classic look, and the default here. It suits handwriting and calculation, where heavier lines would only distract. Turn on a bold line every two squares when you need to read lengths in centimeters quickly, for scale drawings at 1:100 (where each centimeter is one meter) or for simple bar charts. A bold line every ten squares divides the page into 5 cm blocks, which is handy for graphs where each block is one unit on the axis.
Setting up and printing
Choose A4 for most of the world, Letter in North America. The grid is centered on the page so the margins come out even; turn off centering in Advanced options if you prefer the grid to begin at the top-left corner. For a reusable notebook insert, set Pages in the PDF to 40, enable alternate margins for binding, and print double-sided.
A3 gives a 55 × 80 grid for wall charts and large site plans. Whatever size you pick, print at Actual size so the squares stay true. A home printer that is off by even 1% would turn the A4 grid’s 190 mm width into 188 mm, which matters on scale drawings and adds up when two printed pages are taped together. The calibration wizard measures and corrects that once for your printer.
More graph paper sheets
- 1/4 inch graph paper (Letter & A4)
- 1/8 inch graph paper (Letter, A4 & Legal)
- 1 cm graph paper (centimeter squares)
- Engineering paper (5 squares per inch)
- 1 inch graph paper (Letter, A4 & 11×17)
- A4 graph paper (5 mm, 1 cm, 2 mm & more)
- 1/2 inch graph paper (large squares)
- 1 mm graph paper (millimetre paper)
- 11×17 graph paper (Tabloid & Ledger)
- 2 mm graph paper (bold every centimeter)
- A3 graph paper for large drawings and plans
- Quilting graph paper
- Legal size graph paper (8.5 × 14 in)
Frequently asked questions
How many 5 mm squares are on an A4 sheet?
With 10 mm margins the A4 grid is 38 squares across and 55 down, 2,090 squares in all. US Letter with half-inch margins fits 38 × 50, and A3 fits 55 × 80.
Is 5 mm graph paper the same as 1/5 inch engineering paper?
No, though they look alike. 5 mm is about 0.197 inch, while engineering paper uses exactly 1/5 inch (5.08 mm). Over 38 squares the gap grows to roughly 3 mm. Use engineering paper when you measure in inches and 5 mm when you measure in centimeters.
Why do some 5 mm grids have no bold lines?
Squared exercise books used in schools are usually printed as a plain, even grid, because students write one digit per square rather than measure. Bold centimeter lines help when you need to read lengths or draw to scale, so they are offered as a variation.
Can I write normal text on 5 mm squares?
Yes. Most adult handwriting fits one line of text per square row, or two rows for larger writing. That makes 5 mm squares a good compromise between notes and diagrams in the same notebook.
How do I check that my squares are really 5 mm?
Measure across 20 squares with a ruler; the result should be exactly 100 mm. If it reads about 96 mm, the PDF was scaled to fit the page. Reprint at 100% or Actual size.
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