A0 paper size and measurements: everything you need to know
Surely you are familiar with A4 paper size, commonly used in office and home printers. But you may not know that all sizes, including A4, derive from the A0 paper size and that it takes as many as 16 A4 sheets to reach the size of an A0 paper size.
Well, yes: the A0 paper size is the size from which all other paper sizes used for printing are then derived. The A0 format is in fact considered the standard that governs all other formats in the series.
In this article we will discover together the most important information and interesting facts about the A0 format as well as some good advice for those who need to print on it.
A0 format: the measurements and weight
It is the ISO 216 standard that establishes the dimensions of the A0 format. This standard has three classes of formats (A, B, C) with numbering ranging from 0 to 10.
The A0 format is the first in the A series and is the basis for all other formats that follow. The size of an A0 sheet corresponds to an exact square meter of paper. So the measurements of the A0 size are: 84.1 cm x 118.9 cm, or 33 x 47 inches.
The weight of an A0-size sheet of paper, on the other hand, depends on its grammage.
An A0 sheet of 80g/m² paper will weigh 80gr, a 100g/m² sheet will weigh 100gr, a 160g/m² sheet will weigh 100gr, and so on.$
A0 format: proportions with other ISO 126 formats
The A0 format is the reference for all the dimensions of the other “A” series formats regulated by ISO 216. But what are the exact proportions between this standard format and the other formats?
Let’s look together at a brief summary that shows us the proportions between an A0-format sheet and the other subsequent formats. There are no shortage of surprises!
An A0 size sheet is equivalent to:
- 2 times an A1
- 4 times an A2
- 8 times an A3
- 16 times an A4
- 32 times an A5
- 64 times an A6
- 128 times an A7
- 256 times an A8
- 512 times an A9
- 1024 times an A10
Dimensions and formats of the A series: summary table
In this table you will find the exact dimensions in cm and in pixels of the sheets belonging to the A format.
| FORMAT | MILLIMETERS | INCHES | PIXEL |
| A0 | 841 X 1189 | 33 X 47 | 9.933 x 14.043 |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | 23 x 33 | 7.016 x 9.933 |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | 16,5 x 23 | 4.961 x 7.016 |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11,5 x 16,5 | 3.508 x 4.961 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8,3 x 11,7 | 2.480 x 3.508 |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5,8 x 8,3 | 1.748 x 2.480 |
| A6 | 148 x 105 | 5,8 x 4,1 | 1.240 x 1.748 |
| A7 | 105 x 74 | 4,1 x 2,9 | 874 x 1.240 |
| A8 | 74 x 52 | 2,9 x 2,0 | 614 x 874 |
| A9 | 52 x 37 | 2,0 x 1,5 | 437 x 614 |
| A10 | 37 x 26 | 1,5 x 1,0 | 307 x 437 |
A0 format: what is it used for?
But when is it appropriate to choose an A0 format for printing?
As you may have noticed, the A0 format is quite large and is not used on a daily basis like an ordinary A4. The A0 format is mainly used by those who want to print posters, posters and billboards, given its large measurements.
The sheet, having the dimensions of 84.1 cm x 118.9 cm is also used in schools since several flipcharts take advantage of A0 sheets. Likewise there may be some geographic maps that use this format or some science, biology or astronomy posters. In short, despite its imposing size, an A0 format sheet is more widely used than one might think.
A0 format: the resolution and printing tips
The A0 format is ideal for printing posters and posters because, given its large surface area, it allows even individual details to stand out. Nonetheless, in order to have a quality final effect, the correct resolution must be chosen in order to avoid possible and dreaded grainy images.
The most suitable resolution for A0 size sheets is 841 x 1189 mm at 300 dpi (dots per inch).
We leave you with one very last tip: When printing a poster, it is helpful to add an abundance to the image to be printed. Abundance is a margin of a few millimeters that allows you to prevent the edges of the image from being cut off incorrectly in case of inaccuracies during the printing process. To avoid this danger you only need to add a 3 millimeter margin.
Now that you know more about the A0 format you are ready to choose it and use it for your projects.
Happy printing!