Short bond paper size in inches, cm, mm, and pixels
Short bond paper is the everyday name for US Letter: 8.5 × 11 inches.
| Unit | Width × height |
|---|---|
| Inches | 8.5 × 11 |
| Centimeters | 21.59 × 27.94 |
| Millimeters | 215.9 × 279.4 |
| Pixels (72 dpi) | 612 × 792 |
| Pixels (150 dpi) | 1275 × 1650 |
| Pixels (300 dpi) | 2550 × 3300 |
Pixel formula for design tools: inches × DPI = pixels. Photoshop’s Letter preset at 300 PPI is already 2550 × 3300.
On US-oriented installs, new Word and Google Docs files often open at Letter already. The usual failure is an A4 file that traveled from abroad—or a printer still set to A4 while the tray holds short bond.
“Bond” is the paper type; “short” is the cut
On a ream wrapper, bond usually describes a durable writing/copy grade (often about 70–90 gsm / ~20–24 lb in office packs). Short tells you the sheet is cut to 8.5 × 11. Buying “bond paper” without checking the printed inches can still get you long bond or A4.
| About | Feel | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| ~70 gsm | Thin; show-through risk | Drafts, high-volume copies |
| ~80 gsm | Everyday office default | Homework, memos, inkjet |
| ~100 gsm+ | Heavier, less bleed-through | Résumés, certificates |
Why the Philippines still says short bond
Much of the world defaults to ISO A4. The Philippines (like the US and Canada for office work) still leans on North American inch sizes in schools and many offices, so people say short and long bond instead of Letter and Folio. Matching the name in the instruction sheet matters more than grabbing whichever ream is open in the printer.
Set Letter in the tools people actually use
Keep each app to a few lines—the goal is matching names, not recreating vendor help centers.
Microsoft Word
Layout → Size → Letter (8.5″ × 11″). If the file keeps reopening as A4, open More Paper Sizes, select Letter, then Set As Default so new documents follow NORMAL correctly.
Google Docs
File → Page setup → Paper size → Letter (8.5″ × 11″). Optional: Set as default. Confirm the Doc is in Pages layout (not pageless) when you care about print size.
Canva
Create → Custom size → 21.59 × 27.94 cm (or 8.5 × 11 in). Canva often has no “Short bond” label—numbers are the source of truth.
Printer dialog
Load 8.5 × 11 stock, snug the side guides to the 8.5″ edge, choose Letter, scale 100% / Actual size unless you intentionally fit an A4 PDF. Document size and driver size must agree.
PDF already wrong size
Prefer a PDF tool that can set page size to Letter (215.9 × 279.4 mm) or print with a known fit policy—know whether you are cropping, shrinking, or letterboxing.
Leave a safe margin on short bond
Most home inkjets cannot print to the extreme edge. Keep critical text and logos at least about 0.5 in (12–13 mm) inside the sheet—many school templates use ~1 in margins. Page size (8.5 × 11) is not the same as the printable area.
Portrait is the default for essays and letters. Landscape Letter (11 × 8.5) is still short bond stock; only the orientation changed—useful for wide tables, still the same ream.
Why A4 prints look “almost right”
| Name | Inches | mm |
|---|---|---|
| Short bond / Letter | 8.5 × 11 | 216 × 279 |
| A4 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 210 × 297 |
Letter is wider; A4 is taller. An A4 PDF on short bond can clip the bottom. A Letter file on A4 often shows fat side margins and empty foot space. “Fit to page” shrinks everything—acceptable for a draft, poor for graded work or letterhead.
Short bond vs long bond
| Name | Inches | Also called |
|---|---|---|
| Short bond | 8.5 × 11 | Letter |
| Long bond (local) | 8.5 × 13 | Folio / Government Legal |
Same width; long bond adds two inches of height. Long bond is not US Legal (8.5 × 14). See the Long bond paper size guide for the taller sheet and the Legal trap.
When the print still looks wrong
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom lines missing | Doc is A4 or Legal; paper is short bond | Page size in app = Letter; turn off unwanted fit |
| Huge empty bottom / wide sides | Doc is Letter; paper or driver is A4 | Match tray and driver to Letter |
| Slanted text | Guides not snug on the 8.5″ side | Adjust tray guides |
| Everything slightly small | “Fit to page” / shrink to printable area | Print at 100% if the sizes already match |
| Show-through on duplex | Paper too light | Try ~80–100 gsm bond |
Everyday jobs that expect 8.5×11
Homework, résumés, cover letters, invoices, and most home inkjet trays assume Letter-length stock. It fits standard short folders and US-oriented software defaults. Buy reams labeled 8.5 × 11 (or Letter).
Related comparisons
Common questions
- What is short bond paper size?
- 8.5 × 11 inches (about 21.59 × 27.94 cm / 216 × 279 mm)—the same as US Letter.
- Is short bond the same as Letter?
- Yes, in normal Philippine and North American office use.
- Short bond paper size in cm / mm?
- About 21.59 × 27.94 cm or 215.9 × 279.4 mm.
- Is short bond the same as A4?
- No. A4 is 210 × 297 mm—narrower and taller.
- How do I set short bond in Word?
- Layout → Size → Letter. Use Set As Default only if new files keep opening as A4.
- Short bond paper size in pixels?
- At 300 dpi: 2550 × 3300. At 72 dpi: 612 × 792. At 150 dpi: 1275 × 1650.
- What margins should I use?
- Follow the brief if one exists. Otherwise keep critical content ≥ ~0.5 in from the edge; many templates use 1 in.
- Does paper GSM change the size?
- No. GSM is weight/thickness. Short bond cut size stays 8.5 × 11.
Sources and rounding
Letter / short bond dimensions follow common ANSI Letter practice. Cut tolerance can be about one millimetre; GSM ranges above are typical office guidance, not a lab spec. Always follow the size and margin rules named in a school or office instruction sheet.