A2 vs. A3
Comparing 2 standards across 7 specifications. 6 key differences identified.
A2 is an ISO 216 standard paper size measuring 420 × 594 mm (16.5 × 23.4 inches), with a surface area of 0.250 square meters (one quarter of A0). Providing a balanced medium-large format, it is standard for fine-art photographic prints, architectural site overviews, large wall calendars, and retail window display posters.
A3 is an ISO 216 standard paper size measuring 297 × 420 mm (11.7 × 16.5 inches), with a surface area of 0.125 square meters (one eighth of A0). It is the standard large-format paper supported by commercial office multifunction printers (MFPs), widely used for financial spreadsheets, two-page A4 magazine spreads, and engineering diagrams.
Specification Comparison Table
7 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Width × Height (Metric)
|
420 × 594 mm | 297 × 420 mm |
|
Width × Height (Imperial)
|
16.5 × 23.4 in | 11.7 × 16.5 in |
|
Nominal Surface Area
|
0.250 m² (250,000 mm²) | 0.125 m² (125,000 mm²) |
|
Exact Aspect Ratio
|
1 : √2 (1 : 1.4142) | 1 : √2 (1 : 1.4142) |
|
Weight of Standard 80 gsm Sheet
|
20.0 grams | 10.0 grams |
|
Halving Relationship
|
Cut in half yields 2 sheets of A3 | Cut or folded in half yields 2 sheets / 4 pages of A4 |
|
Primary Applications
|
Artistic photographic prints, desk calendars, sales territory charts, school classroom diagrams | Office spreadsheets, folded A4 booklets, ledger accounting, small posters |