Side-by-Side Comparison
North American (ANSI & Arch)
US Half Letter vs. US Legal
Comparing 2 standards across 9 specifications. 9 key differences identified.
Comparing:
US Half Letter
US Legal
US Half Letter (Statement / Memo) is a North American paper format measuring 5.5 × 8.5 inches (139.7 × 215.9 mm), created by cutting a standard US Letter sheet in half across its width. It is the dominant US format for medical prescription pads, restaurant guest checks, bank statement inserts, and mini binders.
US Legal is a North American traditional paper size measuring 8.5 × 14.0 inches (215.9 × 355.6 mm). Sharing the 8.5-inch width of US Letter but extending 3 inches longer, it is used throughout the US and Canadian legal systems for courtroom trial transcripts, real estate deeds, and legislative statutes.
Specification Comparison Table
9 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Width × Height (Imperial)
|
5.50 × 8.50 in | 8.50 × 14.00 in |
|
Width × Height (Metric)
|
139.7 × 215.9 mm | 215.9 × 355.6 mm |
|
Aspect Ratio
|
1 : 1.5455 (11 : 17) | 1 : 1.6471 (17 : 28) |
|
Primary Applications
|
Medical clinic prescription pads, restaurant receipt slips, flight pilot kneeboard checklists | Court legal filings, real estate title contracts, commercial loan agreements, restaurant food menus |
|
Derivation
|
Exactly half of a US Letter sheet (8.5 × 11 in cut across the 11 in dimension) | — |
|
International ISO Equivalent
|
A5 (148 × 210 mm — slightly wider and shorter) | — |
|
Matching Binder Standard
|
Mini 3-ring binder (2.75 in ring spacing) | — |
|
Surface Area
|
— | 119.0 in² (0.0768 m²) |
|
Height Comparison to Letter
|
— | +3.0 inches (76.2 mm) longer than standard US Letter |