US Half Letter
North American (ANSI & Arch) · 7 specs
Direct Answer
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.
Source: Commercial Printing Industry Standard / ANSI A Sub-division · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Width × Height (Imperial) | 5.50 × 8.50 in |
| Width × Height (Metric) | 139.7 × 215.9 mm |
| Derivation | Exactly half of a US Letter sheet (8.5 × 11 in cut across the 11 in dimension) |
| Aspect Ratio | 1 : 1.5455 (11 : 17) |
| International ISO Equivalent | A5 (148 × 210 mm — slightly wider and shorter) |
| Matching Binder Standard | Mini 3-ring binder (2.75 in ring spacing) |
| Primary Applications | Medical clinic prescription pads, restaurant receipt slips, flight pilot kneeboard checklists |
Two-Up Letter Printing
In US business printing, two Statement pages are printed side-by-side on standard 8.5 × 11 inch Letter stock. A single guillotine cut down the center yields two finished 5.5 × 8.5 inch invoice forms with zero paper scrap.