US Legal
North American (ANSI & Arch) · 6 specs
Direct Answer
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.
Source: ANSI/ASME Y14.1 / American National Standard · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Width × Height (Imperial) | 8.50 × 14.00 in |
| Width × Height (Metric) | 215.9 × 355.6 mm |
| Aspect Ratio | 1 : 1.6471 (17 : 28) |
| Surface Area | 119.0 in² (0.0768 m²) |
| Height Comparison to Letter | +3.0 inches (76.2 mm) longer than standard US Letter |
| Primary Applications | Court legal filings, real estate title contracts, commercial loan agreements, restaurant food menus |
Historical Legal Precedent
In 19th-century law practices, attorneys wrote lengthy handwritten notes, contracts, and addenda. The extra 3 inches on the 14-inch Legal sheet accommodated extensive lawyer commentary and wax notary seal certifications without requiring additional pages.
Decline in Federal Courts
While state courts and title companies still frequently require 14-inch Legal paper, the US Federal Judiciary and Supreme Court standardized all electronic CM/ECF and paper filings on standard 8.5 × 11-inch US Letter to reduce courthouse physical filing cabinet storage space.