Dimensions and formats
Name the size of the finished part.
A page size, a complete cover spread and a box cavity are different measurements. Use width × height for a flat piece and state inside or outside length × width × height for a box.
Common reference formats.
| Format | Finished size | Useful starting comparison |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm / about 8.27 × 11.69 in | Reports, manuals and larger image-led pages. |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm / about 5.83 × 8.27 in | Workbooks, compact catalogs and notebooks. |
| US Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 mm / 8.5 × 11 in | Documents using a US office-paper format. |
| Trade-book reference | 152.4 × 228.6 mm / 6 × 9 in | Text-led editions; format is a choice, not a required book standard. |
| Poker-style card reference | 63 × 88 mm / about 2.48 × 3.46 in | A familiar card proportion; verify the deck and box fit. |
| Tarot-style card reference | 70 × 120 mm / about 2.76 × 4.72 in | More room for artwork and text, with different hand feel. |
| Business-card references | 90 × 55 mm or 88.9 × 50.8 mm / 3.5 × 2 in | Different market conventions; name the actual dimensions. |
These are format references, not Lemon minimum/maximum sizes or tooling tolerances. A-series dimensions are rounded standard paper dimensions; inch values shown as “about” are rounded conversions.
Turn a trim size into a flat-sheet reference.
1 inch = 25.4 mm. Keep the quoted unit throughout the file; do not round a template back and forth between units.
Artwork with bleed:
Safe content area: 53 × 78 mm
Flat rectangular layouts only. Add bleed outside the trim; inset the safe area inside it. A 63 × 88 mm card with 3 mm bleed produces a 69 × 94 mm artwork area. This does not calculate a spine, hinge, fold or punching allowance.
Measure the object you want to fit.
| Object | What to state | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Folded leaflet | Open size, finished folded size, panel order | Dividing every fold panel equally when the fold-in panel needs allowance. |
| Book | Trim size, pagination and final cover construction | Using the page trim as the whole cover or case-wrap size. |
| Paper bag | Body width, gusset and usable height; contents and weight | Measuring outside dimensions without handle intrusion or top turnover. |
| Box | Usable internal cavity, contents, insert and closure | Treating outside dimensions as usable space. |
| Card deck | Card trim, cards per deck and complete stacked thickness | Selecting the tuck-box cavity from one loose card. |
Changing trim can change the whole quotation.
A smaller page changes line breaks and pagination; a different format can also change sheet utilization and finishing. Keep the same content and quantity when comparing sizes, and record which page counts change.
For packaging, make a fit sample around the actual contents. Clearance, fold direction and insert thickness can matter more than a nominal dimension.
Sources and scope of this guide
Reviewed October 8, 2026. Industry examples explain selection; the quotation defines the actual Lemon product and service. Supplier data does not certify Lemon or establish our inventory.
- Adobe: print bleed
Trim and bleed setup; 3 mm and 0.125 inch are common starting allowances, not precisely equal measurements.
- ISO 216: A and B series paper sizes
Paper format reference; a format is not a factory size limit.
Build a specification we can quote.
Tell us the product, finished size, quantity and destination. Include the feature you need the sample to check.