A1 paper size and dimensions
A1 measures 594 × 841 mm, which is 59.4 × 84.1 cm or 23.4 × 33.1 inches. It is half of A0 and twice A2, and eight A4 pages fit on one A1 sheet.
Contents of this page
A1, portrait
594 × 841mm
- Centimetres
- 59.4 × 84.1 cm
- Inches
- 23.39 × 33.11 in
- Pixels at 300 dpi
- 7016 × 9933 px
- Points (pt)
- 1684 × 2384 pt
- Area
- 0.4996 m²
- Weight at 80 gsm
- 40 g
A1 is the typical poster size for indoor use, shop windows and trade fair walls. In German outdoor advertising it is even the base unit: the “1/1 sheet” is an A1 poster, and the big billboards are made of multiples of it.
A1 in every unit
| Unit | Width × height |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 594 × 841 mm |
| Centimetres | 59.4 × 84.1 cm |
| Metres | 0.594 × 0.841 m |
| Inches | 23.39 × 33.11 in |
| DTP points (1/72 in) | 1684 × 2384 pt |
| Area | 4995.5 cm², or 0.4996 m² |
| Diagonal | 1029.6 mm |
| Aspect ratio | 1 : 1.416 |
Pixels for A1 posters
An A1 poster at 150 dpi needs 3508 × 4967 pixels, just over 17 megapixels, which any current camera manages easily. At 300 dpi it would be 7016 × 9933 pixels. That is only worth it if people look closely, for example at detailed photos or small text.
| Resolution | Pixels | Megapixels | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 dpi | 1684 × 2384 px | 4 MP | Screen, preview |
| 100 dpi | 2339 × 3311 px | 7.7 MP | |
| 150 dpi | 3508 × 4967 px | 17.4 MP | Large format, posters seen from a distance |
| 200 dpi | 4677 × 6622 px | 31 MP | |
| 300 dpi | 7016 × 9933 px | 69.7 MP | Offset and digital print |
What A1 is used for
- Posters for events, cinemas and shop windows
- Pavement signs (A-boards) and poster stands, which are very often made for A1
- Medium-sized plans and technical drawings
- Presentation posters at fairs, in schools and universities
A common mix-up concerns flipcharts. Flipchart paper looks like A1 but usually measures about 68 × 99 cm, which is noticeably larger. Check the size before you print posters for a flipchart stand.
A1 compared
A1 to A2 is 71 %, A2 to A1 is 141 %. An A4 design blown up to A1 needs 283 %, because there are three steps between A4 and A1 (1.414 × 1.414 × 1.414 ≈ 2.83).
Frames, paper and shipping
There is a wide choice of frames for A1. Check whether a frame is made for 59.4 × 84 cm or for a similar photo size such as 60 × 80 cm, which is too short for an A1 poster.
A1 posters ship rolled in a tube. Folded posters keep visible creases, especially on coated paper.
Frequently asked questions
How big is A1 in cm?
A1 is 59.4 cm wide and 84.1 cm tall.
How big is A1 in inches?
23.4 × 33.1 inches.
How many A4 pages fit on A1?
Eight.
How many pixels does an A1 poster need?
3508 × 4967 pixels at 150 dpi, 7016 × 9933 pixels at 300 dpi.