Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-04-07 Origin: Site
Have you ever struggled with running out of space on standard paper? For many professionals and students, standard letter sizes just don't cut it. Long bond paper offers a solution with its generous dimensions of 8.5 × 13 inches.
It’s a trusted format in schools, offices, and legal settings—especially in countries like the Philippines.
In this post, you’ll learn what long bond paper is, where it’s used, how it compares to other paper sizes, and how to set it up in Word or print formats.
Long bond paper is a type of writing or printing paper that measures 8.5 x 13 inches (21.59 x 33.02 cm). What sets it apart from other common paper sizes is its extra length, giving users more vertical space to work with. While it shares the same width as standard bond paper, the additional inch or two in length can make a noticeable difference in professional and academic tasks.
| Feature | Standard Bond Paper | Long Bond Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Size (inches) | 8.5 x 11 | 8.5 x 13 |
| Length Difference | — | +2 inches |
| Common Name | Letter Size | Long Bond |
| Availability | Widely available | Less common in some regions |
| Standardization | Yes (in US) | No international standard |
Unlike standard letter-size bond paper, long bond paper isn't part of an international sizing system like A4 or Letter. This lack of standardization hasn’t stopped it from becoming a staple in certain regions and industries.
Its extended length makes it ideal for documents that require more content space without switching pages frequently. You’ll often find long bond paper used in:
Legal documents: Contracts, affidavits, and other formal paperwork benefit from the added space.
Reports and engineering drawings: Professionals prefer the extra room for detailed charts, diagrams, or complex content.
Books and manuals: Especially helpful for drafts or internal documentation where longer pages improve formatting flow.
The paper's popularity varies by region, with particularly strong historical usage in the Philippines until standardization efforts in 1986 shifted official government documentation to the international A4 format.
Long bond paper is distinct in its extended length, which provides a larger printable area than most commonly used formats. This makes it ideal for documents that require more content per page without compromising readability or layout.
Long bond paper follows specific dimensional standards that distinguish it from other paper formats. We can express these measurements in various units to accommodate different regional preferences and technical requirements:
| Measurement Unit | Dimensions (Width × Length) |
|---|---|
| Inches | 8.5 × 13 inches |
| Centimeters (cm) | 21.59 × 33.02 cm |
| Millimeters (mm) | 215.9 × 330.2 mm |
| Pixels (px)* | 2550 × 3900 pixels |
*Pixel dimensions assume a standard resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch), commonly used for professional printing.
These measurements provide approximately 110.5 square inches of usable surface area, offering significantly more space than standard letter-sized paper while maintaining a manageable form factor. When working with digital design or desktop publishing software, it's crucial to set these exact dimensions to ensure proper formatting and printing alignment.
Long bond paper belongs to a family of similar paper formats that share certain characteristics while serving different specialized purposes:
Letter Size (8.5 × 11 inches): The most common bond paper variant in North America, it provides standard dimensions for everyday office documents. While sharing the same width as long bond paper, its reduced length makes it less suitable for complex legal documentation or detailed drawings.
Legal Size (8.5 × 14 inches): Extending one inch longer than long bond paper, legal size offers maximum space while maintaining the standard width. It's particularly favored for extensive contracts and legal briefs where maximum content space is essential.
Philippines Historical Standard (8 × 13 inches): This slightly narrower variant was commonly used throughout the Philippines until 1986, particularly for government documentation. It offers similar length advantages to standard long bond paper but with a reduced width that affects overall layout possibilities.
Each of these paper sizes serves specific purposes. Long bond paper fits perfectly between letter and legal, offering a practical balance of extra space without excessive length. For professionals who value clear formatting and layout flexibility, it remains a reliable option.
Long bond paper isn’t the only format professionals rely on—it sits among a range of common paper sizes, each designed for specific purposes. To help decide which one best suits your needs, it's important to understand how they differ in size, availability, and use cases.
The global landscape of paper sizes includes numerous standardized formats, each with specific applications across different regions. These standards have evolved through historical development, practical considerations, and regional preferences:
Letter: 8.5 × 11 inches (21.6 × 27.9 cm) - The predominant standard in North America for general office use and correspondence
Legal: 8.5 × 14 inches (21.6 × 35.6 cm) - Developed specifically for legal documents requiring additional content space
A4: 8.27 × 11.7 inches (21 × 29.7 cm) - The international standard adopted by most countries following ISO 216
A3: 11.7 × 16.5 inches (29.7 × 42 cm) - Twice the size of A4, commonly used for diagrams, posters, and presentations
Folio: 8.27 × 13 inches (21 × 33 cm) - European standard similar to long bond paper, used for documents and presentations
Quarto: 8.46 × 10.83 inches (21.5 × 27.5 cm) - Smaller European format often used for books and publications
Foolscap: 8.5 × 13.5 inches (21.6 × 34.3 cm) - Historical UK and Commonwealth standard for legal and government documents
Each of these formats serves a unique purpose. We often select based on regional standards or document requirements.
When comparing the three commonly used professional paper formats—long bond, A4, and legal—several key distinctions emerge that influence their suitability for specific applications:
| Feature | Long Bond | A4 | Legal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 8.5 × 13 inches | 8.27 × 11.69 inches | 8.5 × 14 inches |
| Print Area | Middle (110.5 sq in) | Smallest (96.7 sq in) | Largest (119 sq in) |
| Availability | Less common | Widely available | Common in North America |
| Use Cases | Legal documents, academic reports, technical drawings | General office documents, international correspondence | Contracts, legal briefs, court documents |
| Cost | Moderate | Lower | Higher |
| Quality | High | Standard | High |
| Standardization | Not an international standard | ISO 216 international standard | Not an international standard |
Long bond paper occupies a middle ground between A4 and legal sizes. It provides more space than A4 while remaining more manageable than the longer legal format. This balance makes it particularly well-suited for documents that require substantial content without excessive length.
Long bond paper offers several significant benefits that make it an excellent choice for professional and academic applications. Its unique dimensions deliver practical advantages that enhance document functionality and presentation quality.
The primary advantage of long bond paper lies in its extended length. With dimensions of 8.5 × 13 inches (21.59 × 33.02 cm), it provides approximately 18% more surface area than standard letter-sized paper. This additional space delivers meaningful benefits:
Expanded text capacity: It accommodates approximately 3-4 extra paragraphs per page
Reduced page count: A 10-page letter-sized document might require only 8-9 pages on long bond paper
Improved readability: Content can be presented with more generous spacing and margins
For documents requiring comprehensive information presentation, this expanded capacity proves invaluable. Complex reports, detailed analyses, and extensive documentation all benefit from the additional space without sacrificing readability or requiring excessive page numbers.
When presenting quantitative information, long bond paper excels by providing superior space for:
| Visualization Type | Advantage on Long Bond Paper |
|---|---|
| Charts and Graphs | Can display larger, more detailed visualizations without reduction |
| Data Tables | Accommodates additional rows or columns without shrinking font size |
| Technical Diagrams | Provides space for more detailed annotations and labels |
| Flow Charts | Allows more complex process representations on a single page |
These enhanced visualization capabilities make it particularly valuable for financial reports, research papers, and technical documentation where data presentation clarity significantly impacts document effectiveness.
Long bond paper projects a distinctive professional appearance that enhances document perception. Its elongated proportions create a visual impression of:
Formality: The non-standard dimensions signal official or important content
Thoughtful presentation: The additional space allows for more elegant layouts
Attention to detail: The format suggests careful consideration of document design
Beyond content presentation advantages, this paper format offers practical benefits in document handling:
Reduced page count minimizes stapling, binding, and paper clip requirements
Fewer page transitions improve readability by maintaining content continuity
Simplified filing with fewer pages to manage and store
These practical benefits translate to enhanced document usability and improved information retention by readers who encounter fewer interruptions in content flow.
Setting up long bond paper in Microsoft Word isn’t complicated, but it does require a few custom adjustments.
To configure Microsoft Word for long bond paper dimensions, follow this step-by-step process:
Open your Microsoft Word document
Navigate to the Layout tab in the ribbon menu
Click on the Size button in the "Page Setup" group
Select More Paper Sizes... from the dropdown menu
In the "Page Setup" dialog box that appears, select the Paper tab
Under "Paper size," select Custom Size
Enter the following dimensions:
Width: 8.5 inches (21.59 cm)
Height: 13 inches (33.02 cm)
Click OK to apply these settings
Once applied, your document will automatically adjust to the long bond paper dimensions. For future documents, you can save these settings as a template or custom preset to avoid repeating this process.
Printing on long bond paper requires attention to both software settings and hardware compatibility:
| Consideration | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Printer Compatibility | Verify your printer can accommodate 13-inch paper length |
| Paper Tray | Use the manual feed tray for non-standard paper sizes |
| Driver Settings | Ensure your printer settings match the document's paper size |
| Margins | Consider using 1-inch margins for optimal printability |
| Print Preview | Always check the preview to confirm proper formatting |
Many modern printers allow custom paper size settings through their driver software. We recommend consulting your printer's manual for specific instructions on loading and configuring non-standard paper sizes.
While working with long bond paper documents, take advantage of Microsoft Word's productivity tools to enhance your content:
Thesaurus Tool: When crafting professional documents, Word's thesaurus can help improve language precision:
Click on the Review tab in the ribbon
Select Thesaurus from the "Proofing" group
Alternatively, select a word and press Shift+F7 for quick access
The Research pane will open on the right side, displaying alternatives
Document Map: For lengthy documents common with long bond paper, use the Document Map feature to navigate efficiently between sections by displaying document headings in a navigation pane.
By configuring the paper size correctly and using Word’s tools effectively, we ensure that our long bond documents look clean, accurate, and polished—ready for printing or sharing.
Long bond paper offers exceptional versatility with its 8.5 × 13 inch dimensions. It provides the perfect balance between standard letter and legal sizes.
Professionals across many fields benefit from its expanded space. Legal practitioners appreciate the extra room for contracts. Academic researchers find it ideal for detailed reports. Business professionals value its professional appearance.
When selecting paper, consider your specific needs. Long bond paper shines when content complexity demands more space. Choose it when you need that perfect middle ground between common paper formats.
[1] https://www.facebook.com/swiftpublisher/photos/long-bond-paper-is-a-widely-used-paper-size-particularly-in-offices-schools-and-/1080490300757178/?_rdr
[2] https://topnotcher.ph/long-bond-paper-size/
[3] https://www.pdfgear.com/print-pdf/long-bond-paper-size.htm
[4] https://www.swifdoo.com/blog/long-bond-paper-size
[5] https://www.tenorshare.com/knowledge/long-bond-paper-size.html
