Print free graph paper in any size: quarter inch squares (4 per inch), 5 mm, 1 cm, 1/5 inch, 1/8 inch or your own spacing, with darker lines every few squares, x-y axes, or several graphs per page. Choose the line color and paper size, preview it above, and download a PDF for US Letter, A4 or A5.
Graph paper to print (PDF)
These four pages show what the generator prints: quarter inch squares with a darker line every four squares, 5 mm squares on A4, large 1 cm squares, and a worked long multiplication example. Click a picture for the PDF, or use the generator above to choose any other size.
What is graph paper?
Graph paper, also called grid paper, squared paper or quad ruled paper, is paper printed with a grid of equal squares. The lines help you draw straight lines, plot points, keep numbers lined up and sketch shapes to scale. Wikipedia’s graph paper article covers its history.
What is graph paper used for?
- Math: lining up digits in long multiplication and division, plotting points on a coordinate plane, drawing graphs of equations and geometry shapes.
- Science: plotting experiment results and drawing charts.
- Drawing and art: enlarging a picture square by square, pixel art, and practicing perspective.
- Design: floor plans, garden layouts, woodworking and furniture sketches to scale.
- Crafts: knitting, cross-stitch and quilt patterns.
- Games and planning: battleship games, dungeon maps and bullet journal layouts.
Graph paper sizes: squares per inch and millimeters
| Grid | Square size | Squares on a US Letter page (1/2 inch margins) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 squares per inch (quad ruled) | 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) | 30 x 40 | School math, the most common US size |
| 5 squares per inch | 1/5 inch (5.08 mm) | 37 x 50 | Engineering and science graphs |
| 5 mm | 5 mm | 38 x 50 | Metric math, bullet journals |
| 1 cm | 10 mm | 19 x 25 | Young children, big number work |
| 8 squares per inch | 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) | 60 x 80 | Detailed plans and pixel art |
| 1/2 inch | 12.7 mm | 15 x 20 | Early learners, large print |
Square counts are for the maker’s default half-inch margins. Turn on darker lines every 4, 5 or 10 squares to make counting easier. For help choosing a size, see graph paper sizes explained.
Graph paper with x and y axis
Tick “x-y axes through the middle” and the maker draws a coordinate plane with arrows and numbered axes. Choose 2 or 4 graphs per page for math homework. See the graph paper with x and y axis page for ready-made coordinate plane settings.
How to use graph paper for math
- Write one digit in each square so ones, tens and hundreds stay in straight columns.
- For long division, keep each step directly under the digits it belongs to.
- For graphs, draw the axes along two grid lines, label them, and let each square equal one unit (or 2, 5 or 10 for bigger numbers).
- Plot each point by counting squares across first (x), then up or down (y).
Example: long multiplication in squares
The filled example above shows 347 x 26 on quarter inch squares, with one digit in each square. First multiply 347 by 6 to get 2,082. Then multiply 347 by 20 to get 6,940, and write it one line lower. Add the two lines to get 9,022. Because every digit sits in its own column, the ones, tens and hundreds stay lined up, and a slip shows up at once as a digit in the wrong place. Students who struggle with long multiplication often improve when they switch from lined paper to squares.
Scale drawings: what one square can stand for
Pick a scale so that your drawing fills the page. A 12 foot by 15 foot bedroom, drawn at 1/4 inch to the foot, takes 12 by 15 squares, which is 3 by 3.75 inches, leaving room for furniture on a 30 by 40 square page. This table shows what a Letter page covers at some common scales:
| Square size | Scale | One square stands for | A US Letter page covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) | 1:48 (1/4 inch = 1 foot) | 1 foot | 30 x 40 feet |
| 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) | 1:24 | 6 inches | 15 x 20 feet |
| 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) | 1:96 (1/4 inch = 2 feet) | 2 feet | 60 x 80 feet |
| 5 mm | 1:20 | 10 centimeters | 3.8 x 5.0 meters |
| 5 mm | 1:100 | 50 centimeters | 19 x 25 meters |
| 1 cm | 1:100 | 1 meter | 19 x 25 meters |
Write the scale in a corner of the drawing, such as “1 square = 1 foot”, so that anyone can read the measurements later.
Printable graph paper by age and grade
The right square size depends on the writer and the job. Young children need big squares, and older students prefer small ones so that more fits on the page:
| Age or grade | Square size to try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to grade 1 | 1 cm or 1/2 inch | Big squares for big handwriting and counting |
| Grades 2 to 5 | 1/4 inch (4 per inch) | The standard size for school math |
| Grades 6 to 12 | 1/4 inch or 5 mm | Graphs, geometry and algebra |
| Science labs | 5 mm or 1/5 inch | More squares for plotting data |
| Design and engineering | 1/8 inch or 1/10 inch | Fine detail and scale drawings |
1/4 inch graph paper: the school standard
Quarter inch squares are the standard in US schools, because four squares to the inch are easy to count and big enough for one digit. A Letter page holds 30 squares across and 40 down. With the darker line every fourth square, each inch is marked, which makes it easy to measure.
Graph paper printable: darker lines and other extras
This graph paper printable can add a darker line every 4, 5 or 10 squares. The darker lines work like a ruler: you can count blocks of ten at a glance, which is useful for plotting large numbers.
How to print graph paper
- Pick the square size and line color above.
- Choose US Letter in the US and Canada, or A4 almost everywhere else.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% or “Actual size” so the squares keep their exact size.
- For a notebook, choose 10 pages in one PDF and print double-sided.
Frequently asked questions
7 quick answers
What is graph paper called?
It is also called grid paper, squared paper, quad paper or quad ruled paper. Engineering paper is a type of grid paper, usually with 5 squares per inch.
What does quad ruled mean?
Quad ruled paper has 4 squares per inch, so each square is 1/4 inch. It is the most common size in US schools.
How many squares per inch is standard graph paper?
In the US, 4 squares per inch (quad ruled) is the usual school size. In metric countries, 5 mm squares are the most common.
Is graph paper the same as grid paper?
Yes. The two names mean the same thing: paper printed with a grid of equal squares.
Can I print graph paper on A4?
Yes. Choose A4 before downloading and the grid is drawn to fit A4 without scaling, so every square stays the size you picked.
How do I make graph paper in Word or Excel?
You can draw a table with square cells in Word or set equal column widths and row heights in Excel, but getting exact sizes is fiddly. The maker above gives you exact squares in a PDF in a few seconds.
Is this graph paper free?
Yes. Print as much as you need for school, work or crafts, with no sign-up.
More printable paper
- Graph paper with x and y axis for coordinate plane work.
- Printable paper maker for lined, dot grid and handwriting paper.
- Wide ruled vs college ruled lined paper explained.