10/26/2026
I’ve been in the printing business for more than 20 years and I still think about this.
Why is standard printer paper 8.5" × 11”?
A) It fit the original typewriter
B) The U.S. government invented the size
C) It was based partly on the arm’s reach of early papermakers
D) Someone at Staples made it up 😂
The history goes back hundreds of years, through handmade paper, manufacturing efficiencies, typewriters, copiers and eventually U.S. government standardization.
Even after two decades, I still find the history behind everyday print fascinating.
What’s your guess — A, B, C or D?