ARCH vs ANSI blueprint sizes
Match the print size to what your drawings and the receiving agency require: ARCH D (24 × 36 in) is the usual construction sheet, ANSI D (22 × 34 in) is its engineering counterpart, and the two are not interchangeable.
Which size do you need?
Print the size the drawings were set up for. It is written in the title block, and the quote tool measures every page when you upload.
6.0 sq ft. $3.00 per sheet in black & white at 1–24 sheets. Permit sets, job-site sets, construction documents.
5.19 sq ft. $2.60 per sheet in black & white at 1–24 sheets. Engineering, manufacturing and some agency drawings.
Construction, architecture and permit sets are usually drawn on ARCH sheets, most often ARCH D. Engineering schematics, manufacturing drawings and office documents are more often on ANSI sheets, the series that grows from the 8.5 × 11 letter sheet.
A building department may return a set that doesn't meet its scale or sheet-size requirements, so we check both before printing. Confirm requirements with your building department.
How to check in 30 seconds. Open the PDF and look at the title block, usually in the bottom-right corner. It lists the sheet size, such as “24 × 36” or “ARCH D”. That is the size to order. If it says 22 × 34 or ANSI D and the set is going to a building department, ask the designer before printing.
ARCH sizes
The ARCH series is the standard for architectural and construction drawings. Each size has twice the area of the one below it.
ARCH sizes, black & white on 20 lb bond at 1–24 sheets
| Size | Inches | Millimetres | Sq ft | Per sheet | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH A | 9 × 12 | 229 × 305 | 0.75 | $0.38 | Details, reference sheets, small sketches |
| ARCH B | 12 × 18 | 305 × 457 | 1.50 | $0.75 | Half-size sets, small residential plans |
| ARCH C | 18 × 24 | 457 × 610 | 3.00 | $1.50 | Small permit sets, reduced construction documents |
| ARCH D | 24 × 36 | 610 × 914 | 6.00 | $3.00 | Permit sets, job-site sets, construction documents; the most common size |
| ARCH E | 36 × 48 | 914 × 1219 | 12.00 | $6.00 | Large commercial and complex structural sets |
How ARCH sizes relate to each other
Each ARCH size doubles the area of the one below it, but the proportions alternate: ARCH B (12 × 18) and ARCH D (24 × 36) are 2:3, while ARCH A (9 × 12), ARCH C (18 × 24) and ARCH E (36 × 48) are 3:4. Sizes two steps apart share a shape, so a drawing plotted at 1/4" = 1' on ARCH D reduces to exactly half scale, 1/8" = 1', on ARCH B: a 50% linear reduction. Reducing the same drawing to fit ARCH C is not a standard step. The 36 in width has to shrink to 24 in, a reduction to two thirds, which leaves a 16 × 24 image on the 18 × 24 sheet and turns 1/4" = 1' into 1/6" = 1', a scale no ruler carries.
ARCH D suits the common architectural scales. At 1/8" = 1' the full 24 × 36 sheet represents 192 × 288 ft; at 1/4" = 1' it represents 96 × 144 ft, which covers most residential and small commercial footprints once a border and title block are allowed for.
ANSI sizes
The ANSI series starts at the 8.5 × 11 letter sheet and roughly doubles in area with each step. It is common in engineering, manufacturing and government documents.
ANSI sizes, black & white on 20 lb bond at 1–24 sheets
| Size | Inches | Millimetres | Sq ft | Per sheet | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANSI A | 8.5 × 11 | 216 × 279 | 0.65 | $0.32 | Specifications, notes, markups |
| ANSI B | 11 × 17 | 279 × 432 | 1.30 | $0.65 | Small reference drawings, reports, schematics |
| ANSI C | 17 × 22 | 432 × 559 | 2.60 | $1.30 | Engineering diagrams, equipment schematics |
| ANSI D | 22 × 34 | 559 × 864 | 5.19 | $2.60 | Large engineering drawings, mechanical plans |
| ANSI E | 34 × 44 | 864 × 1118 | 10.39 | $5.19 | Oversized engineering and infrastructure drawings |
ANSI D is not ARCH D. ANSI D is 22 × 34 in; ARCH D is 24 × 36 in. The print size you choose is what prints, so a drawing set up for ARCH D and ordered as ANSI D no longer measures at its drawn scale. Check the sheet size in the title block before ordering.
ARCH vs ANSI side by side
Every ARCH size has a rough ANSI counterpart, and in every pair the ARCH sheet is the larger one.
Matching pairs
| Pair | ARCH | ANSI | ARCH is larger by |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 9 × 12 in | 8.5 × 11 in | 0.5 × 1 in |
| B | 12 × 18 in | 11 × 17 in | 1 × 1 in |
| C | 18 × 24 in | 17 × 22 in | 1 × 2 in |
| D | 24 × 36 in | 22 × 34 in | 2 × 2 in |
| E | 36 × 48 in | 34 × 44 in | 2 × 4 in |
Key differences
| Category | ARCH | ANSI |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Architecture and construction | Engineering and office use |
| Common large sheet | ARCH D, 24 × 36 in | ANSI D, 22 × 34 in |
| Proportions | Alternate 3:4 and 2:3, so sizes two steps apart share a shape | Alternate 8.5:11 and 11:17, so sizes two steps apart share a shape |
| Where you see it | Architectural and structural templates | Engineering, manufacturing and office templates |
| Price per sheet, B&W at 1–24 | ARCH D $3.00 | ANSI D $2.60 |
Templates decide the series more than the discipline does. Many architectural templates are set up on ARCH sheets and many engineering templates on ANSI sheets, but either can be changed. The title block on the PDF is the only reliable answer.
What fits on ARCH D at each scale
A practical reason to know the sheet size is knowing how much building fits on it. These figures assume a 22 × 34 in drawing field, leaving a 1 in border on each side.
Drawing field on ARCH D by scale
| Scale | Field represents | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/16" = 1'-0" | 352 × 544 ft | Large site plans, campus and master plans |
| 1/8" = 1'-0" | 176 × 272 ft | Floor plans of large commercial buildings; common |
| 3/16" = 1'-0" | 117 × 181 ft | Medium commercial floor plans |
| 1/4" = 1'-0" | 88 × 136 ft | Residential and small commercial floor plans; the most common |
| 3/8" = 1'-0" | 59 × 91 ft | Detailed plans of smaller buildings or parts of larger ones |
| 1/2" = 1'-0" | 44 × 68 ft | Enlarged plans, kitchens, bathrooms, room studies |
1/4" = 1' and 1/8" = 1' are the two most common scales on ARCH D. A building under about 88 ft wide fits at 1/4" on 24 × 36; a larger one needs 1/8" or a plan split into sections. The scale guide has the full tables.
Which size to use, by discipline
Contractors
ARCH D (24 × 36) for job-site sets, permit submissions and subcontractor sets. If an architect or engineer sends a different size, ask for ARCH D so every set on the project matches. Blueprint printing covers every ARCH and ANSI size.
Architects
ARCH D for construction documents, permit sets and design packages. Architectural templates are usually already set to ARCH D. ARCH C (18 × 24) is sometimes used for presentation and concept sets; confirm with the client that it meets any permit requirement before using it for a submittal. Same-day dispatch applies to weekday orders placed by 12 PM Eastern.
Civil engineers
ARCH D or ANSI D depending on firm standards and the project. Site plans that accompany a building permit should match the architectural set. Plats and infrastructure plans submitted to municipal agencies may be ANSI D; verify with the receiving agency. Recorder offices often require plats on mylar film rather than bond. The cost calculator prices each size.
Structural and MEP engineers
Match the architectural set, which usually means ARCH D. Shop drawings from subcontractors are sometimes ANSI D, but permit and coordination sets should share one size.
Surveyors
ALTA/NSPS surveys are commonly produced on ARCH D. Plats may be ARCH or ANSI depending on the recording agency, and many recorders require the final plat on 4-mil mylar for archival storage. Verify with the county recorder before printing a final plat.
Mixed sizes in one PDF. A permit PDF often carries ARCH D plan sheets alongside 8.5 × 11 specification pages. The quote tool measures each page, so you can see where a page differs from the size you chose, and a print technician reviews the file before printing. If we spot an issue, we contact you.
Size questions
What is the difference between ARCH and ANSI blueprint sizes?
ARCH sizes are the paper series used for architectural and construction drawings: ARCH A 9 × 12 in through ARCH E 36 × 48 in, with ARCH D 24 × 36 in the most common. ANSI sizes grow from the 8.5 × 11 letter sheet: ANSI A through ANSI E 34 × 44 in. ANSI is more common in engineering, manufacturing and office documents. The two series run in parallel but no ARCH size matches an ANSI size, so a drawing set up for one cannot be printed on the other without changing its scale.
Is 24 × 36 ARCH or ANSI?
24 × 36 in is ARCH D. The nearest ANSI size is ANSI D at 22 × 34 in, which is 2 in shorter on each side. When contractors and architects talk about the standard construction sheet, they mean ARCH D.
What is the most common size for construction blueprints?
ARCH D, 24 × 36 in. It is the usual size for permit sets, job-site sets and construction document packages on residential, commercial and institutional projects, and it is the default sheet in most architectural and structural templates.
Can I print ANSI drawings on ARCH paper sizes?
Only if the drawing is not scaled to fit. Scaling an ANSI D drawing up to fill an ARCH D sheet changes the drawing scale, so scale bars and ruler measurements are no longer right. Either replot from the drawing software at the ARCH sheet size, or print the ANSI drawing at its own size, centred on the larger sheet with blank margins. If a page in your PDF differs from the print size you chose, the quote tool shows it, and a technician reviews the file before printing.
What size blueprints do building departments require?
It varies by jurisdiction. Many accept ARCH D 24 × 36 in, some accept smaller sheets such as ARCH C 18 × 24 in, and some state a minimum sheet size or a required scale. A building department may return a set that doesn't meet its scale or sheet-size requirements, so we check both before printing. Confirm requirements with your building department before you order.
How do ARCH sizes relate to each other?
Each ARCH size has about twice the area of the one below it: ARCH A 108 sq in, ARCH B 216, ARCH C 432, ARCH D 864, ARCH E 1,728. Sizes two steps apart share the same proportions, so a drawing at 1/4" = 1' on ARCH D reduces to exactly half scale, 1/8" = 1', on ARCH B 12 × 18 in. Fitting the same drawing on ARCH C 18 × 24 in means a reduction to two thirds, which does not land on a standard scale.
How much does it cost to print ARCH D vs ANSI D?
Black and white on 20 lb bond is $0.50 per square foot at 1–24 sheets. ARCH D (6.0 sq ft) is $3.00 per sheet and ANSI D (5.19 sq ft) is $2.60 per sheet. A 20-sheet set is $60.00 on ARCH D and $52.00 on ANSI D. The rate drops with the total sheet count on the order, down to $1.68 per ARCH D sheet at 500 sheets or more.
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