How to print lined paper
- Choose a ruling. Wide ruled is the usual school paper for younger students, college ruled fits more lines for notes, and narrow ruled suits small handwriting. Handwriting makes primary paper with a dashed midline for learning to write.
- Add what you need: a red left margin line, a top header line, name and date labels, or hole punch guides for a binder.
- Download the PDF (any number of pages) and print it at 100% (Actual size) so the line spacing matches real notebook paper.
Standard line spacings
| Ruling | Spacing between lines | Lines on a Letter page* | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide ruled (legal ruled) | 11/32 in (8.7 mm) | 28 | Elementary school, large handwriting |
| College ruled (medium) | 9/32 in (7.1 mm) | 34 | Middle school and up, note taking |
| Narrow ruled | 1/4 in (6.35 mm) | 39 | Small handwriting, dense notes |
* With the default 1-inch header space and ½-inch bottom margin. The summary above the preview shows the exact count for your settings.
US notebook paper usually has a red or pink margin line 1¼ in (32 mm) from the left edge and a blank header area at the top. The line spacing is the only real difference between wide, college and narrow ruled paper.
Handwriting paper for kindergarten to 3rd grade
Primary handwriting paper has three lines per row: a solid top line, a dashed midline and a solid baseline. Tall letters and capitals reach the top line, small letters like a, c and e reach the dashed midline, and letters like g, p and y hang into the space below the baseline. Children usually move to smaller rows as their writing gets more controlled:
- 1 in (25 mm) for kindergarten and first attempts.
- ¾ in or ⅝ in (19–16 mm) for kindergarten and first grade.
- ½ in (13 mm) for second grade.
- ⅜ in (10 mm) for third grade, before switching to wide ruled notebook paper.
Letter height here is measured from the top line to the baseline. Turn on Red baseline for "red and blue" paper, where the red line shows children where letters sit. To practice a specific name, use the name tracing worksheet generator, which puts traceable letters on the same kind of lines.
Printing tips
- Lines look faint? Choose the Dark or Bold line weight, or a darker color. Light blue on a laser printer can come out very pale.
- Lines cut off at the edges are normal on most printers, which can't print the last few millimetres. Tick Lines stop short of the page edges for a clean border.
- For binders, add hole punch guides so you can punch in the right place, and keep the margin line on the same side as the holes.
- Need a grid instead? The graph paper generator makes square, dot, isometric and hexagon paper.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between college ruled and wide ruled paper?
Only the line spacing. Wide ruled paper has lines 11/32 in (8.7 mm) apart and is used in elementary school. College ruled paper has lines 9/32 in (7.1 mm) apart, so it fits more writing on a page and is the usual choice from middle school on. Narrow ruled paper goes down to 1/4 in (6.35 mm).
How many lines are on a page of lined paper?
On US Letter paper with a 1-inch header and a ½-inch bottom margin you get 28 wide ruled lines, 34 college ruled lines or 39 narrow ruled lines. The summary above the preview shows the exact count for your paper size and settings.
What kind of lined paper do kindergarteners use?
Primary handwriting paper, with a solid top line, a dashed midline and a solid baseline in each row, and a space below for letters like g and y. Kindergarten paper typically has rows about 1 in (25 mm) tall, and the rows get smaller through first to third grade. Choose Handwriting and pick a letter height.
What is red and blue lined paper?
It is handwriting paper where the baseline is red and the other lines are blue, so beginning writers can see where each letter sits. Tick Red baseline under Handwriting to make it.
Where does the margin line go on notebook paper?
US notebook paper has a red or pink margin line about 1¼ in (32 mm) from the left edge. European A4 pads usually have it 25 to 30 mm in. You can set any distance or turn the margin line off.
How do I print lined paper at the right size?
Print the PDF at 100% or Actual size, not Fit to page. Otherwise the printer shrinks the page slightly and the line spacing no longer matches standard notebook paper.
Can I print lined paper for a binder?
Yes. Turn on hole punch guides for a US 3-hole binder (holes 4¼ in apart) or the ISO 2-hole and 4-hole patterns (80 mm apart), then punch where the circles are printed.