STANDARD MEASUREMENTS FOR JOURNALS, PLANNERS, BOOKS,STORYBOOKS, NOVELS, MAGAZINES…

JOURNALS

The size of a journal can vary based on its purpose, but here are standard journal sizes to consider:

Common Journal Sizes

1. A5 (5.8" x 8.3")
• Compact and portable.
• Popular for personal journaling or bullet journals.
2. A4 (8.3" x 11.7")
• Larger size, great for work journals, planners, or extensive note-taking.
3. B5 (6.9" x 9.8")
• Slightly bigger than A5 but still portable.
• Great for academic or professional use.
4. Pocket (3.5" x 5.5")
• Small and fits easily in a bag or pocket.
• Perfect for quick notes or travel journaling.
5. Letter (8.5" x 11")
• Common for professional use.
• Used for planners or journals with plenty of writing space.
6. Square (8" x 8")
• Unique size.
• Often used for creative or art journals.

Customized Measurements

If you’re designing or making your journal, consider your audience:

• Daily Journals: A5 or A6.
• Travel Journals: Pocket or A5.
• Creative Journals: A4 or square.
• Planners: B5 or letter.

 

PLANNERS

Standard planner sizes can vary depending on the region and type, but here are the most commonly used dimensions:

Common Planner Sizes

1. Pocket Size
• 3.5" x 5.5" (89mm x 140mm)
• Compact, and fits easily in small bags or pockets.
• Ideal for minimal planning or on-the-go use.
2. Personal Size
• 3.7" x 6.7" (95mm x 171mm)
• Popular for personal use.
• A good balance between portability and writing space.
3. A6
• 4.1" x 5.8" (105mm x 148mm)
• Compact and versatile.
• Similar to the pocket size, with slightly more room for writing.
4. A5
• 5.8" x 8.3" (148mm x 210mm)
• One of the most popular sizes.
• Offers a good amount of space for writing while remaining portable.
5. Half Letter
• 5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm)
• Common in North America.
• Often used for academic or professional planners.
6. B5
• 6.9" x 9.8" (176mm x 250mm)
• Slightly larger than A5.
• Suitable for detailed planners or creative layouts.
7. A4
• 8.3" x 11.7" (210mm x 297mm)
• Large and spacious, ideal for detailed planning.
• Common for desk planners or professional organizers.
8. Letter Size
• 8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm)
• Standard size in North America.
• Often used for business planners and agendas.

Choosing a Size

• Portable Use: Pocket, A6, or personal sizes.
• Creative Layouts or More Detail: A5, B5, or A4.
• Desk Use: A4 or letter size.

COLORING BOOKS

When designing coloring books, the dimensions can vary depending on the target audience (children or adults) and the market you aim to sell in.

Here are the standard measurements for coloring books:

FOR CHILDREN’S COLORING BOOKS

1. Small Size
• 8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm)
• Square and compact, easy for children to handle.
• Common for younger kids.
2. Standard Size
• 8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm)
• Most popular size for children’s coloring books.
• Matches standard U.S. letter paper, making it easy to print and bind.
3. Large Size
• 9" x 12" (229mm x 305mm)
• Offers more room for large designs.
• Great for intricate patterns or big images for younger children.

FOR ADULT COLORING BOOKS

1. Standard Size
• 8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm)
• The most common size for adult coloring books.
• Allows for detailed illustrations without overwhelming the user.
2. Square Size
• 8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) or 9" x 9" (229mm x 229mm)
• Stylish and compact for creative designs.
3. Oversized
• 10" x 10" (254mm x 254mm) or 11" x 11" (279mm x 279mm)
• Popular for complex, high-detail designs requiring more space.
4. Large Rectangle
• 11" x 14" (279mm x 356mm)
• Great for advanced adult coloring books with intricate patterns.

Choosing the Right Size

• Children’s Coloring Books: Stick with 8.5" x 11" or smaller for ease of use.
• Adult Coloring Books: Consider both 8.5" x 11" for simplicity or larger sizes for intricate designs.

Additional Considerations

• Printing: Ensure sizes are compatible with standard printing options to save costs.
• Binding: Allow for enough margin space for spiral or perfect binding.
• Bleed vs. No Bleed: Design slightly larger pages (e.g., 8.625" x 11.125") if you want images to print edge-to-edge (full bleed).

 

STORYBOOKS AND NOVELS

The standard measurements for storybooks and novels vary depending on the audience and publishing requirements. Below are the common sizes used for both categories:

1. Storybooks (Children’s Books)

Storybooks often come in sizes that are visually appealing and easy for children to handle.

Standard Sizes:

• 8" x 10" (203mm x 254mm): Common size for illustrated children’s books.
• 8.5" x 8.5" (216mm x 216mm): Square format, great for picture-heavy books.
• 6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm): Smaller, more compact option for early readers.
• 7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm): Offers a bit more room for text and illustrations.

Tips:

• Ensure ample margins for illustrations and text placement.
• Use larger fonts for readability (14–18 pt for early readers).

2. Novels (Fiction and Non-Fiction)

Novels are typically printed in sizes that are easy to hold and read for extended periods.

Standard Sizes:

• 5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm): Compact and portable, ideal for paperbacks.
• 5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm): A slightly larger and more traditional size for paperbacks.
• 6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm): The most common size for trade paperbacks and many self-published books.
• 7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm): Less common, used for larger novels or non-fiction.

Tips:

• Use smaller fonts (10–12 pt) and single-line spacing for dense text.
• Allow for a gutter margin of 0.5" for bound books.

3. Young Adult Books

YA books often use a size between storybooks and novels to appeal to their audience.

Standard Sizes:

• 5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm): Popular size for YA novels.
• 6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm): Offers more room for creative layouts.

4. Hardcover Books

Hardcovers are usually slightly larger than their paperback counterparts.

Standard Sizes:

• 6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm): Common for hardcover novels.
• 7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm): Often used for illustrated or premium editions.

Considerations When Choosing Size

1. Printing Costs: Larger sizes may increase production costs.
2. Audience: Smaller sizes are better for novels; larger sizes work well for illustrated books.
3. Binding Type: Paperback and hardcover options may affect sizing preferences.
4. Illustrations: Illustrated storybooks often require larger sizes to accommodate artwork.

NOTEBOOKS

The size of notebooks can vary depending on their purpose and target audience. Here are the standard notebook measurements commonly used worldwide:

Common Notebook Sizes

1. Pocket Size
• 3.5" x 5.5" (89mm x 140mm)
• Small and portable, fits in a pocket.
• Ideal for quick notes, journaling, or travel use.
2. A6
• 4.1" x 5.8" (105mm x 148mm)
• Slightly larger than pocket size but still compact.
• Great for personal notes or carrying on the go.
3. B6
• 4.9" x 6.9" (125mm x 176mm)
• Medium-sized notebook with more room for writing.
• Popular for planners and casual note-taking.
4. A5
• 5.8" x 8.3" (148mm x 210mm)
• One of the most popular notebook sizes.
• Perfect for journaling, personal use, or professional meetings.
5. Half Letter
• 5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm)
• Common in North America.
• Versatile and easy to carry.
6. B5
• 6.9" x 9.8" (176mm x 250mm)
• Slightly larger than A5, offering more writing space.
• Suitable for creative work or detailed note-taking.
7. A4
• 8.3" x 11.7" (210mm x 297mm)
• Larger size, typically used for professional or academic purposes.
• Great for sketching, detailed notes, or project planning.
8. Letter Size
• 8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm)
• Standard size in North America.
• Common for professional notebooks and planners.
9. Legal Size
• 8.5" x 14" (216mm x 356mm)
• Longer than the letter size.
• Typically used for legal and office documents.
10. Square Sizes

• 8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) or 9" x 9" (229mm x 229mm)
• Unique and stylish, often used for sketching or creative note-taking.

Choosing a Notebook Size

• Portability: Pocket, A6, or A5.
• Professional Use: A4, Letter, or B5.
• Creative Work: A4, Square, or Legal sizes.

Additional Considerations

• Margins and Bleed: Ensure you account for binding margins and bleed for edge-to-edge designs.
• Lined, Grid, or Blank Pages: Choose based on the notebook's purpose.
• Binding Options: Spiral, hardcover, or softcover impact usability.

STANDARD MEASUREMENTS FOR JOURNALS, PLANNERS, BOOKS,STORYBOOKS, NOVELS, MAGAZINES…

STANDARD SIZE OF A MAGAZINE

The standard size of a magazine varies depending on the region and type of publication. Below are the common dimensions used for magazines worldwide:

Standard Magazine Sizes

1. Standard U.S. Size (Digest or Letter Size)
• 8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm)
• The most common size for magazines in the United States.
• Provides enough space for high-quality images and text.
2. Oversized Magazines (Large Format)
• 9" x 12" (229mm x 305mm) or 10" x 12" (254mm x 305mm)
• Used for premium or luxury publications.
• Allows for striking visuals and more design flexibility.
3. Compact or Digest Size
• 5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm)
• Smaller, portable size.
• Often used for niche or targeted audience magazines.
4. A4 (International Standard)
• 8.27" x 11.69" (210mm x 297mm)
• Widely used in Europe and other regions outside the U.S.
• Similar to the U.S. Letter but slightly narrower and taller.
5. Square Format
• 8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) or 9" x 9" (229mm x 229mm)
• Unique, stylish look for art or design magazines.

Other Considerations

• Full Bleed Design: Add a 0.125" (3mm) bleed to all sides for edge-to-edge printing (e.g., final size with bleed for an 8.5" x 11" magazine would be 8.625" x 11.125").
• Binding Options: Saddle stitch (staple), perfect binding, or spiral binding can affect design and usability.

Popular Uses of Each Size

• Standard U.S. Size (8.5" x 11"): General interest, fashion, and lifestyle magazines.
• Compact/Digest Size (5.5" x 8.5"): Niche or travel magazines.
• Oversized (9" x 12"): High-end art or photography magazines.
• A4 Size (8.27" x 11.69"): International publications and corporate magazines.
• Square Format: Creative industries or promotional pieces.