Shopping's Hard Work: Looking for Elusive Paper Size

August 7, 2007 1:35 PM

I need to find copier paper sized 8.5x13. Any stores you know of selling it? After 2 hours of searching, I give up. I know it exists but I can't find a US supplier. Thanks!
posted by whitneykitty to Work & Money (12 answers total)

It most certainly does not exist. Someone's practical joking you!
posted by gum at 1:42 PM on August 7, 2007

Legal-sized paper is 8.5 x 14. Perhaps that is what you're looking for?
posted by wemayfreeze at 1:45 PM on August 7, 2007

I believe that size is called "Folio". But damned if I can find a place that carries it.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:46 PM on August 7, 2007

It might have something to do with either Folio or Foolscap Folio sized paper. Or maybe Philippines Legal size.
posted by ALongDecember at 1:51 PM on August 7, 2007

Best answer: There is no standard 8.5x13 inch paper in the U.S.

Call a local printer. They have legal sized 8.5x14 on the shelf, and can cut an inch off the length for you. Or you can take in your own legal sized paper and they will cut in about 15 seconds.
posted by The Deej at 1:51 PM on August 7, 2007

Best answer: It does exist, or at least HP thinks it does; just search on "8.5 x 13 inch paper" and you will get several search results for HP printers that say things like this:

"Holds A4, A5, B5 (ISO), B5 (JIS), Letter, Legal, Executive, and 8.5 x 13 inch paper sizes."

Unfortunately I was also unable to find a supplier.
posted by greenmagnet at 1:52 PM on August 7, 2007

Are you making door hangers... because that's all Paper.com sells in that size... searching...
posted by ALongDecember at 1:57 PM on August 7, 2007

Apparently it is also known as:

In America:
Legal-1

In the UK:
American Foolscap

Can't find anywhere that carries it, though. It might be cheaper to buy regular legal sized paper and have it cut down. (Unless you want to order 5000 reams, then there's a place in Brazil that sells Oficio II)
posted by Comrade_robot at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2007

Greenmagnet: Those Googleable references to HP printers accommodating 8 1/2" x 13" paper are clearly mistakes -- I think someone on the Web copy team who's accustomed to European paper sizes didn't fact-check a faulty memory about American dimensional standards. (According to the source, these common office printers take four standard European sizes, one unknown 13" American size, and that's it -- no 8.5 x 11, for example. How likely is that?).

Google those same printer models with the phrase "paper size" and you'll get any number of correct alternatives.

References to "Foolscap Folio," "American Foolscap," "Phillipines Legal," etc.: ReGoogle these with phrases like "in error" or "mistakenly" and you'll see 13" references in their proper context. Ditto the Zapko "door hangers" are 13" long on the linked website but other dimensions anywhere else (they're punch-out stock -- some copyeditor got mixed up doing the inside-dimension and outside-dimension math).

There are 29 billion web pages out there. Given the odds, I'm surprised to see so few mistaken references to 13" copy paper.

Grab 14" legal and a paper cutter and have a go of it!
posted by gum at 3:11 PM on August 7, 2007

Best answer: whitneykitty: Perhaps 13" legal, as we used to call it, no longer exists in the U.S., but I think it did, and I used it, years ago. (Thinking further, I can't swear that it wasn't a pre-EU European size, though it definitely was purchased here.) Most web pages - perhaps all - were created later. Search "folio paper 13 inch" to see other manufacturers interested in 8.5x13 folio size.
posted by Dave 9 at 4:59 PM on August 7, 2007

Why exactly do you need this? What kind of device do you need to put it into? Given some further information, we may be able to make better suggestions.

For instance, if you need it to fit into a bookbinding or photo frame that's that exact size, you could set up your document to print with line borders at those exact dimensions, which will make cutting the pages down with a paper guillotine a lot easier.

Another alternative is roll paper - if you can find a roll exactly 8.5" (or 13") wide, you might be able to run it through the relevant machine and cut it off at 13" (or 8.5") intervals. It all depends on what you want to do with the paper in question.

Custom paper cutting companies do exist (search terms: custom, stationery, paper, sheets) and can produce reams to suit.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 5:55 PM on August 7, 2007

Response by poster: One of my clients (legal field) really likes 8.5x13 paper -- she currently has some in her office (multi-purpose/copier). She doesn't remember her supplier and a look at her records turns up diddly squat. I've pointed out how nice (and common) 8.5x14 is. She knows what she wants.

I found a couple of companies who do custom cutting.

Thanks for all the help so far!
posted by whitneykitty at 8:10 PM on August 7, 2007