Wide, college or narrow ruled?
Ruling is the distance between lines. The three standard US rulings are:
| Ruling | Line spacing | Lines on a Letter sheet | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide ruled | 11/32 in (8.7 mm) | 30 | Early grades, larger handwriting, students learning to write |
| College ruled | 9/32 in (7.1 mm) | 37 | Middle school onwards, everyday notes |
| Narrow ruled | ¼ in (6.35 mm) | 41 | Small handwriting, fitting more on a page |
If you are not sure, college ruled is what most notebooks in the US use; see wide ruled vs college ruled for how to choose. Outside the US, 8 mm or 7 mm ruling is common; enter it under More options → Custom line spacing.
The margin line
Turn on Red margin line for the vertical line on the left found in school notebooks. It sits 1¼ inches (32 mm) from the edge of the page, leaving room for hole punching, notes and marks. Turn it off for letters and plain writing.
Lined paper for school
- Handwriting practice: wide ruling gives younger children room to form letters. For a baseline and dashed midline, use handwriting paper.
- Essays and spelling tests: add the Name and date line and print the whole class set as one PDF.
- Exam paper and worksheets: print on A4 or Letter to match the rest of your materials.
- Lecture notes: the Cornell notes template adds a cue column and a summary box to ruled lines.
For letter formation with a dashed midline, use handwriting paper. For maths, use graph paper so digits line up in columns, for bullet journals try dot grid paper, and for songwriting use music staff paper. Need a page with no lines at all? Make a blank PDF.
Paper sizes and printing
Choose Letter, A4, A5 for planners and binders, or Legal for longer notes. Line spacing is drawn to the real measurement, so print at 100% / Actual size to keep wide ruling at a true 11/32 inch; see the printing guide. Light blue lines are the classic notebook look; choose Gray for a quieter page or Black if you will photocopy it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between wide ruled and college ruled paper?
Wide ruled lines are 11/32 inch (8.7 mm) apart and college ruled lines are 9/32 inch (7.1 mm) apart. College ruled fits about seven more lines on a Letter page.
Can I print lined paper without the margin line?
Yes. Untick Red margin line and the lines run the full width of the page.
Is this lined paper free to use in class?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for personal, classroom or commercial use. There is no sign-up and no watermark.