# 1/4 in Lined Paper — Free Printable PDF

> Free printable lined paper ruled at 1/4 in (6.35 mm). 42 lines per A4 sheet, 39 per US Letter. Exact line counts for every sheet size, plus an instant PDF download.

Canonical URL: https://linedpaperpdf.com/quarter-inch-lined-paper/  
Last updated: 2026-09-08  
Source: linedpaperpdf.com — free printable writing paper generator (no signup, no watermark). Content licensed CC BY 4.0.

---

1/4 in ruling

## 1/4 in Lined Paper — Printable PDF

Ruled paper with exactly 1/4 in (6.35 mm) between lines. This page gives the measured line count for every sheet size, shows how 1/4 in compares with the named ruling standards and its nearest neighbouring spacings, and provides a print-ready PDF. 1/4 inch is the US narrow ruled standard, equal to 6.35 mm. It is marginally wider than the 6 mm metric equivalent.

Quick answer

## How many lines are on 1/4 in lined paper?

1/4 in lined paper has 1/4 in (6.35 mm) between ruled lines. On A4 that gives about 42 lines per sheet, on US Letter 39, and on Legal 51, allowing a 15 mm margin top and bottom. Download it free as a print-ready PDF.

**Line spacing** — 6.35 mm (0.25 in)
**Lines per inch** — 4.0
**Lines per A4** — 42
**Lines per US Letter** — 39
**Lines per Legal** — 51
**Closest standard** — [Narrow Ruled paper](https://linedpaperpdf.com/narrow-ruled-paper-pdf/)
**Price** — Free PDF, no signup, no watermark

Instant download

## Download 1/4 in Lined Paper as PDF

Ruled at exactly 1/4 in, print-ready at actual size. Print at 100% scaling so the spacing stays true.

- [**A4**42 lines · 2 KB PDF](https://linedpaperpdf.com/pdf/quarter-inch-lined-paper-a4.pdf)
- [**Letter**39 lines · 2 KB PDF](https://linedpaperpdf.com/pdf/quarter-inch-lined-paper-letter.pdf)
- [**Legal**51 lines · 2 KB PDF](https://linedpaperpdf.com/pdf/quarter-inch-lined-paper-legal.pdf)

⚠ Print at 100% — not “Fit to Page”

Your PDF reader's default print scaling shrinks the sheet by a few percent, which changes the real line pitch. In the print dialog, set scaling to **100%** or **Actual Size** so the measurements on this page match what comes out of the printer.

Capacity

### How Many 1/4 in Lines Fit on a Page

_Ruled lines per sheet at 1/4 in spacing, allowing a 15 mm margin top and bottom._

| Sheet | Dimensions | Rulable height | Lines |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 267 mm | 42 |
| Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 mm | 249 mm | 39 |
| Legal | 215.9 × 355.6 mm | 326 mm | 51 |

Line pitch is measured centre to centre between adjacent rules, which is how ruled paper is specified. Changing the margin in the generator changes the line count accordingly.

In context

### 1/4 in Compared With Standard Rulings

_Named ruling standards within 3.5 mm of 1/4 in._

| Format | Pitch | Relative to 1/4 in | Lines / A4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Notebook](https://linedpaperpdf.com/notebook-paper-pdf/) | 7.1 mm | 0.75 mm wider | 37 |
| [Handwriting](https://linedpaperpdf.com/handwriting-paper-pdf/) | 8.7 mm | 2.35 mm wider | 30 |
| [Cursive](https://linedpaperpdf.com/cursive-paper-pdf/) | 7.1 mm | 0.75 mm wider | 37 |
| [Journal](https://linedpaperpdf.com/journal-paper-pdf/) | 7.1 mm | 0.75 mm wider | 37 |
| [College Ruled](https://linedpaperpdf.com/college-ruled-paper-pdf/) | 7.1 mm | 0.75 mm wider | 37 |
| [Wide Ruled](https://linedpaperpdf.com/wide-ruled-paper-pdf/) | 8.7 mm | 2.35 mm wider | 30 |
| [Narrow Ruled](https://linedpaperpdf.com/narrow-ruled-paper-pdf/) | 6.0 mm | 0.35 mm tighter | 44 |
| [Cornell Notes](https://linedpaperpdf.com/cornell-notes-paper-pdf/) | 7.1 mm | 0.75 mm wider | 37 |
| [Dotted](https://linedpaperpdf.com/dotted-paper-pdf/) | 5.0 mm | 1.35 mm tighter | 53 |
| [Reporter Notebook](https://linedpaperpdf.com/reporter-notebook-paper-pdf/) | 6.0 mm | 0.35 mm tighter | 44 |
| [Right-Handed Slant (Low Angle)](https://linedpaperpdf.com/right-handed-slant-paper-low-angle-pdf/) | 8.7 mm | 2.35 mm wider | 30 |
| [Right-Handed Slant (High Angle)](https://linedpaperpdf.com/right-handed-slant-paper-high-angle-pdf/) | 8.7 mm | 2.35 mm wider | 30 |
| [Left-Handed Slant (Low Angle)](https://linedpaperpdf.com/left-handed-slant-paper-low-angle-pdf/) | 8.7 mm | 2.35 mm wider | 30 |
| [Left-Handed Slant (High Angle)](https://linedpaperpdf.com/left-handed-slant-paper-high-angle-pdf/) | 8.7 mm | 2.35 mm wider | 30 |

1/4 inch is the US narrow ruled standard, equal to 6.35 mm. It is marginally wider than the 6 mm metric equivalent.

Nearby spacings

### 1/4 in vs the Closest Other Spacings

1/4 in vs 3/8 in: a 3.18 mm difference, wider — 14 fewer lines per A4 sheet than 1/4 in.

_The three spacing pages on this site closest to 1/4 in._

| Spacing | Pitch | Relative to 1/4 in | Lines / A4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [3/8 in lined paper](https://linedpaperpdf.com/three-eighths-inch-lined-paper/) | 9.525 mm | 3.18 mm wider | 28 (14 fewer than 1/4 in) |
| [1/2 in lined paper](https://linedpaperpdf.com/half-inch-lined-paper/) | 12.7 mm | 6.35 mm wider | 21 (21 fewer than 1/4 in) |

Suitability

### Who 1/4 in Lined Paper Suits

A compact ruling for experienced writers who want maximum content per page — dense lecture notes, meeting minutes and technical documentation. Not suitable for anyone still developing handwriting control.

If you need a named format instead, [narrow ruled paper](https://linedpaperpdf.com/narrow-ruled-paper-pdf/) is the closest match. The [full specification table](https://linedpaperpdf.com/paper-ruling-specifications/) lists every ruling on this site, and the [glossary](https://linedpaperpdf.com/glossary/) explains the terminology.