Grid Paper
Grid paper is a sheet of equal squares with no heavier lines. Choose the square size in millimetres or inches, the line weight and color, and the paper size; the sheet is drawn to it and centred. The default is 1 cm squares on A4, 19 × 27 of them.
Your sheet
Printing: choose Actual size or 100%, not “Fit to page”, so 1 cm prints as 1 cm. How to check.
How is the grid worked out?
Squares across = whole part of (page width − 2 × margin) ÷ square size; the grid is centred on the page with equal borders.
Worked example. 1 cm squares on A4 with a 10 mm margin: (210 − 20) ÷ 10 = 19 squares across and (297 − 20) ÷ 10 = 27.7, so 27 squares down. The grid measures 190 × 270 mm, and each square is one square centimetre.
On US Letter (215.9 × 279.4 mm) the same settings give 19 × 25 squares, because Letter is shorter.
What is grid paper used for?
Area and perimeter in primary maths, where each square is a unit; bar charts and pictograms; scale drawings and room plans (1 square = 50 cm is a handy scale for a 5 mm grid); pixel art and cross-stitch charts; and neat handwriting practice for people who find lines too loose.
Choosing the square size
1 cm is the size for young children and for anything you will measure with a ruler. 5 mm is the general-purpose size for older students. 2 mm, or 1/10 inch, is for detailed technical work. For plans, pick a size that makes the scale easy: with 1 cm squares, 1 square = 1 metre gives a plan at 1:100.
Lines that photocopy well
If the sheet will be copied, use a mid grey at 0.2 mm; very light lines vanish on a copier and very dark lines dominate the work. If you want the grid to disappear on a copy, use pale blue (#9ec5ff) at 0.15 mm, the trick draughtsmen used.
Questions about grid paper
What is the difference between grid paper and graph paper?
Grid paper is a plain square grid with every line the same weight. Graph paper adds heavier lines every few squares to make plotting and counting easier. If you want the heavy lines, use the graph paper maker; everything else here is the same.
How many 1 cm squares fit on A4?
With a 10 mm margin, 19 across and 27 down. Set the margin to 0 and 21 × 29 whole squares fit, but most printers cannot print right to the edge.
How do I make quarter-inch grid paper?
Choose inches as the unit and type 0.25 as the square size. On US Letter with a 10 mm margin that gives 30 × 40 squares.
Can I make the lines very faint?
Yes. Set the line weight to 0.1 mm and pick a light grey or a pale blue. Pale blue is the classic for drawing because it disappears when the sheet is photocopied or scanned in black and white.
Is 1 cm grid paper the same as centimeter graph paper?
Yes. Both mean squares 10 mm on a side. Teachers often ask for it for area and perimeter work, because each square is one square centimetre.
Can I print grid paper on card or coloured paper?
Yes. The sheet is only lines, so it prints on anything your printer takes. For a cutting template, set the line weight to 0.3 mm so the lines stay visible on dark card.