Generators
Lined Paper
Notebook-style lined paper with a red margin line. The ruling and page size follow your region; change either below, then download the PDF.
Print at 100% (“Actual size”), not “Fit to page”, so the spacing measures true.
Preview of the one-page PDF.
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Frequently asked questions
What is standard lined paper?
In the US, notebook and filler paper is 8½ × 11 inches with horizontal lines and a vertical margin line about 1¼ inches from the left edge, usually punched with three holes. The lines are either college ruled (9/32 inch, 7.1 mm apart) or wide ruled (11/32 inch, 8.7 mm). In the UK and Australia the usual pad is A4 with 8 mm lines and a margin, often called “feint and margin” — feint meaning the lines are printed faintly.
Where does the red margin line go?
On this paper the margin line sits ¾ inch inside the printed area, which with the default ½-inch page margin puts it 1¼ inches from the sheet's left edge — where it is on US notebook paper. The ruled lines run across it to the right-hand margin, as on a real notebook. Untick “Red margin line” for plain lines.
Can I print lined paper without wasting ink?
Yes. Choose “Light grey (ink saver)” as the line color and “Fine” as the weight. The lines are then pale and thin but still easy to write along, and because the page is vector lines on white, a sheet uses a tiny amount of toner compared with a printed image of paper.
How many lines are on a page?
It depends on the ruling and margins. With ½-inch margins on US Letter there are 36 college-ruled lines, 30 wide-ruled lines or 41 narrow-ruled lines; adding a name header takes half an inch off the top. On A4 with 10 mm margins, an 8 mm ruling gives 35 lines.
Can I make lined paper for a binder or a small notebook?
For a binder, pick US 3-hole or 2- or 4-ring holes: the left margin widens so writing stays clear of the punch, and small circles show where to punch. For a small notebook, tick “Two per sheet” to print two half-size pages on each sheet — two A5 pages on A4, or two 5½ × 8½-inch pages on Letter — then cut along the dashed line and fold or staple.
About this tool
Lined paper is the everyday writing surface — for notes, letters, essays, lists and journals — and printing your own means you never run out at the wrong moment. This page opens on notebook-style paper: evenly spaced horizontal lines across the page and a red margin line on the left, the layout children learn to write on and most adults still take notes on.
The spacing is the choice that matters most. College ruled lines, 9/32 inch apart, suit most adults and anyone with smaller handwriting, and fit more on a page. Wide ruled lines, 11/32 inch apart, give younger writers more room and are what US elementary school supply lists usually ask for. Narrow ruled lines, ¼ inch apart, suit very small handwriting and dense notes. Metric users can pick 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 mm; 8 mm is the usual ruling on A4 pads in the UK and Australia.
Because the PDF is drawn with exact dimensions, the lines line up with those on store-bought paper when printed at 100%, so a printed sheet can go into a binder next to bought filler paper without looking out of place. You can add binder holes, a name and date header, page numbers, and choose US Letter, A4 or several other sizes.
Lined paper is also a good base for printable projects: letter-writing kits, journaling inserts for a planner, or a short booklet made with the two-per-sheet option. For handwriting practice with a dashed midline, see handwriting practice paper; for lecture notes with a review column, the Cornell notes template.