Generators
Wide Ruled Paper
Wide ruled paper, the ruling most elementary school supply lists ask for: lines 11/32 inch (8.7 mm) apart. Download the PDF and print at 100%.
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
How far apart are wide ruled lines?
11/32 inch, which is 8.73 mm or 24.75 points. On US Letter with ½-inch margins that gives 30 lines, against 36 on college ruled paper.
Who should use wide ruled paper?
Wide ruling is usually recommended for children in about grades 2 to 5 who have moved past primary handwriting paper but still write large, and for anyone who finds college ruling cramped — including many left-handed writers and people with larger handwriting. Many US elementary schools list wide ruled notebooks and filler paper on their supply lists.
What is the difference between wide ruled and college ruled?
Only the spacing: wide ruled lines are 11/32 inch (8.7 mm) apart, college ruled 9/32 inch (7.1 mm). The page size, margin line and holes are the same. Wide ruling gives each line about 22% more height, so letters can be bigger and easier to read.
Is wide ruled paper the same as primary handwriting paper?
No. Primary handwriting paper has groups of three lines — a top line, a dashed midline and a baseline — so children can learn letter heights. Wide ruled paper has single lines. For the three-line style, use handwriting practice paper or kindergarten writing paper.
Can I make the lines even wider?
Yes. Choose “Custom (mm)” in the spacing list and enter a larger value — 10 mm, for instance, is a little under 13/32 inch. For writers who need guidance on letter height rather than just more room, handwriting paper with a dashed midline is usually the better choice.
About this tool
Wide ruled paper — sometimes called legal ruled — has lines 11/32 inch apart, the widest of the three standard US rulings. It is the paper most US elementary schools ask for once children leave primary handwriting paper behind, typically from second or third grade until they are comfortable writing smaller.
The extra space helps in several situations: children whose letters are still large, adults with big or unsteady handwriting, writers who use thick markers or fountain pens, and anyone who wants neater notes that are easy to read back. It is also the easier ruling for worksheets where students write short answers under each question.
This page prints the lines exactly 24.75 points (11/32 inch) apart on a page that is exactly the size you pick, with a red margin line 1¼ inches from the left edge, so printed sheets match store-bought wide ruled filler paper when printed at 100%. Add a name and date header, binder holes and page numbers as you need.
Teachers often print a class set in light grey to save ink; parents print a few pages for homework when the notebook runs out. For handwriting lessons with letter-height guides, see handwriting practice paper; for the smaller college ruling, the college ruled page.