How to use the lined paper generator
- Choose the paper: wide ruled, college ruled, narrow ruled, three-line handwriting paper or custom spacing.
- For handwriting paper pick the line height, 3/4, 5/8 or 1/2 inch from the top line to the baseline. For custom spacing type a number and choose inches or centimeters.
- Pick a line color, portrait or landscape, and add a margin line, a name and date line, or words to trace if you want them.
- Set how many identical pages to make, from 1 to 20, and check the preview.
- Press Download PDF or Print, and in the print dialog choose 100 percent or Actual size so the lines keep their true spacing.
Standard US rulings
In the United States, school and office paper is ruled at three common widths. Wide ruled has lines 11/32 inch apart, which is 24.75 points on a printed page. College ruled has lines 9/32 inch apart, 20.25 points. Narrow ruled has lines 1/4 inch apart, 18 points. Wide ruling is used for young writers and large handwriting, college ruling fits more text and is the most common for notes, and narrow ruling suits small handwriting and drafts.
On a US Letter page the printable box is 540 by 688 points. That holds 27 wide lines, 33 college lines and 38 narrow lines in portrait, and 25 college lines in landscape. Adding a name and date line takes 30 points from the top, which reduces college ruling to 32 lines. The first line is drawn one full spacing below the top of the box, so there is room to write above it.
Handwriting paper
Handwriting paper for early writers has three lines for every row of writing: a solid top line, a dashed midline and a solid baseline. Capital letters and tall letters such as b, d, h and l reach the top line, small letters such as a, c and e reach the midline, and letters sit on the baseline. The tool draws a set at the height you choose and leaves a gap of half a set between sets so tall letters and descenders do not collide. At 3/4 inch there are eight sets on a portrait page.
The tracing text option prints your words in light gray, sized to reach the top line, so a child can trace over them. Print on every line for beginners, or every other line to leave a blank line for the child to copy the word on their own. The tracing text uses a standard sans serif font, not a school handwriting style, so it is best for building letter shapes rather than for teaching a particular cursive or print method.
Printing at true scale
The spacing is exact in the file, but browsers and printers can shrink pages to fit. Choose 100 percent or Actual size, not Fit to page. Some home printers cannot print within about a quarter inch of the edge, so the lines stop half an inch inside each side. The page is US Letter only, and nothing is uploaded: the paper is made in your browser.
Assumptions and limits
- The ruling sizes are the common US widths: 11/32, 9/32 and 1/4 inch. Brands can differ slightly, and your printer may add small errors.
- The page is US Letter. Other sizes such as A4 are not offered.
- The margin line sits 1.25 inches from the left edge of the page.
- Tracing text is a plain font and is not a school handwriting style. Long text is shortened to fit one line.
- Custom spacing is limited to 1/6 inch up to 2 inches, or 0.43 cm up to 5 cm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between wide ruled and college ruled paper?
Wide ruled lines are 11/32 inch apart and college ruled lines are 9/32 inch apart. College ruled paper therefore fits more lines on a page and suits smaller handwriting.
How do I print handwriting practice paper for kids?
Choose Handwriting, 3 line, pick a height such as 3/4 inch, and add words to trace if you want them. Print at 100 percent so the lines are the size you chose.
Why are my printed lines not the right distance apart?
The print dialog probably scaled the page. Set scale to 100 percent or Actual size, not Fit to page, and measure the distance across several lines with a ruler.
Can I add a margin line?
Yes. Tick the margin option for a light red vertical line near the left edge, as on school notebook paper. The first line of tracing text moves right to clear it.
Does it work for cursive or other alphabets?
The ruled lines work for any writing. Tracing text uses a plain Latin font, so it suits print letters and numbers only.
What else can I print for school or planning?
See the graph paper generator for math and the printable weekly planner for scheduling.