How much paper do you need?
Enter the pages in one document and how many copies you need. A standard ream contains 500 sheets.
Each copy starts on a new sheet. This assumes one document page per side, without booklet printing or multiple pages per side. Allow extra paper for test prints, separator sheets or reprints.
Not sure which way to flip the paper? Try the duplex test page first.
A ream is 500 sheets
A standard ream of office paper is 500 sheets. That is true for US Letter and for A4, and it is the number most paper makers and sellers use. A ream is the usual retail pack, wrapped in paper with the size, weight and brightness printed on the label.
The word has an older history. Historically a ream could mean 480 or 516 sheets, and some specialty or trade paper is still sold in other counts. For everyday printer paper, 500 is the number to expect, but read the label if the count matters.
How reams relate to other pack sizes
| Unit | Sheets |
|---|---|
| Ream | 500 |
| Half ream (common small pack) | 250 |
| Carton or case | Often 10 reams, 5,000 sheets |
| Quire | 25 (old unit, rarely used now) |
A carton of paper commonly holds 10 reams, so 5,000 sheets, but cartons vary by brand and size, so check the box. Some packs for photo or specialty paper contain 20, 50 or 100 sheets, and these are not reams.
Sheets are not the same as printed pages
A sheet is one piece of paper. A printed page is one side of it. If you print on both sides, a 500-sheet ream gives you up to 1,000 pages. Our duplex test page checks that the front and back line up before you commit a long job.
How long will a ream last?
To estimate, divide 500 by the sheets you use each month. Use the calculator above to convert pages and copies into sheets, including double-sided jobs. If you use about 100 sheets a month, a ream lasts about five months. Printing test pages and checking results adds a few sheets, and how often to print a test page explains how to keep that low.
Weight is a different matter. Paper weight (such as 20 lb or 75 gsm) tells you how thick the sheets are, not how many are in a ream, so a heavier ream is thicker and heavier but still holds 500 sheets.
Check the paper size before you load it
Reams are labeled by size, such as Letter (8.5 x 11 in) or A4 (210 x 297 mm). Make sure the size you load matches the size set in the print dialog. If they differ, the page may be scaled or clipped. See A4 vs Letter for what to look for.