If someone asks, “What size sheet fits in your binder?” do you know how to answer?
If you’re using custom binders, make sure to have that information on hand.
Paper for Custom Size Binders
First, it’s important to understand that sheet size does not refer to the size of the binder as a whole but rather to the sheets that fit inside the rings of the binder. Failure to understand this could lead you to purchase sheets too large or small for the binders you’re organizing.
Paper for Standard Size Binders
If using a standard binder, 11” x 8.5”—the standard paper size—is typically the correct answer. However, the size of paper that a binder can hold technically includes a ½” allowance for the use of index tabs. This means that you’ll need to purchase a binder larger than the pages that will be kept inside—allowing for any overhang from index tabs.
After 11” x 8.5”, the most common sizes are the 8.5” x 5.5” (also referred to as a half sheet) and the 9.5” x 6” (not nearly as common as the other sizes). Both sizes include the ½” tab allowance space.
For more information about binder sheet sizes, consult this article: Binder Sheet Sizes Explained.
