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Which sheet size should you order?
Answer three questions and we'll recommend a size, show it to scale against every other sheet we plot, and price your whole job — before you upload a thing.
Every sheet size we print
Per-sheet prices, black-and-white on 20# bond and full color. 10% comes off automatically at 25+ sheets of the same size. UPS Ground is $15 flat, free over $100.
| Size | Dimensions | B&W20# bond | B&W heavyrenderings | Colorline work | Color heavyrenderings | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5″ × 11″ | $0.10 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.60 | Schedules, sheet indexes, correspondence — not plan sheets. |
| Ledger / 11×17 | 11″ × 17″ | $0.35 | $0.45 | $0.50 | $1.25 | Half-size check prints and spec-book inserts. Fits a standard binder. |
| ARCH B half-size D | 12″ × 18″ | $0.75 | $1.50 | $2.50 | $3.95 | True half-size of ARCH D, so a ¼″ scale sheet reads at ⅛″. Ideal field copies. |
| ARCH C | 18″ × 24″ | $1.25 | $2.50 | $4.00 | $6.50 | Permit sets, small site plans, residential additions. Most reviewers accept it. |
| ARCH D | 24″ × 36″ | $2.00 | $3.95 | $4.75 | $8.95 | The standard plan-set sheet — what most architects draw to and what we print most. |
| 30 × 42 Engineering | 30″ × 42″ | $3.00 | $5.95 | $8.00 | $12.95 | Civil and engineering plans at engineering scale. NJDEP, CAFRA, planning-board sets. |
| ARCH E | 36″ × 48″ | $2.99 | $5.95 | $9.00 | $17.95 | Full-size architectural and large commercial plans. Maximum sheet real estate. |
The short version
If you're printing a construction set, use ARCH D — it's what your drawings were laid out for. If it's a residential permit submission, ARCH C is usually accepted and costs less. Field copies for subs and trailers go on ARCH B, the true half-size of ARCH D, at a bit over a third of the price. Civil and site work belongs on 30″ × 42″ at engineering scale. And a single detail or schedule is cheapest on Ledger.
Two rules worth knowing. First, half-size is for reading, not measuring — a ¼″ = 1′ plan printed at 50% is now ⅛″ = 1′, so anyone scaling off it with a rule will be wrong unless they know. Second, you can mix sizes on one order: full-size for the permit desk and the superintendent, half-size for everyone else, one invoice.
Whatever size you land on, export the PDF at 1:1 at that sheet size with "fit to page" turned off. That one setting causes most of the scale problems we see. Our file prep guide has the export settings for AutoCAD, Revit, and Bluebeam.
Common questions
What size are most blueprints printed at?
ARCH D (24″ × 36″) is the standard plan-set sheet and the size we print most. Architects draw to it, permit desks expect it, and it stays legible at ¼″ scale. ARCH C (18″ × 24″) is common for residential permit sets, and 30″ × 42″ is the civil-engineering standard.
What size should I use for a permit set?
ARCH C (18″ × 24″) is accepted by most building departments for residential and small commercial work; larger commercial submissions usually go on ARCH D (24″ × 36″). Confirm with the specific construction office — requirements vary by town, and some shore municipalities in New Jersey ask for full-size only.
What is a half-size set?
A half-size set is your full-size PDF printed at 50%. An ARCH D (24″ × 36″) file becomes ARCH B (12″ × 18″), and an ARCH E file becomes ARCH C. Upload the full-size PDF, pick the half-size sheet, and choose "50% — half-size" at checkout. Half-size is fine for subs, owners, and coordination, but not for permit submission or anything that gets scaled with a rule.
Does a bigger sheet cost more per sheet?
Yes — the price scales with the paper. On 20# bond black-and-white, Ledger is $0.35, ARCH C is $1.25, ARCH D is $2.00, and ARCH E is $2.99 per sheet. Color on line work is $4.75 on ARCH D; heavy-coverage pages such as renderings are $8.95, detected page by page after upload. Black-and-white has a heavy rate too: $3.95 on ARCH D for grey-scale ink on 15%+ of the sheet — a rendering, photo or shaded presentation board; line-work plan sheets stay at the B&W rate. Every line on any size gets 10% off at 25+ sheets.
Can I order two different sizes on one order?
Yes. Add a second line item on the order form — full-size ARCH D for the permit desk and the superintendent, half-size for the subs, for instance. One invoice, one box, one tracking number.
Ready when you are
Order by noon ET on a business day and it ships the same day via UPS — next-day Ground from New York to Washington DC and Northern Virginia. Still not sure what you need? Call (929) 464-5714.
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