Music Staff Paper

Worked example. US Letter, 0.5 in margins, 8 mm staves: the usable height is 10 in = 254 mm. Each staff takes 8 mm and the gap is 1.5 × 8 = 12 mm. 13 staves need 13 × 8 + 12 × 12 = 248 mm, so 13 fit, and the space between lines is 8 ÷ 4 = 2 mm.

How many staves per page?

Staves per page with the default gap of 1.5 × the staff height and 0.5 in (Letter) or 10 mm (A4) margins:

Staves per page by staff height
Staff height	Space between lines	Staves on Letter	Staves on A4
6 mm	1.5 mm	17	19
7 mm	1.75 mm	15	16
8 mm	2.0 mm	13	14
10 mm	2.5 mm	10	11
12 mm	3.0 mm	9	9
1/2 in	3.17 mm	8	9

Choose a smaller gap (1 × staff height) for more staves, or a bigger one (2 ×) for room for lyrics and chord symbols.

What options does the staff paper generator have?

Staff height: presets from 6 mm to 12 mm and 1/2 in, or any custom height from 4 to 30 mm.
Gap between staves: 1 ×, 1.5 × or 2 × the staff height.
Layout and look: US Letter or A4, portrait or landscape, margins, line colour and weight, and a name and date line.

Writing lyrics or notes on the side? Combine with lined paper.

How do I print the PDF at the right size?

Open the PDF and choose Actual size or 100% in the print dialog. Do not choose “Fit to page” or “Shrink to fit”, which rescales the paper and changes the square size. In Adobe Acrobat and Reader this is under Page Sizing & Handling; in Chrome and Edge set Scale to Default (100%); in Safari and Firefox set the scale to 100%. Pick the same paper size in the printer settings as in the generator (US Letter or A4).

To check, measure a few squares with a ruler: 10 squares of 1/4 in should be 2½ in, and 10 squares of 5 mm should be 50 mm. Home printers cannot print right to the page edge, which is why the generator keeps a margin (0.5 in or 10 mm by default).

Frequently asked questions

What is music staff paper?

It is blank paper printed with staves: sets of five horizontal lines with spaces between them, on which notes are written. It is also called manuscript paper or blank sheet music.

How many staves fit on a page?

It depends on the staff height and the gap between staves. With 8 mm staves and the default gap (1.5 × the staff height) a US Letter page with 0.5 in margins holds 13 staves. The table on this page shows other sizes.

What staff size should I choose?

Larger staves (10 to 12 mm) are easier for beginners and children; smaller ones (6 to 7 mm) fit more music on a page. Pick the size that matches your handwriting and the music you copy.

What does the staff height mean?

It is the distance from the bottom line to the top line of one staff. The four spaces between the five lines are each a quarter of that.

Can I print staff paper on A4?

Yes. Switch the paper size to A4. The PDF page is exactly 210 × 297 mm.

Does it include clefs or bar lines?

Each staff has a thin line at both ends, but no clefs or bar lines, so you can use it for any instrument and any time signature.

Sources

Wikipedia: Staff (music). A staff is a set of horizontal lines, usually five, with spaces between them, each representing a different pitch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_(music)
Wikipedia: Letter (paper size). Letter (ANSI A) is defined in ANSI/ASME Y14.1 and measures 8.5 by 11 inches (215.9 by 279.4 mm). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size)
Wikipedia: ISO 216. A4 is 210 × 297 mm; the standard defines the A, B and C series. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_216

Last checked: October 14, 2026. Last updated: October 14, 2026. If you spot a mistake, email info@papergenerator.app.

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