How to Make Printable Graph, Lined and Dotted Paper as a PDF

Shop-bought pads rarely have exactly the grid you need. Making your own gives you the spacing, the colour and the size you want, at the cost of a few sheets of printing paper.

Quick answer

Choose the paper type, set spacing in millimetres, pick margins and colour, select A4 or US Letter in portrait or landscape, then download the PDF and print.

Paper types

• Graph (squared): maths, plotting, engineering sketches. 5 mm squares are standard.
• Lined: handwriting and notes. 7 to 8 mm spacing suits adults.
• Dotted: bullet journals and sketching. Less distracting than lines.
• Isometric dot paper: 3D drawings, game design and technical sketches.

Steps

1. Open the tool and choose the type.
2. Set spacing: 5 mm for graph, 7 mm for lined, 5 mm for dots.
3. Choose a light grey or pale blue so ink stands out.
4. Choose paper size and orientation.
5. Download and print at 100 percent (actual size).

Printing tips

• In the print dialog choose "actual size", not "fit to page", or the spacing will change.
• Use light colour lines so your writing is clear.
• Check one printed sheet against a ruler.
• For notebooks, print double-sided on plain 80 gsm paper.

Ideas

Study planners, kids' handwriting practice, knitting charts, pixel art and floor-plan sketches.