Printable Ruler: 18 cm and 7 Inch PDF References
Download Printable metric and inch ruler as a one-page PDF for A4 or US Letter. Choose the file matching the paper in your printer so the pattern can retain its intended dimensions.
File specification and downloads
The ready-made ruler includes a metric scale from 0 to 180 mm (18 cm) and an inch scale from 0 to 7 inches. Metric minor marks are 1 mm apart; inch minor marks are 1/16 inch apart.
Why the two scales end at different places
Seven inches equal 7 × 25.4 = 177.8 mm. The metric scale ends at 180 mm, 2.2 mm farther along. These endpoints should not coincide. A 30 cm or 12 inch ruler would need a longer design; this download does not contain either one.
Use a physical check before measuring anything else
Print at Actual Size and compare a known span with a trustworthy physical ruler. Measure from the printed zero mark, not the paper edge or the edge you cut. Paper can bend, stretch or be trimmed unevenly, so this is a convenience aid rather than a calibrated precision instrument.
Print and verify one copy
- Open the matching A4 or Letter PDF and check the paper size in the print dialog.
- Select Actual Size or 100%. Disable Fit, Shrink, borderless expansion and any second driver scaling control.
- Print one sheet before making a batch. Check 0 to 100 mm on the metric scale and 0 to 4 inches on the inch scale. Four inches should span 101.6 mm. If the scale is wrong, correct the print setup rather than relabelling the marks.
- If an edge is clipped, use a supported sheet or layout with enough inset. Fit may avoid clipping, but it also changes the stated pattern dimensions.
The files use 15 mm side insets and reserve space for the heading and bottom reference. They are free to download without a sign-up. The Letter and A4 patterns can contain different numbers of rows because the sheets have different proportions.
Digital file check — 2 November 2026: both PDFs were checked for a one-page document, the stated page dimensions and the pattern geometry, then rendered for visual inspection. These checks concern the files. We have not physically tested your printer or certified its output accuracy.
Sources and method
- Adobe Acrobat: adjust page size for printing: Actual Size, Fit and the difference between the page and the printable area.
- NIST: SI units of length: the exact conversion of one inch to 25.4 millimetres. Inch and point values below are calculated from the stated nominal dimensions.