1/4 Inch Graph Paper (Quad Ruled)

The standard US quad ruled grid, 4 squares per inch, drawn at exactly 6.35 mm per square.

Quad ruled, 4 squares per inch

This free generator creates printable 1/4 inch graph paper, also sold as quad graph paper: a grid where each square is 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) on each side, or 4 squares per inch. It runs in your web browser, so there is nothing to download and no sign-up. You can choose the paper size, set the line style, and then print the sheet, save it as a PDF or SVG, or copy a link that recreates your settings.

Quarter inch graph paper is also called quad ruled or quadrille paper. It is the most common grid in US graph paper notebooks and pads. People use it for algebra and geometry graphs, floor plans, sketches, data tables, and notes where columns help. The generator only draws whole squares, so every square stays exactly the size you picked.

How to make 1/4 inch graph paper

  1. Set the square size. Pick the 1/4 inch preset, or type a custom size in millimetres or inches.
  2. Choose a paper size: US Letter (8.5 × 11 in), A4, US Legal, Tabloid, A3 or A5. Then pick portrait or landscape.
  3. Set the heavier lines. Choose a heavier line every 2, 4, 5, 8 or 10 squares; every 4 squares gives a line at each inch.
  4. Add numbers along the top and left edges. Choose every line, every 5, or every 10.
  5. Turn on a heavier outer border if you want the sheet edged.
  6. Pick the line colour (light blue, grey, black, green, red, purple, or a custom colour) and the line weight (fine, normal or bold).
  7. Open Page and print settings. Set the margin (default 10 mm, or from 1/4 in to 1 in, or a custom value). Add an optional title, a Name and Date line, the number of pages (1 to 50), and turn the small site address on or off.
  8. Check the line under the preview. It reports how many squares fit, for example 30 × 40 squares on US Letter.
  9. Click Print, Download PDF, SVG or Copy link.

For true-size squares, print at 100% or “Actual size” and turn off “Fit to page” or “Shrink to fit”. Fitting to the page shrinks every square slightly. The page remembers the paper size you chose last time in your browser. Copy link stores all current settings, so you can recreate or share the same sheet later.

What is 1/4 inch graph paper?

1/4 inch graph paper is grid paper with squares 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) on each side. That makes 4 squares per inch, so four squares laid end to end measure one inch. You can measure a line by counting squares, which is why this grid is useful for drawing to scale.

What size is 1/4 inch graph paper?

The “size” in the name refers to the squares, not the sheet. Each square is 1/4 inch wide and tall. The sheet itself is usually US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) or A4 (210 × 297 mm), and the number of squares depends on the sheet size and margins. If you need a different square size, you can enter a custom size in millimetres or inches.

What does quad ruled mean?

Quad ruled means graph paper with 4 squares per inch. Quadrille paper is another name for the same ruling. It is the most common grid in US graph paper notebooks and pads. To check a sheet, lay a ruler on it: if four squares fit in one inch, it is quad ruled. Some quad ruled paper adds a heavier line every inch; the “Inch lines” preset does the same here.

How many squares are on a sheet of 1/4 inch graph paper?

It depends on the paper size and the margin. With 10 mm margins, US Letter gives 30 × 40 squares (a 7.5 × 10 inch grid), and A4 gives 29 × 43 squares. To estimate your own count, measure the usable width and height in inches, multiply each by 4, and round down. For example, US Letter is 8.5 inches wide. A 10 mm margin is about 0.39 inches on each side, so the usable width is 8.5 - 0.79 = 7.71 inches. Multiplying by 4 gives 30.8, which rounds down to 30 squares across. The same steps for the 11-inch height give 40 squares down.

Examples made with this generator

Quad ruled, 4 squares per inch
Quad ruled, 4 squares per inch
Heavier line every inch
Heavier line every inch
1/4 inch grid on A4
1/4 inch grid on A4

Frequently asked questions

Can I print several copies of the same grid on one PDF?

Yes. The page setting for the number of pages creates from 1 to 50 identical pages in the PDF. Each page uses the same grid, margins and options.

Why does my printed grid look smaller than 1/4 inch?

Your print dialog is probably set to “Fit to page” or “Shrink to fit,” which scales the whole sheet down. Print at 100% or “Actual size” instead. Measure a few squares with a ruler to check.

Is 1/4 inch graph paper the same as 1 cm graph paper?

No. A 1/4 inch square is 6.35 mm, so it is smaller than a 1 cm (10 mm) square. Quarter inch paper has 4 squares per inch, while 1 cm paper has about 2.5, so the quarter inch grid looks finer.

Can I draw a floor plan to scale on this grid?

Yes. At a scale of 1/4 in = 1 ft, each square represents one foot. Count squares to measure walls, doors and rooms, then draw to that scale.

Does the grid come in other colours?

Yes. Choose light blue, grey, black, green, red, purple or any custom colour, and a fine, normal or bold line weight.

Can I get 1/4 inch graph paper on A4?

Yes. Choose A4 as the paper size: the squares stay exactly 1/4 inch, and 29 × 43 of them fit with the default margins.

  • 1 inch graph paper: Use this when you want larger squares for big sketches or simple charts.
  • Graph paper for floor plans: Use this when you are drawing rooms, walls and furniture to scale.
  • Engineering paper: Use this when you need a grid with a different division, often for technical drawings.
  • Grid paper: Use this when you want a general grid for drawing, planning or practice.
  • 1 cm graph paper: Use this when you prefer metric squares of 10 mm.
  • Coordinate plane: Use this when you are plotting points and graphing equations.