Zine Sizes

May 26, 2025

Zine sizes are important details to take note of. Selecting the right zine size is imperative not just for formatting requirements, but also for practical reasons pertaining to the ease and convenience of readers.

Zine sizes refer to the different dimensions used in creating self-published booklets or magazines, often used for artistic, political, or niche content. Common zine sizes include A5, half-letter, and mini zines, each offering unique creative possibilities. The size affects layout, portability, and printing cost. Choosing the right zine size helps enhance readability, visual appeal, and distribution convenience, making it easier to share ideas and connect with a targeted audience.

Standard Zine Sizes

Statement Size

The most popular size for a zine is digest size. Digest size typically comes in 5.5 x 8.5 inches; it is also known as statement size. The statement size is ideal for a number of reasons. One, it is easy and convenient for readers to hold. Two, it is also small, lightweight, and portable. For most word processor applications, statement size is included in the list of default sizes so you can instantly set it as your preferred document size.

A4

Depending on individual preferences and publishing requirements, zine sizes can also come in standard A4 size. A4 paper size has dimensions have 210 mm x 297 mm. In inches, the equivalent measurement is 8.3 x 11.7 inches. However, in most cases, the A4 is folded to create a digest-size publication. The same goes for US Letter size as well. Since both Letter and A4 sizes are slightly similar in dimension, the former may be folded as well to create a more compact and reader-friendly zine size.

A5

Another commonly used document size for zines is A5. Smaller than A4 size, an A5 paper measures 148 x 210 mm or 5.83 x 8.27 inches. The layout can either be in portrait or landscape format, depending on the publisher’s personal preference. Typically, zines are self-published or created DIY style, unlike traditional commercial magazines. And with the smaller A5 size, it is easier to create a custom booklet or pamphlet-size zine.

Zine Sizes for Digital

Traditional zines are printed and then distributed to readers. But because it is the Information Age, digital zines are now entirely possible and are even more preferred by a lot of readers. There are a number of platforms where essentially anyone can publish a zine, even those with limited resources can create their own zine. Different platforms can have different requirements for publishing digital zines, so make sure to observe community standards when uploading images. But ideally, a good size for digital zines is 2550 x 1650 pixels. Further, you should have at least 300 DPI to ensure high-quality images and graphics for your zine.

Creative & DIY Zine Sizes

Zine Sizes for Print

Just like a magazine, zines are basically a compilation of text and images. And just as there are different zine topics and themes, zines can also come in various sizes. The most common ones are A4 size (210 mm x 297 mm), A5 size (148 x 210 mm), and Statement size (140 x 216 mm). Alternatively, a standard US Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) would be a suitable size as well. Whether it is a photography zine, music zine, feminist zine, or an 8-page zine, any of the standard sizes would do. It is also helpful to know that square size is perhaps the most widely used format for zines. But again, it all boils down to individual needs and preferences.

Zine Sizes for Business

Magazines are mainly for commercial distribution and consumption. They have a much wider circulation while in contrast, zines have a smaller circulation because they are independently published. Zine readership is also much more niche-based and targeted than commercial magazines. But that does not mean zines cannot be used for commercial purposes. Zines that cover finance, politics, or even culture, may be used in publishing businesses. That said, it is best to stick to the standard sizes for printing zines. The best sizes to use are Statement size, which measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches, and A5 size which has dimensions of 5.83 x 8.27 inches, because both are digest-size and thus, ideal sizes for zines.

Zine Sizes for Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is perhaps the most popular and widely-known photo editing tool. The application is used for all kinds of graphic design, including zines and magazines. If you are using Photoshop to design your own custom zine publication, you can start by setting the area size to 8.5 x 11 inches in half. Doing this will give you a folded zine or booklet-style document. But you can always adjust the exact dimensions to suit your precise needs. To achieve the optimum image quality, make sure to also set the DPI or dots per inch to at least 300.

Zine Sizes for Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is another excellent graphic design tool. Just like Photoshop, it can be used to create zines. The recommended size for creating a zine is either 5.5 x 8.5 inches or 8.5 x 11 inches but folded into half. These sizes are ideal for creating a zine booklet or leaflet. A zine is smaller compared to a magazine; so if a magazine is a full page, then a zine should be just half of the page. This makes it more portable and compact and thus, more convenient for readers to carry around and store.

Zine Sizes FAQs