How to make your dot grid paper
- Choose the dot spacing. 5 mm is a common journal size; 4 mm fits more on a small page; 1 cm suits big lettering and children. Inch sizes are 1/4 in and 1/5 in. Choose Custom size for any spacing from 2.5 to 25 mm, in millimeters or inches.
- Choose the dot size and darkness. Fine dots almost disappear under writing; bold dots are easier to see for drawing and layouts.
- Choose the paper. A5 and Half Letter for journal and planner inserts, A4 and US Letter for full sheets, A3 and Tabloid for big layouts.
- Select Download PDF and print at Actual size (100%).
The dots sit where the lines of a square grid would cross, and the grid is made of whole squares centered on the page, so the outer dots are the same distance from each edge.
Dot grid spacing and dots per page
Dots across and down on a portrait page with the standard 1/2 in (12.7 mm) margins, exactly as the PDF draws them:
| Dot spacing | In PDF points | US Letter | A4 | A5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mm (0.197 in) | 14.17 pt | 38 x 49 | 37 x 53 | 25 x 35 |
| 4 mm (0.157 in) | 11.34 pt | 48 x 61 | 46 x 66 | 31 x 44 |
| 10 mm (0.394 in) | 28.35 pt | 19 x 25 | 19 x 27 | 13 x 18 |
| 1/4 in (6.35 mm) | 18 pt | 30 x 39 | 29 x 42 | 20 x 28 |
| 0.2 in (5.08 mm) | 14.4 pt | 38 x 48 | 37 x 52 | 24 x 35 |
A 5 mm A4 page has 1,961 dots. The dot sizes are measured across each dot: fine 0.8 pt (0.28 mm), medium 1.2 pt (0.42 mm) and bold 1.8 pt (0.63 mm).
Why dot grid paper
Dot grid paper uses dots at the crossing points of a grid instead of full lines. You get the same guide for straight lines, boxes, columns and lettering, but the page looks almost blank once you write or draw on it. That is why it is popular for dot grid journals, planners, sketch notes and hand lettering.
- Writing: with 5 mm dots, write on every row of dots for small writing or every second row for larger writing.
- Layouts: count dots to draw calendars, habit charts, tables and boxes that line up.
- Drawing: use dots as anchor points for shapes, diagrams and simple pixel drawings.
Need full lines? Use graph paper. Drawing 3D shapes? Use isometric paper, which also comes as dots.
Printing inserts for a journal or binder
For an A5 journal or planner, choose A5 paper. If your printer only takes A4 or Letter, print the A5 page on A4 at 100% and trim it, or use the merge tool to collect several pages into one file first. Do not print an A5 page "2 per sheet", as that shrinks it and the dots stop being 5 mm apart.
Half Letter (5.5 x 8.5 in) is the US equivalent of A5 and fits standard half-size binders. For double-sided printing, print one side, turn the stack over and print again; the dots sit in the same place on every page.
How to print it true to size
The dot grid is drawn as a vector PDF at exactly the size you choose. An inch is exactly 25.4 mm, and the PDF measures everything in points of exactly 1/72 inch, so 1 mm is 72 / 25.4 points. The spacing is worked out for every line from the top of the sheet, not added up step by step, so no rounding builds up down the page.
Your printer can still change the size. To keep it exact:
- Choose the same paper in the print dialog as on this page (for example A4 or US Letter).
- Set the scale to 100% or Actual size. Turn off "Fit to page", "Shrink oversized pages" and "Scale to fit". Adobe's help says Fit reduces or enlarges each page to fit the printable area, which changes the spacing.
- Measure the check-ruler. At the bottom of every sheet there is a printed scale of exactly 5 cm, or 2 in for inch sizes. Lay a ruler along it. If it measures 5 cm (or 2 in), every line on the sheet is true to size. If it is shorter, the printer shrank the page; print again at 100%.
The PDF also asks your viewer to print without scaling, though not every viewer follows that setting. Most home printers cannot print right to the edge of the paper, so the standard margin is 1/2 in (12.7 mm). The narrow 1/4 in (6.35 mm) margin may be clipped by some printers.
Questions and answers
What is the standard dot grid spacing?
Dot grid journal pages are most often 5 mm between dots. 4 mm suits small handwriting, and 1/4 in (6.35 mm) matches US quad graph paper. You can choose any of these, or type your own.
How do I make dot grid paper for an A5 journal?
Choose A5 under Paper size and 5 mm spacing, then select Download PDF. Print it on A5 paper at 100%, or print on A4 at 100% and trim it to size.
Can I make the dots lighter?
Yes. Choose Fine dots and Light darkness for the faintest dots, or the black and white theme for gray dots that use no colored ink.
Is this a dot grid generator?
Yes. It makes a new PDF from the spacing, dot size, paper and color you choose, in your browser, with no sign-up.
Why is my printout smaller than it should be?
The printer or PDF viewer scaled the page to fit, usually because "Fit to page" or "Shrink to fit" was on. Print again with the scale set to 100% or Actual size, and with the same paper size selected as on this page. The 5 cm (or 2 in) check-ruler at the bottom of the sheet shows straight away whether it worked.
Is anything I type saved or uploaded?
No. The paper and the PDF are made in your browser on your own device. Your options and any text you type are not saved or sent, so if you reload the page you start again from the defaults.
Can I copy, share or sell these sheets?
Yes. You can print, copy and share them for home, school and work. You may also sell printed copies or the PDFs, as long as the print.dexaloop.com credit line at the foot of each page stays on it, unchanged and readable. The Terms page has the details.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026. If a size has changed, please tell us.