Quarter-inch graph paper (free printable, letter and A4)

About this sheet

Graph paper is the plainest tool in a math class and one of the most used: for graphs, for drawing to scale, for lining up long division and for sketching a floor plan. This page draws the grid to the exact size you choose, snaps it to whole squares and centers it on the page, so there are no half squares at the edge. Quarter-inch squares are the usual choice for upper elementary and middle school work. Other sizes are a click away, from eighth inch for fine plots to one inch for young children. Turn on the darker line to mark every fifth square, which helps with counting and scaling. The paper is drawn, not scanned, so it stays crisp when printed or enlarged.

Grades: 3 to 12. Best in: August, September, January.

How to use it

1. Choose the square size and decide whether to have a darker line every fifth line. Turn the heading off for a full page of grid.
2. Print on letter or A4, and copy the page for a class set, or print a pad's worth for a binder.
3. Use it for graphs, for scale drawings or to line up columns of digits. Students can write directly on the grid.

Five ideas for class

1. Line up long division and multi-digit multiplication, one digit in each square, to cut down on misaligned columns.
2. Draw rectangles with different perimeters and areas and compare them. The squares make the area easy to count.
3. Plot data from a class survey as a bar graph, with the heavy lines marking tens on the scale.
4. Scale a drawing: choose a scale such as one square for one foot and plan a classroom or a garden.
5. Use half-inch squares with younger students for pattern making, symmetry and early graphing.

Related

• Centimeter graph paper
• Dot paper
• Coordinate grid, four quadrants
• Bar graph template