Map sizes, enlargements and reductions
During the initial Map Orders checkout process, you are prompted to choose the size of item required in the 'Please select an item type' drop-down list.
Our historic maps do not match modern paper sizes. This page provides clarification of the associated terms Original Size and Enlargements and Reductions.
Original Size
The original size will be at the same size as the original item.
- For non-series maps, we provide information on the original size on the record page for that item under Pagination, e.g.
You can easily find the record page (with details of map sizes under pagination) by following the 'More info' link in the header bar when on a zoomable map image page:
For series maps, the map size is given in the header on the zoomable map image page:
- View a table of standard map sizes for series maps.
Map series: Approximate size (height x width):
(map sizes to neat line, ie. rectangular frame of map content)
Please bear in mind that exact sizes will vary, especially of sheet sizes.Ordnance Survey 1:500 / 1:1,056 Town Plans, 1850s-1890s maps 61 x 92 cm (24 x 36 inches), on sheets ca. 70 x 100 cm (ca. 27 x 40 inches) Ordnance Survey 1:1,250 National Grid maps, 1940s-1960s maps 40 x 40 cm (16 x 16 inches), on sheets ca. 56 x 49 cm (ca. 22 x 20 inches) Ordnance Survey 25 inch to the mile, 1850s-1950s maps 64.4 cm x 96.6 cm (25.344 x 38.016 inches), on sheets ca. 76 x 104 cm (ca. 30 x 41 inches) Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 National Grid maps, 1940s-1960s (single km square) maps 40 x 40 cm (16 x 16 inches), on sheets ca. 56 x 49 cm (ca. 22 x 20 inches) Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 National Grid maps, 1940s-1960s (double km square) maps 40 x 80 cm (16 x 32 inches), on sheets ca. 56 x 96 cm (ca. 22 x 38 inches) Ordnance Survey Six-Inch to the mile, full sheets (ie. without NW,NE,SW,SE suffix - primarily first edition, mainly pre-1890s, and some later editions) maps 61 x 92 cm (ca. 24 x 36 inches), on sheets ca. 70 x 100 cm (28 x 40 inches) Ordnance Survey Six-Inch to the mile, quarter sheets (ie. with NW,NE,SW,SE suffix - primarily second edition, mainly post 1870s and later editions) maps 31 x 46 cm (ca. 12 x 18 inches), on sheets ca. 43 x 58 cm (17 x 23 inches) Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 / 1:10,000 National Grid maps, 1940s-1990s (5 x 5 km square) maps 47-50 x 47-50 cm (ca. 19 x 20 inches), on sheets ca. 68 x 58 cm (27 x 23 inches) Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps of Great Britain, 1937-1961 maps 40 x 40 cm (16 x 16 inches), on sheets ca. 56 x 49 cm (ca. 22 x 20 inches) Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Scotland, 1856-1912 maps 46 x 61 cm (18 x 24 inches), on sheets 58 x 71 cm (ca. 23 x 28 inches) Ordnance Survey One-inch Revised new series, England and Wales, 1892-1908 maps 31 x 46 cm (12 x 18 inches), apart from the Isle of Man sheet 61 x 92 cm (ca. 24 x 36 inches) Ordnance Survey One-inch "Popular" edition, Scotland, 1921-1930 Varies, see sheet list Ordnance Survey One-inch "Popular with National Grid", 1945-1947 maps ca. 68 x 45 cm (27 x 18 inches), on sheets ca. 89 x 57 cm (ca. 35 x 23 inches) Ordnance Survey One-inch "New Popular", England/Wales 1945-1947 maps ca. 71 x 63 cm (28 x 24 inches), on sheets 89 x 73 cm (ca. 35 x 29 inches) Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952-1961 maps ca. 71 x 64 cm (28 x 25 inches), on sheets ca. 89 x 74 cm (ca. 35 x 29 inches) Ordnance Survey Air Photo Mosaics of Scotland, 1944-1950 sheets 61 x 52 cm (ca. 24 x 20 inches) Ordnance Survey, Ten-mile to the Inch Planning Maps of Great Britain, 1944-1960 maps 77 x 100 cm (30 x 39 inches), on sheets 87 x 108 cm (ca. 34 x 42 inches)
Enlargements and reductions
Our Historic Maps do not match modern paper sizes. We can enlarge or reduce the size of the print, but to avoid distorting the map, we will maintain the aspect ratio. The map print may therefore not entirely fill a standard sheet of paper. To help fit in a tube for postage, blank areas of paper may be trimmed.
In all cases please wait until you have received your map before buying a frame.
Enlargements and reductions are made to the standard copy sizes as given in the table below:
Standard copy sizes |
A4 = 21.0 cm x 29.7 cm or 8.3" x 11.7" |
A3 = 29.7 cm x 42.0 cm or 11.7" x 16.5" |
A2 = 42.0 cm x 59.4 cm or 16.5" x 23.4" |
A1 = 59.4 cm x 84.1 cm or 23.4" x 33.3" |
A0 = 84.1 cm x 118.9 cm or 33.3" x 46.8" |
By default when we assign a standard copy size to an item (ie. A4, A3, etc.), we round up the size of the original item to the next larger size. So, for example, an original item with extents of 38 x 48 cm is classed as being A2 size, as it is larger than A3, but smaller than A2.
- To order a print of this item at its original size, choose the drop-down list option 'Print/Photocopy A2 (item at original size)'. This size is illustrated below:
- To order a print of this enlarged to the full extent of A2, choose the drop-down list option 'Print/Photocopy A2 (item enlarged to fit paper)'. This size is illustrated below:
- To order a print of this reduced to A3, choose the drop-down list option 'Print/Photocopy A3 (item reduced to fit paper)'. This size is illustrated below:
Please note that we do not, by default, allow enlargements or reductions beyond one standard copy size of the original size of the item. This is so that the resulting copy will be legible and clear. We can make larger or smaller enlargements/reductions on request, provided users accept that the results may not be legible or clear.
Please email maps@nls.uk for further advice or assistance.