Handwriting Lines: Free Printable Paper In The Right Size
Handwriting lines are the ruled guides that show children how tall letters should be and where they sit. Pick a line style and size to see the lines at true scale, then print free handwriting paper in portrait or landscape.
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Choose And Print Handwriting Lines
Check the scale: the ruler below should measure 5 cm on your screen at 100% zoom. Screens vary, but the printed sheet is always true to size.
What Are Handwriting Lines Called?
Handwriting lines are the base line, the middle line, the top line and, in four-line paper, a line for tails below the base. The lines are often called tramlines, and the four-line set is what Oak National Academy describes as "usually" four tramlines.
- Base line: the line letters sit on.
- Middle line: also called the x-height line, it marks the tops of small letters such as a, e and u.
- Top line: marks the tops of tall letters and capitals.
- Tail line: marks the bottom of letters with tails, such as g and y.
The National Handwriting Association uses a homely picture for the zones: tall letters live in the "attic", small letters in the "room" and tails in the "cellar". See ascenders and descenders for which letters belong where.
Which Type Of Handwriting Lines Should Children Use?
Sources differ, so choose by what the child needs. The DfE writing framework calls wide-lined paper "essential" in Year 1 and says mid-line guides can help children position letters. The National Handwriting Association recommends paper with two lines, a base line and a line for the tops of small letters.
| Lines | What they show | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Four lines | Top, middle, base and tail | Children learning where tall letters stop and tails begin |
| Three lines | Top, middle and base | Children who know their zones |
| Two lines | Middle and base | The NHA's recommendation for learning to align letters |
| Single line | The base line only | Children who size letters confidently |
The NHA argues that two lines teach children to relate ascender and descender size to the body of their letters, which stays true as their writing shrinks. It also says children who rely on four lines often use them for longer than they need and end up writing bigger than is comfortable. Its advice is to move to plain paper with a base line as soon as children can.
What Size Handwriting Lines Suit Each Year Group?
Younger children need wider lines, and the size usually shrinks as their control improves. The NHA offers three sizes for children learning to align letters, measured by the space for small letters:
| Small-letter height | When it suits |
|---|---|
| 6 mm | Children of any age who need more space |
| 5 mm | Commonly used at this stage |
| 4 mm | Commonly used at this stage |
The NHA says 4 mm and 5 mm are the two most common sizes at this stage and match the 15 mm exercise-book line spacing recommended for Key Stage 1. It suggests ascenders and descenders should be about twice the height of small letters.
Move down a size only when letters sit on the line consistently. The DfE framework says children should move to narrower lines once they write legibly and easily on wide ones. For Years 3 to 6 there is no official size, so choose the smallest lines a child can write on comfortably and legibly.
What Is The Baseline In Handwriting?
The baseline is the line that letters sit on. Letters that float above it or sink below it are a common sign that a child needs a clearer line or a bigger size, and a base line is the one line every style of paper keeps.
Two fixes are common. Highlight the base line so it is easy to see, and use paper with a mid-line guide until small letters sit on the line without help. See handwriting assessment for a check on size, spacing and sitting on the line.
Questions About Handwriting Paper
Can I Print Handwriting Paper In My Own Size?
Yes. Choose a line style, set the small-letter height and check the preview against a ruler before printing.
Is There Landscape Handwriting Paper?
Yes. Choose landscape in the settings above.
Do Left-Handed Children Need Different Paper?
The paper is the same, but the position changes. Left-handed pupils slant their paper to the right, and the left-handed margin option keeps a clear space on the right. See left-handed writers.
Does Coloured Paper Help?
Some children find coloured paper more comfortable. Whether it improves handwriting is not well established, so use it if the child likes it and drop it if not.