Free Handwriting Paper Templates for Word: 11 Easy Printables
Choose your country, preview every size, then download your Word templates in one small ZIP file.
Made by a teacherUK, US and Australia11 Word documentsFree
This free handwriting paper gives you 11 printable sheets as ordinary Word documents, each with a solid top line, a dotted midline and a baseline, in sizes for UK, US and Australian classrooms. Every sheet is human-made by a teacher: I’m Patrick Elliott, a teacher and Inclusion Lead, and I designed and built each one myself in Microsoft Word, then measured the printed lines to check they come out at the size on the label.
In this guide, you’ll find which size suits which age in each country, how to print the lines at their true size, and how to add words for children to copy.
What’s in the Handwriting Paper Templates
| Country | Paper | Row sizes | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | A4 | 15 mm, 12 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm | 4 |
| USA | US Letter | 1-1/8 in, 3/4 in, 5/8 in, 1/2 in | 4 |
| Australia | A4 | 24 mm, 18 mm, 14 mm | 3 |
👉 The row size is the space from the top line to the baseline. The dotted midline marks the height of small letters such as a, c and e, and the gap under each row keeps tails clear of the next line.
Which Handwriting Paper Size for Which Age
| Age | USA (US Letter) | UK (A4) | Australia (A4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–5 | Pre-K: 1-1/8 in | Reception: 15 mm | 24 mm (Foundation starts at 5) |
| 5–6 | Kindergarten: 3/4 in | Year 1: 15 mm | Foundation: 24 mm |
| 6–7 | Grade 1: 5/8 in | Year 2: 12 mm | Year 1: 18 mm |
| 7–9 | Grades 2–3: 1/2 in | Years 3–4: 10 mm | Years 2–3: 18 mm or 14 mm |
| 9–11 | Grade 4 and up: 1/2 in | Years 5–6: 8 mm | Years 4–6: 14 mm |
👉 These are starting points, not rules. Go one size larger for children who are still forming letters, and one size smaller once their writing is even and steady.
How to Print Handwriting Paper at the Right Size
Handwriting lines only help if the spacing is true, so print one sheet at 100% and hold a ruler against a row before printing a class set. If the gap is a few millimetres short, the printer is shrinking the page.
How to Add Words for Children to Copy
Every line is part of a Word table, so it stays exactly in place while you work. Go to Insert > Text Box, draw a box on the top row, type a word or sentence and set the font size so the letters fill the space between the top line and the baseline. Remove the box border under Shape Format > Shape Outline > No Outline, then copy the box down the page for more rows.
Why Use Handwriting Paper with a Dotted Midline?
- Letter size: small letters reach the midline, tall letters reach the top line.
- Placement: every letter sits on the baseline instead of floating.
- Tails: the gap under each row leaves room for g, j, p, q and y.
- Progress: moving down a size is an easy, visible next step for a child.
FAQs
Which line height should a 5-year-old use?
Start with 24 mm or 18 mm lines in Reception and Kindergarten, then move to 15 mm as letters become more even.
Why does the midline matter?
The dotted midline shows where the body of each lowercase letter stops, so tall letters and tails find their own space.
Which size should I use for my child?
Use the age guide above as a starting point, then go larger or smaller to suit how the child writes.
Why are the lines the wrong size when I print?
The printer is scaling the page. Print at 100% or Actual size on the paper size in the file name, not Fit to page.
Can I use the handwriting paper on a Mac or in Google Docs?
They are standard .docx files, so they open in Word for Mac. In Google Docs the background lines may not appear, so print from Word for the best result.
Does it work with my school’s handwriting scheme?
Yes. The paper has no letters printed on it, so it works with any print or cursive scheme your school uses.
Can I add a name and date to every sheet?
They are already there: type on the Name and Date lines before you print, or leave them for children to fill in.
Conclusion
This handwriting paper gives you every common row size for the UK, US and Australia in one place, human-made by a teacher and ready to print from Word.
Pick your country above, download the ZIP, and for older writers the matching lined paper templates work the same way.
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