Set Your Own Square Size and Export Grid Paper to PDF
Grid paper is the go-to choice when you need to draw figures and tables, keep text aligned vertically and horizontally, or measure lengths without a ruler. Lineum lets you set the size of each square in exact millimeters, from the standard 5 mm down to a fine 3 mm grid. A slightly bolder major line appears every 5 squares, so 10-square and 25 mm intervals are easy to read at a glance. Use it for everything from rough architectural sketches to planner page layouts and math homework.
Use cases
- It works well for roughing out flowcharts and org charts by hand. Snap your boxes and arrows to the squares and even freehand elements line up in position and size, making it quick to tidy a draft before you ink it or move it into a digital tool.
- Use it to sketch room layouts and plan furniture placement. Fix the grid at 5 mm with a bold line every 5 squares and treat that bold spacing as a fixed scale (for example, 25 mm = 1 m). Then you can estimate furniture sizes and walkway widths just by counting squares, no ruler needed.
- Reach for it when roughing out hand lettering, logos, or custom type. The square cells give you a consistent reference for letter proportions and spacing, so the size and gaps between several characters stay even.
- It's handy for charting embroidery, knitting, and bead patterns. Treat one square as one stitch and fill in the cells, and you can print a grid with exactly the square size you need even when you can't find a commercial charting sheet.
Tips
- The default grid size is 5 mm. Try 3–4 mm for planner layouts and 5 mm for drafting sketches.
- Set the major grid interval to 5 for a bold line every fifth square, giving you a clean 25 mm reading scale.
- Raise the major grid opacity so the bold lines act as a reference frame and your own marks stand out on top.
- Print at 100% scale with minimum margins so the squares come out at the exact mm size you set.
- Switch to landscape orientation for a wider drawing area.
FAQ
- How many 5 mm squares fit on a sheet of A4 grid paper?
- On A4 portrait (210×297 mm) with 15 mm margins, you get roughly 36 squares across and 53 down. The count changes with your margins and paper size, so check the live preview.
- My grid lines print at the wrong size. Why?
- If your print dialog's scaling is set to anything other than 100%, the dimensions shift. Choose 'Actual size (100%)' instead of 'Fit to page' and the squares will match the mm you set.
- Is 5 mm or 3 mm easier to use?
- 5 mm tends to be best for writing text and notes, while 3–4 mm suits detailed figures and tables. Adjust while watching the live preview to find your fit.
- Can the line color be something other than gray?
- Yes. Pick any color with the color picker, such as light blue or pale green, to match how you plan to use the sheet.
- Can I combine the grid with horizontal rule lines?
- The grid type uses vertical and horizontal lines only. If you want horizontal lines without verticals, use the Ruled type instead.