US passport book dimensions are about 125 mm by 88 mm, which is roughly 4.92 by 3.46 inches, matching the international ID-3 booklet size. The size is set by an international standard, with a tolerance of 0.75 mm on each side.
People ask about passport book dimensions for practical reasons. They want a travel wallet that fits, a scanner template that is not cropped, a passport holder for a child, or a clear answer for a form that asks for size. The numbers are simple, yet the sources show small differences in how they are written. This guide gives the standard size, explains the tolerance and thickness rules, compares the book with the passport card, shows how to measure your own passport and explains what to do when a case or holder does not fit. The size figures come from the International Civil Aviation Organization standard for passport booklets, known as Document 9303 Part 4, and from entries in the Council of the European Union’s PRADO register of travel documents. A travel site and a Wikipedia entry add smaller details. The State Department’s own pages did not give a size in the pages we reviewed, so confirm any fit-critical measurement against your own passport. For the full overview, start with our US passport guide.
What Are the Passport Book Dimensions?
The standard booklet has a long edge of 125.00 mm and a short edge of 88.00 mm, which converts to 4.921 by 3.465 inches. The ICAO calls this the TD3 or ID-3 size, and it describes the data page as 125 mm wide by 88 mm high when the page is read sideways.
The figures from the sources are:
| Item | Size in mm | Size in inches | Source |
| Passport booklet (ID-3 / TD3) | 125.00 x 88.00 | 4.921 x 3.465 | ICAO Doc 9303 Part 4 |
| Tolerance on each side | plus or minus 0.75 | about 0.03 | ICAO Doc 9303 Part 4 |
| Outer limit | 125.75 x 88.75 | 4.95 x 3.49 | ICAO Doc 9303 Part 4 |
| Inner limit | 124.25 x 87.25 | 4.89 x 3.44 | ICAO Doc 9303 Part 4 |
| Passport card (ID-1) | 85.6 x 54.0 | about 3.37 x 2.13 | Wikipedia |
The ICAO document says the 88 mm dimension may be increased for binding purposes. That is why two passports from the same year can differ by a hair at the spine edge. In daily life you can treat the passport book dimensions as roughly 5 inches by 3.5 inches, which is the figure most travel holders are built for.
Why Do Sources Show the Numbers in a Different Order?
Some PRADO entries list 125 by 88 and others list 88 by 125, because the register does not always state height and width in the same order. The measurement is the same either way.
The Council of the European Union’s PRADO register describes several US documents. A 2006 version of the ordinary US passport is listed as 125 mm by 88 mm. A 2020 version is listed the same way. An older official passport entry flips the order and gives 88 mm by 125 mm. Because the numbers swap while the object stays the same, the safest reading is that the two sides of an ID-3 booklet are 125 and 88 mm, and you should look at your own passport to decide which is the height. Held upright, a passport is taller than it is wide, so the 125 mm edge runs up the spine and the 88 mm edge runs across the cover. The ICAO instead describes the data page when it is read sideways, which is why it calls 125 mm the width. A conflict like this is common in secondary tables. It is one more reason to measure your own book before you buy a case.
The page counts in PRADO also differ from the figure our passport pages guide uses. One entry lists 28 pages, another lists 26 and an older official passport lists 24. Those are descriptions of different versions, not a contradiction about size. Count your own pages if the number matters.
What Does the ICAO Standard Say About Thickness?
The ICAO sets a maximum thickness of 0.90 mm for the data page, not for the whole book. The full booklet thickness depends on the number of pages and the cover.
Section 2.5 of the ICAO document gives the data page limit at 0.90 mm including any laminate. It sets no minimum, though it says currently available materials are unlikely to give a durable data page below 0.15 mm. It also says the thickness inside the machine readable zone must not vary by more than 0.10 mm. These rules are about the data page, which scanners read. They do not tell you how thick a closed passport is. The same document says a booklet needs a cover and at least eight pages including the data page, and that no pages may be added after issue. That matches what we say in our guide to extra passport pages.
None of the sources we reviewed gave a full-book thickness for the US passport. If thickness matters, for example for a slim wallet or a tight money belt, measure with a ruler.
Is the Large 52-Page Book a Different Size?
The sources we checked do not list a separate size for the 52-page book, so assume the same width and height and expect extra thickness. Measure before you buy a close-fitting case.
The 52-page option is covered in our passport pages guide. It adds pages, and more pages mean a thicker closed book. No source we used says the extra pages change the 125 by 88 mm footprint. That is an inference from the ICAO size rule, not a published State Department figure. If you travel with a tight sleeve, buy one that has some room at the spine.
How Big Is the Passport Card?
The passport card follows the credit card size, about 85.6 mm by 54.0 mm, according to Wikipedia and a travel site. That is about 3.37 by 2.13 inches.
The ID-1 format is the same size as a bank card, so it fits in a normal wallet slot. The book does not. A wallet that holds cards cannot hold a book, so a traveler who wants a slim carry option for local border trips may prefer the card, while anyone flying abroad needs the book. Our passport card vs book guide explains which one you need for which trip. The travel site we reviewed lists the card as ID-1 but cites no source for the number, so we rely on Wikipedia and the standard for that figure and treat it as a good estimate.
How Do You Measure Your Own Passport?
Close the book, lay it flat on a table, and measure the long edge and the short edge with a ruler marked in millimeters. Do it twice and write both numbers down.
Follow these steps:
- Close the passport and place it on a flat surface.
- Align a ruler with the top edge and read the long side.
- Turn the ruler and read the short side.
- Measure the thickness at the spine edge with the book closed.
- Compare your numbers with 125 by 88 mm.
A difference of a millimeter or less is normal. The ICAO tolerance allows 0.75 mm either way. If your measurement is far outside the range, check that the cover is not bent, since a warped cover adds thickness. A very damaged passport is a different problem, which our passport application guide covers when a replacement is needed.
Why Do Passport Book Dimensions Matter?
The size decides what holder, scanner template and copy setting you can use. A wrong guess wastes money or cuts off a page.
Here are the practical uses:
- Cases and holders: Look for a case labelled for ID-3 or standard passports. Check that it leaves room for the thickness of a full book.
- Scanning and copying: A flatbed scanner handles the open book easily, since an open book is about 250 mm wide, twice the booklet width. This is simple arithmetic from the standard, not a printed rule.
- Travel bags: A slim pocket around 130 by 95 mm gives a snug fit with a small margin.
- Forms and filing: Some visa and immigration forms ask for a photocopy of the data page. Copy it at full size so the machine readable zone stays clear.
For the data page photo itself, our passport photo requirements guide covers the 2 by 2 inch rule. The photo size and the book size are separate numbers, and people mix them up.
Do All Countries Use the Same Size?
Most passport books follow the same ID-3 size because of the ICAO standard, so one holder usually fits most passports. A few older or special documents vary.
The ICAO standard was built to let readers handle all formats, and the Wikipedia entry notes that the reading zone is standardized so one reader can handle all formats. That is why a US holder fits a Canadian or British passport in most cases. The PRADO register still shows small differences between versions, so treat the size as a close match, not an exact one. If you carry several passports in one holder, measure the thickest one first. A pair of full books is thicker than a single one, and some cases are made for one book only.
How Do You Spot a Passport Case Scam?
No official product is required to carry your passport, and no case makes a passport more valid. Be careful with exaggerated claims.
Be careful when a seller:
- Says the State Department requires a certain case.
- Claims a holder makes the passport last longer than ten years.
- Sells a “passport size certificate” for a fee.
- Offers a replacement passport in the correct size without an application.
- Asks for your passport number to match a case to your book.
The State Department does not certify passport holders. When you need an official answer, use travel.state.gov, and do not trust a store page that sounds official.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Buying a holder without measuring, folding the book to fit and cutting a damaged cover cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Buying a case that fits the card, not the book.
- Forcing a thick book into a thin holder and bending the spine.
- Trusting a listing that does not say ID-3 or standard passport size.
- Confusing the photo size with the booklet size.
- Cropping the scanned data page.
- Trimming a worn cover to fit a case.
- Ignoring the extra thickness of a large book.
- Assuming the sources agree on page counts.
When unsure, measure your own book first. For related topics, see our guides on passport name change and passport renewal.
FAQs
What are the passport book dimensions in inches?
About 4.92 by 3.46 inches, or 125 by 88 mm, according to the ICAO standard for ID-3 booklets.
Is a US passport the same size as other countries’ passports?
Usually yes. Most follow the ICAO ID-3 size, though small differences exist between versions.
How thick is a US passport?
The sources do not give a full-book figure. The ICAO sets a 0.90 mm maximum for the data page only.
Is the large passport book bigger?
The sources we checked do not list a separate size. Expect extra thickness, and measure before buying a close-fitting case.
What size is the passport card?
About 85.6 by 54.0 mm, the same as a credit card, according to Wikipedia.
Why do two sources list the numbers in a different order?
Some entries list height first and others list width first. The two sides are 125 and 88 mm either way.
Conclusion
The passport book dimensions are about 125 by 88 mm, or 4.92 by 3.46 inches, with a 0.75 mm tolerance under the ICAO standard. The data page has a 0.90 mm limit, and the full book thickness varies with the page count. The passport card is credit card size. Measure your own book before you buy a case, scan at full size and ignore any seller who claims an official size certificate. Use the State Department for any official question.
