Index Tab Divider Dimensions
The complete size reference for custom index tab dividers, published from our own production numbers — we die-cut these dimensions every day. Tab length is simply the working length of the tabbed edge divided by the cut; everything else on the sheet is fixed.
Fixed dimensions (every cut)
| Body sheet | 8.5 × 11 in (letter) |
| Tab extension beyond body | 0.5 in |
| Finished sheet with tab | 9 × 11 in (portrait) · 11 × 9 in (hanging) |
| Working length, portrait & hanging layouts | 10 in |
| Working length, landscape side-tab layout | 7.5 in |
| Paper stocks | 90# or 110# index |
| Poly gauge | .015 in plastic |
A note on paper sizes: legal paper is 8.5 × 14 inches — three inches longer than the letter sheet above — and Tabzoola die-cuts legal-size (8.5″ × 14″) tab dividers to order as well. They are not in the online designer; email sales@tabzoola.com with your section list for a quote.
The designer applies them live — pick a cut and it shows the exact tab width, working width and finished size for your set, priced, with a free PDF proof. If someone else signs off on the spec, print it as a one-page sheet with the cut, stock, punching, collation and lead time filled in.
Download this reference as a dataset
The Tabzoola Tab Geometry Dataset (v1.1.0) — every number on this page as machine-readable data, from our own die specifications. Free under CC BY 4.0 (attribution required).
Tab length by cut
Length of each tab along the binding edge. 10" edge = portrait side tabs and landscape hanging tabs; 7.5" edge = landscape side tabs (available by quote).
| Cut | Tabs per bank | Tab length (10" edge) | Tab length (7.5" edge) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 2 | 5.00 in | 3.75 in |
| 1/3 | 3 | 3.33 in | 2.50 in |
| 1/4 | 4 | 2.50 in | 1.88 in |
| 1/5 | 5 | 2.00 in | 1.50 in |
| 1/6 | 6 | 1.67 in | 1.25 in |
| 1/7 | 7 | 1.43 in | 1.07 in |
| 1/8 | 8 | 1.25 in | 0.94 in |
| 1/9 | 9 | 1.11 in | 0.83 in |
| 1/10 | 10 | 1.00 in | 0.75 in |
| 1/11 | 11 | 0.91 in | 0.68 in |
| 1/12 | 12 | 0.83 in | 0.63 in |
| 1/13 | 13 | 0.77 in | 0.58 in |
| 1/14 | 14 | 0.71 in | 0.54 in |
| 1/15 | 15 | 0.67 in | 0.50 in |
⬇ Download this table as CSV — free to reuse with attribution to Tabzoola.
The three layouts
Portrait — Side Tabs (standard)
Standard 8.5″ × 11″ portrait page with tabs on the right edge — the classic 3-ring binder divider. 10″ working width; finished size 9″ × 11″.
Landscape — Hanging Tabs
Landscape 11″ × 8.5″ page bound on the 11″ edge with tabs hanging from the bottom — great for calendars, flip charts, and top-bound reports. 10″ working width; finished size 11″ × 9″.
Legal size — 8.5″ × 14″ (by quote)
Same 8.5″ width as letter and the same half-inch tab extension, on a body three inches longer — so tabs step down a 14″ binding edge and each one runs longer at the same cut. Legal-size tab dividers · legal vs letter explained.
Landscape — Side Tabs (by quote)
Landscape 11″ × 8.5″ page bound on the 8.5″ edge with tabs on the right — a 7.5″ working length, so each tab is shorter than the portrait equivalent. Request a quote for this layout.
Common questions
How do you calculate the size of each tab on a divider?
Divide the working length of the tabbed edge by the cut. Standard portrait and hanging-tab dividers have a 10-inch working length, so a 1/5-cut tab is 2.00" long, a 1/8-cut is 1.25", and a 1/10-cut is 1.00". Every tab also extends 0.5" beyond the body of the sheet.
What size is a standard tab divider?
A standard index tab divider has an 8.5 × 11 inch body with tabs extending 0.5 inches past the edge, for a finished size of 9 × 11 inches. That extension is what keeps the tabs visible past the pages in a binder.
What is a bank of tabs?
A bank is one full cascade of tab positions down the page — a 1/5 cut has 5 positions per bank, a 1/10 cut has 10. If a set needs more tabs than one bank holds, the positions repeat in a second staggered bank.
What are tab dividers made of?
Paper tab dividers are typically 90# or 110# index stock, optionally with a clear Mylar strip laminated over the tab and/or binding edge for tear resistance. Poly dividers are solid .015-gauge plastic — no reinforcement needed.
What cuts do tab dividers come in?
Standard cuts run from 1/2 (two large tabs per bank) to 1/15 (fifteen small tabs). The everyday office standard is 1/5 cut; records rooms and legal work usually use 1/8 or 1/10.