Logarithmic Graph Paper
Compressed scales for data that spans orders of magnitude.
Logarithmic paper spaces its gridlines according to a log scale rather than evenly — the gaps get smaller as values increase, which lets you plot data spanning several orders of magnitude on one readable page. Semi-log paper applies this to only one axis; full log-log paper applies it to both.
Who uses this
Scientific data spanning large ranges
Population growth, radioactive decay, pH scales — anywhere the underlying values multiply rather than add.
Engineering and signal analysis
Frequency response plots and other engineering data that's naturally exponential.
Finance and economics
Long-run growth charts where a linear scale would flatten early data into illegibility.
Download your PDF
Download PDFWhen you print, set your print dialog to 100% / Actual Size— not "Fit to Page." Fit-to-page silently rescales the grid, which is the most common reason printed graph paper measures wrong. Every PDF also includes a printed 1-inch reference line you can check with a ruler.
Popular sizes
Questions
What's the difference between semi-log and log-log paper?
Semi-log has one axis on a logarithmic scale and the other linear — common for exponential growth over linear time. Log-log has both axes logarithmic, for power-law relationships.
How do I know if my data needs log paper?
If your data spans multiple orders of magnitude (e.g. values from 1 to 10,000) and a linear plot crushes the smaller values into an unreadable cluster, log paper is the fix.