Why We Built Papermint
Running a small business means juggling a lot: invoices, estimates, time tracking, pricing, and paperwork. Many of the tools out there are overly complicated or locked behind paywalls. We created Papermint to make things easier—beautiful, simple, printable tools that are always free.
Whether you're designing custom dot paper for your journal or calculating margins for your Etsy shop, Papermint is here to give you lightweight, reliable tools that help you focus on what really matters: doing great work. Stay tuned for more tools and tips!
Published: April 25 2025
How to Create the Perfect Custom Graph Paper for Your Projects
Graph paper isn’t just for math class—designers, engineers, bullet-journalers, quilters, and hobbyists of every kind rely on crisp grids to keep their work neat and accurate. The secret is custom graph paper: a sheet tailored to your exact spacing, units, margins, and even line color. In this guide you’ll learn how to create the perfect printable graph paper in minutes using our free
Papermint Graph Paper Generator.
1 Choose the Right Grid Spacing
• Engineering & CAD: 1 mm–5 mm grids give maximum precision.
• Bullet Journaling: 5 mm is the global standard, but 4 mm works if you prefer tighter layouts.
• Quilting / Sewing: ¼-inch helps visualize seam allowances easily.
Enter your spacing (millimeters or inches) in the generator and watch the live preview update instantly so you can verify readability before you click Download.
2 Set Comfortable Margins
Leaving blank margins prevents hole-punches or notebook binding from slicing through your grid. A top margin of 10 mm and side margins of 8 mm work well for most A4 or Letter sheets. Need room for headers? Increase the top margin to 20 mm.
3 Pick a Line Color That Pops—But Not Too Much
Traditional blue lines can compete with colored pens or highlighters. Try a soft grey (#b2b2b2) for a subtle guide or a mint accent (#57bcb5) to match Papermint’s palette. The color picker lets you dial in the exact HEX value.
4 Use Presets to Save Time
Not sure where to start? Click the “Bullet Journal A5” preset for an instant 5 mm dot grid, or “Music Staff” for perfectly spaced staves. Tweak any preset, then export as PDF, PNG, or SVG for laser-sharp prints.
5 Download the Perfect Format
• PDF – best for clean prints at any scale.
• PNG – ideal for quick digital mock-ups or presentations.
• SVG – infinite resolution; drop into Illustrator or Figma without quality loss.
Quick Checklist
- Grid spacing matches project needs
- Units set consistently to mm or inches
- Margins leave room for binding or notes
- Line color contrasts but stays subtle
- Downloaded as PDF for printing
Ready to design yours? Visit the
Papermint Graph Paper Generator,
customize your ideal sheet, and print it in seconds—no sign-up required.
Published: April 25 2025
How to Calculate Time Cards the Easy Way (and Why It Matters)
Missing a few minutes here or there might not sound like a big deal, but over the course of a year inaccurate time‑card calculations can cost businesses thousands in payroll errors or lost billable hours. Whether you’re a freelancer logging client work or a shop owner running weekly payroll, using a time‑card calculator removes guesswork and keeps records audit‑ready.
1 Start With Consistent Clock‑In and Clock‑Out Times
Record start and end times as soon as work begins and ends. Rounding later leads to mistakes. The free
Papermint Time‑Card Calculator
accepts both 12‑hour (8:05 am) and 24‑hour (13:45) formats, so you can use whatever feels natural.
2 Subtract Breaks Automatically
Lunch or rest breaks are often unpaid. Instead of manually subtracting 0.5 h from every day, enter break time once and let the calculator adjust daily totals—no spreadsheet formulas required.
3 Convert Minutes to Decimal Hours
Payroll and most invoicing tools need decimal hours. For example, 7 h 45 m becomes 7.75. Papermint converts this for you instantly, eliminating hand‑held calculators and errors.
4 Export a Clean CSV for Payroll or Invoices
One click on the “Export CSV” button downloads a file you can drag straight into Excel, Google Sheets, QuickBooks or Gusto. Each row lists Day, In, Out, Break and Total Hours—perfect for auditors or client backup.
5 Flag Overtime Before It’s a Surprise
To stay compliant with labor laws, review the Weekly Total line. If hours approach 40 (or your regional cutoff), adjust schedules proactively and avoid costly overtime premiums.
Common Questions
- Is the calculator really free? Yes—no sign‑up or paywall that blocks the page.
- Does it work on mobile? Absolutely. Add it to your phone’s home screen for a lightweight timesheet app.
- Can I print the results? Use your browser’s Print command after calculating; the table fits neatly on Letter or A4.
Published: April 25 2025
How Does Papermint Compare to Other Free Graph Paper Generators?
When you're searching for printable graph paper, you'll find plenty of free tools online—but not all are created equal. Here's a quick look at how Papermint stacks up against some of the most popular options.
Common Alternatives
- incompetech.com: Offers a variety of grid types, but requires multiple steps before download.
- PrintablePaper.net: Simple to use, but only provides static PDFs—no real customization like margins or line colors.
- GraphPaperPrinter.com: Useful for quick prints, but lacks fine control over units, spacing, and color personalization.
Why Papermint Stands Out
- Live preview as you adjust settings—what you see is what you get.
- Customizable margins, units (inches or millimeters), and spacing for truly personalized layouts.
- Choice of download formats: PDF, PNG, or SVG.
- Modern, clean interface that works beautifully on both desktop and mobile.
- No sign-up walls, hidden fees, or confusing menus—just fast, free, beautiful paper.
Whether you're sketching a design, tracking habits, or plotting graphs, Papermint helps you create exactly what you need—without the headaches.
Try the Papermint Graph Paper Generator now and see the difference for yourself.
Published: April 27 2025
