Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages (typically 22 inches / 559 millimetres or more). The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet newspaper was the Dutch Courante uyt Italien, Duytslandt, &c. published in 1618.

Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner and tabloid/compact formats.

Many broadsheets measure approximately 29+¹⁄₂ by 23+¹⁄₂ inches (749 by 597 mm) per full broadsheet spread, twice the size of a standard tabloid. Australian and New Zealand broadsheets always have a paper size of A1 per spread (841 by 594 mm/33.1 by 23.4 in). South African broadsheet newspapers have a double-page spread sheet size of 820 by 578 mm/32 by 22.8 in (single-page live print area of 380 x 545 mm).

In the United States, the traditional dimensions for the front page half of a broadsheet are 15 inches (381 mm) wide by 22+³⁄₄ inches (578 mm) long. However in efforts to save newsprint costs many U.S. newspapers (including the overseas version of The Wall Street Journal) are downsizing to 12 inches (305 mm) wide by 22+³⁄₄ inches (578 mm) long for a folded page.