A4 vs A5

Q: Can I print A4 on A5?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.5% and it fits inside A5 with 0 × 0.7 mm to spare.

	A4	A5
Millimetres	210 × 297	148 × 210
Inches	8.27 × 11.69	5.83 × 8.27
Centimetres	21 × 29.7	14.8 × 21
Aspect ratio	1:1.41	1:1.42
Area	623.7 cm²	310.8 cm²

Which is bigger

A4 and A5 are one step apart in the A series, so one is exactly twice the other. Two A5 sheets side by side make an A4, and folding an A4 in half across its long edge gives two A5. That is what the series is for, and it is why the scale factors below come out at 70.7% and 141.4% — one over the square root of two, and the square root of two.

A4 is 62 mm wider than A5. A4 is 87 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A A5 page fits inside A4 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 31 mm border down each side and 43.5 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
A4 artwork on A5 paper	70.5%	0 × 0.7 mm margin
A5 artwork on A4 paper	141.4%	0.7 × 0 mm margin

These are the numbers for the "custom scale" box in a print dialog. "Fit to page" computes the same thing, but knowing the figure tells you in advance whether the result will look deliberate or accidental.

Why the shapes matter

The proportions differ: A4 is 1:1.41 and A5 is 1:1.42. That difference is why a layout moved between them never quite lines up — scale it to fit one edge and the other is left with 0.7 mm of unwanted margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between A4 and A5?

A4 is 210 × 297 mm and A5 is 148 × 210 mm. A4 is the larger of the two by 100.7% in area.

Can I print A4 on A5?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.5% and it fits inside A5 with 0 × 0.7 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, A4 or A5?

A4 — 210 × 297 mm against 148 × 210 mm, which is 100.7% more area.

Related comparisons

A4 in full · A5 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes