B3 vs B4

Q: Can I print B3 on B4?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.6% and it fits inside B4 with 0.8 × 0 mm to spare.

	B3	B4
Millimetres	353 × 500	250 × 353
Inches	13.9 × 19.69	9.84 × 13.9
Centimetres	35.3 × 50	25 × 35.3
Aspect ratio	1:1.42	1:1.41
Area	1765 cm²	882.5 cm²

Which is bigger

B3 and B4 are one step apart in the B series, so one is exactly twice the other. Two B4 sheets side by side make a B3, and folding a B3 in half across its long edge gives two B4. 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.

B3 is 103 mm wider than B4. B3 is 147 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A B4 page fits inside B3 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 51.5 mm border down each side and 73.5 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
B3 artwork on B4 paper	70.6%	0.8 × 0 mm margin
B4 artwork on B3 paper	141.2%	0 × 1.6 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: B3 is 1:1.42 and B4 is 1:1.41. 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 0.8 mm of unwanted margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between B3 and B4?

B3 is 353 × 500 mm and B4 is 250 × 353 mm. B3 is the larger of the two by 100% in area.

Can I print B3 on B4?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.6% and it fits inside B4 with 0.8 × 0 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, B3 or B4?

B3 — 353 × 500 mm against 250 × 353 mm, which is 100% more area.

Related comparisons

B3 in full · B4 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes