B3 vs B5

Q: Can I print B3 on B5?

Not at full size. Scale it to 49.9% and it fits inside B5 with 0 × 0.7 mm to spare.

	B3	B5
Millimetres	353 × 500	176 × 250
Inches	13.9 × 19.69	6.93 × 9.84
Centimetres	35.3 × 50	17.6 × 25
Aspect ratio	1:1.42	1:1.42
Area	1765 cm²	440 cm²

Which is bigger

B3 is 4 times the area of B5. They are 2 steps apart in the B series and each step halves the sheet, so the multiple is two to the power of 2. The number in the name going up while the sheet goes down is why this has to be asked rather than read off.

B3 is 177 mm wider than B5. B3 is 250 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A B5 page fits inside B3 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 88.5 mm border down each side and 125 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
B3 artwork on B5 paper	49.9%	0 × 0.7 mm margin
B5 artwork on B3 paper	200%	1 × 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

Both sheets have the same 1:1.42 proportions, so artwork scales between them without any cropping or extra margin — only the size changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between B3 and B5?

B3 is 353 × 500 mm and B5 is 176 × 250 mm. B3 is the larger of the two by 301.1% in area.

Can I print B3 on B5?

Not at full size. Scale it to 49.9% and it fits inside B5 with 0 × 0.7 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, B3 or B5?

B3 — 353 × 500 mm against 176 × 250 mm, which is 301.1% more area.

Related comparisons

B3 in full · B5 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes