B4 vs B5

Q: Can I print B4 on B5?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.4% and it fits inside B5 with 0 × 1.5 mm to spare.

	B4	B5
Millimetres	250 × 353	176 × 250
Inches	9.84 × 13.9	6.93 × 9.84
Centimetres	25 × 35.3	17.6 × 25
Aspect ratio	1:1.41	1:1.42
Area	882.5 cm²	440 cm²

Which is bigger

B4 and B5 are one step apart in the B series, so one is exactly twice the other. Two B5 sheets side by side make a B4, and folding a B4 in half across its long edge gives two B5. 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.

B4 is 74 mm wider than B5. B4 is 103 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A B5 page fits inside B4 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 37 mm border down each side and 51.5 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
B4 artwork on B5 paper	70.4%	0 × 1.5 mm margin
B5 artwork on B4 paper	141.2%	1.5 × 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: B4 is 1:1.41 and B5 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 1.5 mm of unwanted margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between B4 and B5?

B4 is 250 × 353 mm and B5 is 176 × 250 mm. B4 is the larger of the two by 100.6% in area.

Can I print B4 on B5?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.4% and it fits inside B5 with 0 × 1.5 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, B4 or B5?

B4 — 250 × 353 mm against 176 × 250 mm, which is 100.6% more area.

Related comparisons

B4 in full · B5 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes