B5 vs B6

Q: Can I print B5 on B6?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.4% and it fits inside B6 with 1.1 × 0 mm to spare.

	B5	B6
Millimetres	176 × 250	125 × 176
Inches	6.93 × 9.84	4.92 × 6.93
Centimetres	17.6 × 25	12.5 × 17.6
Aspect ratio	1:1.42	1:1.41
Area	440 cm²	220 cm²

Which is bigger

B5 and B6 are one step apart in the B series, so one is exactly twice the other. Two B6 sheets side by side make a B5, and folding a B5 in half across its long edge gives two B6. 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.

B5 is 51 mm wider than B6. B5 is 74 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A B6 page fits inside B5 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 25.5 mm border down each side and 37 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
B5 artwork on B6 paper	70.4%	1.1 × 0 mm margin
B6 artwork on B5 paper	140.8%	0 × 2.2 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: B5 is 1:1.42 and B6 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 1.1 mm of unwanted margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between B5 and B6?

B5 is 176 × 250 mm and B6 is 125 × 176 mm. B5 is the larger of the two by 100% in area.

Can I print B5 on B6?

Not at full size. Scale it to 70.4% and it fits inside B6 with 1.1 × 0 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, B5 or B6?

B5 — 176 × 250 mm against 125 × 176 mm, which is 100% more area.

Related comparisons

B5 in full · B6 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes