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B5 vs JIS B5

B5JIS B5
Millimetres176 × 250182 × 257
Inches6.93 × 9.847.17 × 10.12
Centimetres17.6 × 2518.2 × 25.7
Aspect ratio1:1.421:1.41
Area440 cm²467.7 cm²

Which is bigger

B5 and JIS B5 carry the same number and are not the same sheet. The Japanese B series is defined by area — JIS B0 is 1.5 square metres where A0 is 1 — so a JIS B sheet is half again the area of the A sheet of the same number, and about 22% longer on each edge. The number tells you where a sheet sits in its own series and nothing about which standard it belongs to.

JIS B5, by 6.3% in area. JIS B5 is 6 mm wider than B5. JIS B5 is 7 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A B5 page fits inside JIS B5 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 3 mm border down each side and 3.5 mm top and bottom.

You wantSet the print scale toLeaves
B5 artwork on JIS B5 paper102.8%1.1 × 0 mm margin
JIS B5 artwork on B5 paper96.7%0 × 1.5 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 JIS B5 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 JIS B5?

B5 is 176 × 250 mm and JIS B5 is 182 × 257 mm. JIS B5 is the larger of the two by 6.3% in area.

Can I print B5 on JIS B5?

Yes, at 100% — B5 is smaller on both edges, so it lands inside JIS B5 with a border all round.

Which is bigger, B5 or JIS B5?

JIS B5 — 182 × 257 mm against 176 × 250 mm, which is 6.3% more area.

Related comparisons

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