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Size comparison

B1 vs B2

B1 is the larger of the two at the same 1 : √2 shape, one halving apart, so one scales onto the other with nothing cropped: 141% up, 71% down.

207 mm293 mmB2B1
B2 (500 × 707 mm) and B1 (707 × 1000 mm) at the same scale, corners aligned. The shaded band is what B1 adds.

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B1 and B2, Side by Side

B1B2Difference
Millimetres707 × 1000500 × 707207 × 293 mm
Inches27.83 × 39.3719.69 × 27.838.15 × 11.54 in
Centimetres70.7 × 100.050.0 × 70.7
Area0.707 m², 707,000 mm²0.353 m², 353,500 mm²
Aspect ratio1 : 1.414 (√2)1 : 1.414 (√2)same

What Is Lost Printing One on the Other

At 100% scale, both centred, nothing resized. A positive figure on the wider or taller side is cropped; on the other it is a blank margin.

AxisGapB1 onto B2B2 onto B1
Width103.5 mm (4.07 in) each sideB1 loses itblank band
Height146.5 mm (5.77 in) each endB1 loses itblank band

Scale-to-Fit Percentages

The figure to type into a printer or PDF dialog to scale one to fit inside the other:

B2 to fit B1141%fills the sheet, nothing cropped
B1 to fit B271%fills the sheet, nothing cropped

Both are one halving apart on the 1 : √2 series, so these are the copier presets and nothing is distorted or lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is B1 bigger than B2?

B1 is bigger. It is 707 × 1000 mm against 500 × 707 mm for B2, about 2 times the area.

What is the difference between B1 and B2?

B1 is the larger of the two at the same 1 : √2 shape, one halving apart, so one scales onto the other with nothing cropped: 141% up, 71% down.

Can you print B2 on B1?

Yes, cleanly. Set the printer to scale B2 to 141% and it fills B1 edge to edge with nothing lost.

Dimensions per the standards on the B1 and B2 pages. Differences and scale factors computed. Reviewed . Editorial Process →