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Size comparison

B3 vs B4

B3 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.

103 mm147 mmB4B3
B4 (250 × 353 mm) and B3 (353 × 500 mm) at the same scale, corners aligned. The shaded band is what B3 adds.

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B3 and B4, Side by Side

B3B4Difference
Millimetres353 × 500250 × 353103 × 147 mm
Inches13.9 × 19.699.84 × 13.94.06 × 5.79 in
Centimetres35.3 × 50.025.0 × 35.3
Area0.176 m², 176,500 mm²0.0882 m², 88,250 mm²
Aspect ratio1 : 1.416 (√2)1 : 1.412 (√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.

AxisGapB3 onto B4B4 onto B3
Width51.5 mm (2.03 in) each sideB3 loses itblank band
Height73.5 mm (2.89 in) each endB3 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:

B4 to fit B3141%fills the sheet, nothing cropped
B3 to fit B471%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 B3 bigger than B4?

B3 is bigger. It is 353 × 500 mm against 250 × 353 mm for B4, about 2 times the area.

What is the difference between B3 and B4?

B3 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 B4 on B3?

Yes, cleanly. Set the printer to scale B4 to 141% and it fills B3 edge to edge with nothing lost.

Dimensions per the standards on the B3 and B4 pages. Differences and scale factors computed. Reviewed . Editorial Process →