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Size comparison

B4 vs B5

B4 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.

74 mm103 mmB5B4
B5 (176 × 250 mm) and B4 (250 × 353 mm) at the same scale, corners aligned. The shaded band is what B4 adds.

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B4 and B5, Side by Side

B4B5Difference
Millimetres250 × 353176 × 25074 × 103 mm
Inches9.84 × 13.96.93 × 9.842.91 × 4.06 in
Centimetres25.0 × 35.317.6 × 25.0
Area0.0882 m², 88,250 mm²0.044 m², 44,000 mm²2.01×
Aspect ratio1 : 1.412 (√2)1 : 1.420 (√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.

AxisGapB4 onto B5B5 onto B4
Width37 mm (1.46 in) each sideB4 loses itblank band
Height51.5 mm (2.03 in) each endB4 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:

B5 to fit B4141%fills the sheet, nothing cropped
B4 to fit B571%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 B4 bigger than B5?

B4 is bigger. It is 250 × 353 mm against 176 × 250 mm for B5, about 2.01 times the area.

What is the difference between B4 and B5?

B4 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 B5 on B4?

Yes, cleanly. Set the printer to scale B5 to 141% and it fills B4 edge to edge with nothing lost.

Dimensions per the standards on the B4 and B5 pages. Differences and scale factors computed. Reviewed . Editorial Process →