B5 paper size and dimensions
B5 measures 176 × 250 mm, which is 17.6 × 25 cm or 6.93 × 9.84 inches. It sits between A5 and A4 and is the typical size for notebooks, textbooks and envelopes for A5 booklets.
Contents of this page
B5, portrait
176 × 250mm
- Centimetres
- 17.6 × 25 cm
- Inches
- 6.93 × 9.84 in
- Pixels at 300 dpi
- 2079 × 2953 px
- Points (pt)
- 499 × 709 pt
- Area
- 0.044 m²
- Weight at 80 gsm
- 3.52 g
B5 is bigger than an A5 exercise book and easier to carry than an A4 pad. If you want more room to write without lugging a binder around, you often end up with B5. In Japan it is even more common than A4, though in the slightly larger JIS version.
B5 in every unit
| Unit | Width × height |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 176 × 250 mm |
| Centimetres | 17.6 × 25 cm |
| Metres | 0.176 × 0.25 m |
| Inches | 6.93 × 9.84 in |
| DTP points (1/72 in) | 499 × 709 pt |
| Area | 440 cm², or 0.044 m² |
| Diagonal | 305.7 mm |
| Aspect ratio | 1 : 1.42 |
B5 in pixels
For print at 300 dpi, a B5 page needs 2079 × 2953 pixels. With 3 mm of bleed all round, the document size becomes 182 × 256 mm, which is 2150 × 3024 pixels.
| Resolution | Pixels | Megapixels | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 dpi | 499 × 709 px | 0.35 MP | Screen, preview |
| 96 dpi | 665 × 945 px | 0.63 MP | Screen (Windows default) |
| 150 dpi | 1039 × 1476 px | 1.5 MP | Large format, posters seen from a distance |
| 300 dpi | 2079 × 2953 px | 6.1 MP | Offset and digital print |
| 600 dpi | 4157 × 5906 px | 24.6 MP | Line art, fine detail |
B5 between A5 and A4
Every B size is the geometric mean of two neighbouring A sizes. The sides of B5 are therefore exactly 1.19 times those of A5, and A4 is 1.19 times B5 in turn. On a copier, that means you enlarge from A5 to B5, and from B5 to A4, at 119 %. In the other direction you reduce at 84 %.
Many copiers offer presets such as “B5 → A4 115 %” and “A4 → B5 86 %”. Those values are for Japanese JIS B5 at 182 × 257 mm. For ISO B5, 119 % and 84 % are correct. The difference is small, but you notice it when a margin has to sit exactly.
What B5 is used for
- Notebooks and writing pads, especially Japanese brands
- Textbooks and reference books, whose sizes are often close to B5 (around 17 × 24 cm)
- B5 envelopes for A5 brochures, booklets or a C5 envelope
- Magazines and programmes in a slightly larger format
ISO B5 and JIS B5
| Standard | Size | Where it is common |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 216 (B5) | 176 × 250 mm | Europe, envelopes, books |
| JIS P 0138 (JIS B5) | 182 × 257 mm | Japan, notebooks, copy paper |
JIS B5 is 6 to 7 mm larger on each side. Printer drivers from Japanese brands often list both, and sometimes both are just called “B5”. If a print on B5 paper looks shifted, check the millimetre figures. More on international sizes.
Which envelope fits B5?
| B5 sheet | Size | Envelope |
|---|---|---|
| flat | 176 × 250 mm | C4 (229 × 324 mm) |
| folded once | 125 × 176 mm | C5 (162 × 229 mm) |
A B5 envelope is itself a common size. It takes an A5 booklet or a whole C5 envelope and goes as a Large Letter with Royal Mail and as a Großbrief in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
How big is B5 in cm?
B5 is 17.6 cm wide and 25 cm tall.
Is B5 bigger than A5?
Yes. B5 sits between A5 (148 × 210 mm) and A4 (210 × 297 mm).
What percentage do I use to copy B5 to A4?
119 % for ISO B5. The 115 % copier preset is meant for Japanese JIS B5.
How many pixels is B5 at 300 dpi?
2079 × 2953 pixels, or 2150 × 3024 pixels with 3 mm bleed.
What is the difference between B5 and JIS B5?
ISO B5 measures 176 × 250 mm, JIS B5 182 × 257 mm. The Japanese size is slightly larger on every side.