๐Ÿ“ B Series Paper Size Guide

Complete guide to ISO 216 B Series paper sizes. From B0 to B10, find dimensions in mm, inches, and pixels at 300 DPI. Essential reference for posters, books, and large-format printing.

ISO 216 B Series

What is the B Series?

The B series is a set of paper sizes defined by the ISO 216 standard. Unlike the A series, which is based on the โˆš2 aspect ratio, the B series is the geometric mean between the A series sizes. This makes B series sizes larger than A series sizes at the same number, making them ideal for posters, books, and large-format printing.

๐Ÿ“

B Series vs A Series

B series sizes are about 1.2ร— larger than A series sizes at the same number. For example, B5 (176 ร— 250 mm) is larger than A5 (148 ร— 210 mm). This makes B series ideal for book printing and posters.

๐Ÿ“

Mathematical Foundation

The B series is defined as the geometric mean between the A series sizes. The area of B0 is exactly โˆš2 mยฒ (1.414 mยฒ), making it larger than A0 (1 mยฒ).

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Dimensions

๐Ÿ“ B Series Size Chart

Complete dimensions for all B series paper sizes in mm, inches, and pixels at 300 DPI.

B0
1000 ร— 1414 mm
39.37 ร— 55.67 in
11811 ร— 16701 px
B1
707 ร— 1000 mm
27.83 ร— 39.37 in
8350 ร— 11811 px
B2
500 ร— 707 mm
19.69 ร— 27.83 in
5906 ร— 8350 px
B3
353 ร— 500 mm
13.90 ร— 19.69 in
4170 ร— 5906 px
B4
250 ร— 353 mm
9.84 ร— 13.90 in
2953 ร— 4170 px
B5
176 ร— 250 mm
6.93 ร— 9.84 in
2079 ร— 2953 px
B6
125 ร— 176 mm
4.92 ร— 6.93 in
1476 ร— 2079 px
B7
88 ร— 125 mm
3.46 ร— 4.92 in
1039 ร— 1476 px
B8
62 ร— 88 mm
2.44 ร— 3.46 in
732 ร— 1039 px
B9
44 ร— 62 mm
1.73 ร— 2.44 in
520 ร— 732 px
B10
31 ร— 44 mm
1.22 ร— 1.73 in
366 ร— 520 px
Comparison

๐Ÿ“Š B Series vs A Series Comparison

Compare B series sizes with their A series counterparts to understand the size difference.

SizeB Series (mm)A Series (mm)Difference
01000 ร— 1414841 ร— 1189+18.9% wider, +18.9% taller
1707 ร— 1000594 ร— 841+19.0% wider, +18.9% taller
2500 ร— 707420 ร— 594+19.0% wider, +19.0% taller
3353 ร— 500297 ร— 420+18.9% wider, +19.0% taller
4250 ร— 353210 ร— 297+19.0% wider, +18.9% taller
5176 ร— 250148 ร— 210+18.9% wider, +19.0% taller
6125 ร— 176105 ร— 148+19.0% wider, +18.9% taller
788 ร— 12574 ร— 105+18.9% wider, +19.0% taller
862 ร— 8852 ร— 74+19.2% wider, +18.9% taller
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๐Ÿ“– Understanding the B Series

The B series of paper sizes is an essential part of the ISO 216 standard. While the A series is the most common for office documents, the B series fills an important niche for larger formats used in book publishing, poster printing, and professional design.

๐Ÿ“ The Mathematics Behind B Series

The B series is derived from the A series using the geometric mean. For any size Bn, the dimensions are the geometric mean between An and A(n-1). This gives B series sizes a consistent relationship with the A series:

  • B0 area: โˆš2 mยฒ (1.414 mยฒ) โ€” larger than A0 (1 mยฒ)
  • B1 area: โˆš2/2 mยฒ (0.707 mยฒ) โ€” between A0 and A1
  • B2 area: โˆš2/4 mยฒ (0.354 mยฒ) โ€” between A1 and A2

This mathematical relationship makes the B series ideal for applications where you need a size between A series sizes.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ Common Uses for B Series Sizes

๐Ÿ“š Book Publishing

B5 is a common size for books and notebooks. B6 is used for pocket books and small publications.

๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Poster Printing

B1, B2, and B3 are widely used for posters, exhibition displays, and large-format marketing materials.

๐Ÿ“Š Professional Design

B series sizes are preferred by many designers for portfolios, presentations, and large-format layouts.

โœ‰๏ธ Envelopes

While C series is for envelopes, B series paper is often used for contents that need extra space.

๐ŸŒ Global Usage of B Series

The B series is used in almost all countries that follow ISO 216 standards. It's particularly popular in Europe, Asia, and Australia for book publishing and large-format printing. B series sizes are less common in North America, where US paper sizes (Letter, Legal, Tabloid) are dominant.

๐Ÿ”„ Converting Between B Series Sizes

Each B series size is exactly half the area of the previous size. This makes scaling between B sizes straightforward:

  • B0 โ†’ B1: Reduce to 70.7% (1/โˆš2) per side
  • B1 โ†’ B2: Reduce to 70.7% (1/โˆš2) per side
  • B2 โ†’ B3: Reduce to 70.7% (1/โˆš2) per side

Use our paper size converters for accurate scaling between B series sizes.

โ“ Frequently Asked Questions about B Series

What is the difference between A series and B series? โ–ผ
B series sizes are about 1.2ร— larger than A series sizes at the same number. For example, B5 is larger than A5. B series is ideal for posters and books, while A series is for office documents.
What is B5 paper used for? โ–ผ
B5 (176 ร— 250 mm) is commonly used for books, notebooks, and professional publications. It's larger than A5 and smaller than A4.
What is the largest B series size? โ–ผ
B0 (1000 ร— 1414 mm) is the largest B series size. It's larger than A0 and is used for massive posters, banners, and display boards.
What is the most common B series size? โ–ผ
B5 (176 ร— 250 mm) is the most common B series size, widely used for books and notebooks.
How do B series sizes compare to US paper sizes? โ–ผ
B series sizes are ISO standard and not directly comparable to US sizes. B4 (250 ร— 353 mm) is similar to US Tabloid (279 ร— 432 mm). B5 is larger than US Half Letter.
What is B0 used for? โ–ผ
B0 (1000 ร— 1414 mm) is used for massive banners, billboards, large posters, and display boards.
Is B series used in the US? โ–ผ
The B series is less common in the US, where ANSI/ASME sizes are preferred. However, it's widely used in other countries for posters and books.
What is the aspect ratio of B series paper? โ–ผ
Like the A series, B series paper has an aspect ratio of โˆš2:1 (approximately 1.414:1). This ensures consistent scaling between sizes.

๐Ÿ”— Explore More

Learn more about paper size standards:

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