B3 vs. B4
Comparing 2 standards across 8 specifications. 8 key differences identified.
B3 is an ISO 216 standard paper size measuring 353 × 500 mm (13.90 × 19.69 inches) with a surface area of ~0.177 square meters. With an exact 500 mm long edge, it is standard for tabloid newspaper broadsheets, fine-art pastel drawing pads, and commercial print proofing sheets.
B4 is an ISO 216 standard paper size measuring 250 × 353 mm (9.84 × 13.90 inches) with a surface area of ~0.088 square meters. Sized intermediate between A3 and A4, it is the worldwide standard for printed orchestral sheet music, professional accounting ledgers, and Japanese manga manuscript paper.
Specification Comparison Table
8 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Width × Height (Metric)
|
353 × 500 mm | 250 × 353 mm |
|
Width × Height (Imperial)
|
13.90 × 19.69 in | 9.84 × 13.90 in |
|
Nominal Surface Area
|
0.177 m² (176,775 mm²) | 0.088 m² (88,250 mm²) |
|
Geometric Mean Origin
|
Geometric mean of A2 (420×594 mm) and A3 (297×420 mm) | Geometric mean of A3 (297×420 mm) and A4 (210×297 mm) |
|
Weight of 80 gsm Sheet
|
14.1 grams | 7.06 grams |
|
Primary Applications
|
Newspaper publishing, art drawing pads, digital press proofing sheets | Classical sheet music scores, accounting ledgers, Japanese manga manuscripts |
|
Halving Relationship
|
Cut in half yields 2 sheets of B4 | — |
|
Japanese JIS B4 Distinction
|
— | JIS B4 is slightly larger (257 × 364 mm) due to historical Mino paper origins |