ISO 838 (2-Hole) vs. ISO 838 (4-Hole)
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 8 key differences identified.
ISO 838 (DIN 821) is the international standard for 2-hole paper punching, specifying two circular holes spaced exactly 80.0 mm ± 0.5 mm apart with a diameter of 6.0 mm ± 0.5 mm, positioned 12.0 mm ± 1.0 mm from the binding edge of the sheet. It is the universal standard for ring binders and lever arch files across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The ISO 838 4-Hole extension (commonly known in Europe as the '888' format) specifies four holes spaced at three consecutive 80.0 mm intervals (80–80–80 mm, spanning 240.0 mm total) with standard 6.0 mm hole diameters. It is standard for heavy A4 4-ring presentation binders and archival document protectors to prevent page sagging.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Hole Diameter
|
6.0 ± 0.5 mm (0.24 in) | 6.0 ± 0.5 mm |
|
Edge Distance to Hole Center
|
12.0 ± 1.0 mm (0.47 in) | 12.0 ± 1.0 mm |
|
Center-to-Center Hole Spacing
|
80.0 ± 0.5 mm (3.15 in) | — |
|
Centering Standard
|
Holes are centered symmetrically along the paper's long edge (A4) or short edge (A5) | — |
|
Target Paper Pairing
|
ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) and A5 (148 × 210 mm) | — |
|
Binder Compatibility
|
2-ring binders, European lever arch files (Leitz Ordner, Esselte, Rexel) | — |
|
Hole Interval Geometry
|
— | Three 80 mm gaps: 80 mm – 80 mm – 80 mm (total outer span: 240.0 mm) |
|
Outer Hole Margin on A4
|
— | 28.5 mm from top and bottom edges of an A4 sheet (297 mm length) |
|
Backwards Compatibility
|
— | Middle two holes match standard ISO 838 2-hole binders exactly |
|
Primary Applications
|
— | 4-ring A4 presentation binders, clear plastic sheet protectors, heavy catalog binders |