Side-by-Side Comparison
Binders & Hole Punching
ISO 838 (4-Hole) vs. Japanese Multi-Hole (JIS)
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Comparing:
ISO 838 (4-Hole)
Japanese Multi-Hole (JIS)
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.
The Japanese Loose-Leaf standard (governed by JIS P 0138) specifies a fine multi-hole grid with an exact 9.5 mm (3/8 inch) pitch and 5.5 mm hole diameter, featuring 26 holes for B5 paper and 30 holes for A4 paper. Engineered by stationery manufacturers such as Kokuyo and Maruman, it eliminates paper tear-out entirely.
Specification Comparison Table
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Hole Diameter
|
6.0 ± 0.5 mm | 5.5 ± 0.5 mm |
|
Primary Applications
|
4-ring A4 presentation binders, clear plastic sheet protectors, heavy catalog binders | Kokuyo Campus Smart Ring binders, Maruman Giuris, King Jim multi-ring loose-leaf notebooks |
|
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) | — |
|
Edge Distance to Hole Center
|
12.0 ± 1.0 mm | — |
|
Backwards Compatibility
|
Middle two holes match standard ISO 838 2-hole binders exactly | — |
|
Hole Pitch (Center-to-Center)
|
— | 9.5 mm (0.374 in / approx. 3/8 in) |
|
Edge Margin to Hole Center
|
— | 6.5 ± 0.5 mm |
|
B5 Paper Hole Count
|
— | 26 holes (for 257 mm JIS B5 paper) |
|
A4 Paper Hole Count
|
— | 30 holes (for 297 mm ISO A4 paper) |
|
A5 Paper Hole Count
|
— | 20 holes (for 210 mm ISO A5 paper) |