The Collector's Library · Tools
Japanese poster sizes compared
Japanese posters follow the JIS B paper sizes; magazine pages are near A4. Tap sizes to lay them over each other, to scale.
Drawn to scale, each from the same corner.
| Size | Millimetres | Inches | Usually |
|---|---|---|---|
| B0 | 1030 x 1456 | 40.6 x 57.3 | |
| B1 | 728 x 1030 | 28.7 x 40.6 | large cinema posters |
| B2 | 515 x 728 | 20.3 x 28.7 | most film, video and shop posters |
| B3 | 364 x 515 | 14.3 x 20.3 | station and train posters (nakazuri) |
| B4 | 257 x 364 | 10.1 x 14.3 | |
| B5 | 182 x 257 | 7.2 x 10.1 | chirashi cinema flyers |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | 11.7 x 16.5 | a magazine spread |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.3 x 11.7 | a magazine page |
Measuring a piece
- Measure the paper itself, edge to edge, in millimetres. Real pieces can differ a little from the sheet size, and magazines are often trimmed to a size near A4 (an "A4 variant"), so measure rather than assume.
- A "Japanese B2" described in American sizes, such as 18 x 24 inches, is a warning sign: see how to tell an original from a reprint.
- Much smaller than expected can mean a piece was trimmed. Ask.
Sheet sizes from the JIS standard as listed on Wikipedia's paper size article; uses from the shop's glossary, with its sources. Inches are rounded to one decimal place.