A5 is better for most journaling because it is portable, easy to refill and roomy enough for a daily entry. B5 is better if you write long entries, plan big weekly spreads, sketch, or work at a desk. A5 measures 148 x 210 mm; B5 is 176 x 250 mm (ISO) or 182 x 257 mm (JIS).
Key Takeaways
- A5 is 148 x 210 mm (5.83 x 8.27 in) and ISO B5 is 176 x 250 mm (6.93 x 9.84 in) under ISO 216; JIS B5 is 182 x 257 mm (7.17 x 10.12 in) per the paper size tables.
- A B5 page gives you roughly 40 to 50 percent more writing area than A5, depending on which B5 you buy.
- Choose A5 for daily carry, everyday journaling and the widest choice of covers and refills.
- Choose B5 for long-form writing, detailed weekly planners, study notes and sketching at a desk.
- A4 is exactly twice the size of A5, so it is a desk notebook rather than a journal for most people.
The quick verdict: A5 or B5 by use case
Pick A5 if the notebook will travel with you or you want a daily journal you will actually carry. Pick B5 if the notebook will mostly stay on a desk and you want room for long entries, big spreads or drawings. If you are unsure, start with A5: it is the easier size to live with day to day.
| If you mainly want to... | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keep a daily journal you carry everywhere | A5 | Fits most tote bags and work bags with room to spare |
| Start a first bullet journal | A5 | Enough width for monthly and weekly spreads without empty space |
| Write long morning pages or essays | B5 | More words per page, fewer page turns |
| Plan a full week with notes and trackers | B5 | Wider columns for each day plus space for a sidebar |
| Take study or meeting notes | B5 | Room for diagrams, margins and headings |
| Sketch or do mixed media | B5 | A bigger canvas, especially for two-page spreads |
| Travel light | A5 or smaller | Less weight and easier to hold while standing |
A5 vs B5 dimensions in mm and inches
A5 is 148 x 210 mm, ISO B5 is 176 x 250 mm and JIS B5 is 182 x 257 mm. Both B5 sizes are taller and wider than A5, and the Japanese JIS B5 is the larger of the two B5 versions, which is worth knowing because many B5 notebooks follow the Japanese size.
The A5 and ISO B5 sizes are defined in ISO 216:2007, and the published dimensions are listed in the ISO 216 overview. The JIS B5 dimensions come from the Japanese B series listed in the paper size reference tables. Page areas below are simple width times height.
| Size | Millimeters | Inches | Page area | vs A5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A5 | 148 x 210 | 5.83 x 8.27 | 310.8 sq cm | Baseline |
| B5 (ISO) | 176 x 250 | 6.93 x 9.84 | 440.0 sq cm | About 42% larger |
| B5 (JIS) | 182 x 257 | 7.17 x 10.12 | 467.7 sq cm | About 50% larger |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | 8.27 x 11.69 | 623.7 sq cm | Twice as large |
In everyday terms, a JIS B5 page is about 34 mm (1.3 in) wider and 47 mm (1.9 in) taller than A5. That difference does not sound like much until you draw a weekly spread: the extra width goes straight into each day's column. For a full comparison with A6, B6, US Letter and TN-style sizes, see our notebook sizes chart.
How A5 and B5 compare on what matters
A5 wins on portability, bag fit and refill choice; B5 wins on writing space and planner layouts. The comparison below rates each size on the five things that decide most journaling purchases. The ratings are our practical judgment based on page area and size, not test scores.
| Factor | A5 | B5 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portability | Light and easy to hold in one hand | Noticeably bigger and heavier with a thick cover | A5 |
| Writing space | Comfortable for one entry per page | Room for long entries and side notes | B5 |
| Bag fit | Fits most totes, purses and work bags | Best in a backpack, laptop bag or large tote | A5 |
| Planner layouts | Weekly spreads work but columns are narrow | Weekly spreads with space for trackers and notes | B5 |
| Covers and refills | The widest choice of covers, binders and inserts | Fewer covers, and two competing B5 sizes | A5 |
A5 pros and cons
A5 is the all-rounder: small enough to carry daily, large enough to write properly, and the easiest size to find covers and refills for. Its main limit is width, which you will feel in detailed weekly spreads and in sketches that want a wider canvas.
Why people love A5
- It goes everywhere. An A5 notebook fits most bags without planning, so it gets used instead of left at home.
- It is a good page size for one entry. A single page holds a solid daily entry, and you can finish a page in one sitting, which feels good.
- Accessories are easy. A5 covers, binders, stencils, dividers and printables are widely available because A5 is a standard ISO size.
- It suits a year of planning. Monthly logs, simple weekly spreads and collections all fit comfortably.
Where A5 falls short
- Weekly spreads with seven columns plus trackers can feel cramped.
- Larger handwriting fills pages fast.
- Two-page drawings and mind maps run out of room quickly.
One more practical point: notebooks sold as A5 often have pages trimmed slightly inside the standard. Our soft faux leather A5 notebook lists inner pages of 14.2 x 20.8 cm, and our minimalist A5 notebook lists 14.2 x 20.7 cm, both a few millimeters narrower than the 148 mm standard. That is normal and makes no difference for writing, but it matters if you are buying a tight-fitting cover.
B5 pros and cons
B5 gives you desk-sized pages without jumping to A4. It is excellent for long-form writing, detailed planning and sketching, but it is heavier to carry, fits fewer bags, and has fewer covers and refills, partly because two different B5 sizes exist.
Why people switch to B5
- More words per page. With roughly 40 to 50 percent more area than A5, you turn pages less often and can keep a whole thought on one page.
- Better weekly spreads. Each day's column gets wider, and there is space left for a habit tracker or notes.
- Study and work notes. Diagrams, tables and margin notes fit without squeezing.
- Drawing room. B5 spreads give sketchers a generous canvas while staying smaller than A4.
Where B5 falls short
- It is less comfortable to carry every day, especially with a leather or hard cover.
- Fewer covers and binders are made for it, and ISO and JIS B5 refills are not always interchangeable.
- Short entries can leave big empty spaces, which some people find discouraging.
If you want to try B5 in a soft cover, our B5 soft PU leather notebook with pebble grain cover has 100 gsm white paper and a thread-bound book block; its packed size is listed at 27.2 x 20.5 x 2.5 cm, which includes the cover and packaging.
Who should pick A5 and who should pick B5
Choose A5 if you are a first-time journaler, a commuter, a bullet journaler who keeps things simple, or anyone who wants one notebook for everything. Choose B5 if you are a long-form writer, a student, a detailed planner or a sketcher who works mostly at a desk.
- First journal: A5. It is forgiving, easy to carry and easy to replace with a matching size.
- Bullet journal beginner: A5 dot grid. Our bullet journal setup guide is written around an A5 notebook and shows how to budget pages for a year.
- Morning pages or long reflections: B5, so each session fits on one or two pages.
- Student notes: B5 for lectures and study; keep an A5 or A6 for everything else.
- Sketchbook journal: B5 if you draw at home; A5 if you sketch on the go.
- Gift for someone you do not know well: A5. It is the safer size to give.
If you are also choosing a cover material, our guide on how to choose a leather journal explains genuine leather vs PU covers and how size and paper weight fit into the decision.
A5 vs a TN-style notebook
An A5 notebook and a TN-style Regular insert are about the same height, but the TN-style insert is much narrower. Our TN-style inserts are listed at 21 x 12 cm, so they match the 210 mm height of A5 while being about 28 mm narrower than A5's 148 mm width.
That slimmer shape is why TN-style notebooks feel so good in the hand and are popular for travel and layered setups with several inserts in one cover. The trade-off is that weekly spreads and drawings get narrow fast. If you like the TN-style format but want more room, A5 TN-style covers exist too. Our TN-style notebook sizes guide compares Passport, Regular, A6, B6 and A5 covers.
A4 vs A5: a short note
A4 is exactly twice the size of A5. Under ISO 216, cutting an A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm) in half across its long side gives two A5 sheets (148 x 210 mm). That makes A4 a desk and binder size rather than a journal size for most people.
A4 notebooks are great for school, work and large sketches, but they rarely travel well. If A5 feels too small and A4 feels too big, B5 is the in-between size that exists for exactly this reason.
Frequently asked questions
Is A5 or B5 better for journaling?
A5 is better for most journaling because it is easy to carry and holds a full daily entry on one page. B5 is better if you write long entries, plan detailed weekly spreads or sketch, and you mostly journal at a desk. If you are unsure, start with A5.
Is size B5 bigger than A5?
Yes. ISO B5 is 176 x 250 mm and JIS B5 is 182 x 257 mm, while A5 is 148 x 210 mm according to the ISO 216 dimensions. That gives B5 roughly 40 to 50 percent more page area than A5, depending on which B5 standard the notebook follows.
What is the difference between an A5 notebook and a TN-style notebook?
A TN-style Regular insert is about as tall as A5 but much narrower. Our TN-style inserts are listed at 21 x 12 cm, compared with 14.8 x 21 cm for A5. TN-style notebooks are slim booklets held in a refillable cover with elastic bands, while an A5 notebook is usually a single bound book.
Is A5 or B5 better for school?
B5 is usually better for school notes because the extra width gives room for diagrams, headings and margins. A5 works well for a planner, vocabulary lists or a subject you take fewer notes in. Many students use B5 for lectures and A5 for everything they carry.
What do Americans call A5 paper?
There is no exact US name for A5 because the US uses Letter-based sizes. The closest US size is Half Letter, 5.5 x 8.5 in, listed in the paper size tables alongside A5 at about 5.83 x 8.27 in. Half Letter is a little narrower and a little taller.
Shop A5 and B5 notebooks
Still deciding? You can compare our A5 and B5 options side by side in the notebooks and planners collection, where every listing shows the page or packed size. Our A5 dot grid and lined notebook with pen loop is a good everyday A5 to start with, and the pebble grain B5 is there when you want more room.
US orders ship for a flat $6.99 and free on orders of $79 or more, and unused items can be returned within 14 days of delivery. Questions about sizing are answered on our FAQ page, or browse the full notebooks and planners collection.
