How do I choose the right notebook size?

Choosing a notebook seems simple, but you often end up with one that’s too big to carry or too small for your notes. This means it just sits on a shelf, unused.

To choose the right notebook, focus on the three main international standards¹: A4² for desk use, A5³ for portability, and B5⁴ as a balanced option. Your intended use—at your desk or on the go—will determine your perfect size.

2, [A5](https://primaberry.com/blogs/blog/why-a5-notebooks-are-a-must-have-tool-for-productivity-and-organisation?srsltid=AfmBOoq0r2ZOk-Kfu8CLHuc2CFQPpLEUK8PFxJUVXv79NN9kh66qz9cS)³, and [B5](https://www.writingmindset.org/blog/b5-notebooks)⁴, on a wooden table." title="Choosing the Right Notebook Size" />

In my years of manufacturing paper products, I've learned that standard sizes exist for a very good reason: efficiency. When my team makes custom notebooks⁵ for clients, we always start the conversation with size. Focusing on universal standards makes the entire process, from sourcing materials to shipping the final product, smoother and more cost-effective for everyone involved. Let's break down these standards so you can choose with confidence.

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What is the standard size of a notebook?

You hear terms like A4², A5³, and B5⁴, but they don't mean much without context. This makes it difficult to buy a notebook online, as you can't be sure what you're actually getting.

The most common international standards¹ are A4² (similar to US letter), A5³ (half of A4²), and B5⁴ (a popular size between A4² and A5³). These sizes are universally recognized, making them easy to manufacture and purchase.

2, [A5](https://primaberry.com/blogs/blog/why-a5-notebooks-are-a-must-have-tool-for-productivity-and-organisation?srsltid=AfmBOoq0r2ZOk-Kfu8CLHuc2CFQPpLEUK8PFxJUVXv79NN9kh66qz9cS)³, and [B5](https://www.writingmindset.org/blog/b5-notebooks)⁴ notebook displayed next to each other with measurement labels." title="Standard Notebook Sizes" />

From a production standpoint, we love standard sizes. The common notebook sizes⁶ we produce are A4², A5³, and B5⁴. Why? Because these are standard market sizes, it's very easy for us to arrange material orders and schedule production . This efficiency keeps costs down. If you need custom notebooks⁵, custom printing, or are looking to import or export, I strongly advise focusing on A4², A5³, and B5⁴. They are understood everywhere and have the highest acceptance rate.

The Big Three: A4², A5³, B5⁴

These three sizes cover almost every need. Understanding their dimensions⁷ and typical uses is the key to making the right choice.

Size	Dimensions (mm)	Dimensions (in)	Best For
A42	210 x 297 mm	8.3 x 11.7 in	Desks, office work, school binders, detailed notes.
B54	176 x 250 mm	6.9 x 9.8 in	A spacious journal, meeting notes, less bulky school use8.
A53	148 x 210 mm	5.8 x 8.3 in	Daily journaling, portable planners9, carrying in a bag.

Think of these as your core options. Almost any notebook you find in a store will be very close to one of these three sizes.

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What's bigger, an A5³ or B5⁴ notebook?

A5³ and B5⁴ sound similar, and it can be hard to visualize the difference when shopping online. You might order one expecting the other, leading to a size that doesn't quite fit your needs.

A B5⁴ notebook is noticeably bigger than an A5³ notebook. It fits perfectly in the middle, offering more writing space than the highly portable A5³ but without the full-page bulk of an A4².

3 notebook placed on top of a larger [B5](https://www.writingmindset.org/blog/b5-notebooks)⁴ notebook to show the size difference." title="[A5](https://primaberry.com/blogs/blog/why-a5-notebooks-are-a-must-have-tool-for-productivity-and-organisation?srsltid=AfmBOoq0r2ZOk-Kfu8CLHuc2CFQPpLEUK8PFxJUVXv79NN9kh66qz9cS)³ vs [B5](https://www.writingmindset.org/blog/b5-notebooks)⁴ Notebook Size Comparison" />

I see these regional preferences all the time in my orders. While Europe and America commonly use A4² and A5³ sizes, B5⁴ is extremely popular in Japan and Korea, especially for school and university notebooks . B5⁴ really is that perfect "in-between" size. It strikes a great balance. You get more horizontal space to finish a thought on a single line, but the notebook is still manageable enough to carry in a tote bag or a small backpack without it feeling overwhelming. I personally think B5⁴ is one of the most underrated notebook sizes⁶ for people who find A5³ a little too cramped for daily journaling¹⁰ or extensive note-taking, but don't want to carry an A4² binder. It's the best of both worlds.

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What size is A5³ vs A6¹¹ notebook?

You're looking for something very small and portable, maybe even pocket-sized. But the numbering system is confusing—is A6¹¹ bigger or smaller than A5³? It seems like it should be the other way around.

An A5³ notebook is double the size of an A6¹¹. The "A" paper series is logical but inverse: the larger the number, the smaller the paper. A6¹¹ is a true pocket-sized notebook.

3 notebook with a smaller [A6](https://goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/notebook-sizes-compared-and-explained?srsltid=AfmBOoqZCEvANspuQatYlFG4tzjDNcgw-jWUT98leNjmc3ld3WHzaTNT)¹¹ notebook on top of it, showing it's half the size." title="[A5](https://primaberry.com/blogs/blog/why-a5-notebooks-are-a-must-have-tool-for-productivity-and-organisation?srsltid=AfmBOoq0r2ZOk-Kfu8CLHuc2CFQPpLEUK8PFxJUVXv79NN9kh66qz9cS)³ vs [A6](https://goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/notebook-sizes-compared-and-explained?srsltid=AfmBOoqZCEvANspuQatYlFG4tzjDNcgw-jWUT98leNjmc3ld3WHzaTNT)¹¹ Notebook Size Comparison" />

The logic is beautifully simple once you see it. The entire "A" series is based on the A0 size, which has an area of one square meter. Every size after that is simply the previous size cut in half. So if you take a large A4² sheet and fold it in half, you get the A5³ size. If you take that A5³ sheet and fold it in half again, you get the A6¹¹ size. This makes the system incredibly efficient for printers like me because we can cut multiple sizes from a larger parent sheet with almost no waste.

The A-Series Fold-Down

• A4²: Full-size aheet.
• A5³: Half of an A4².
• A6¹¹: Half of an A5³ (a quarter of an A4²).

This means an A5³ notebook is great for a purse or backpack, while an A6¹¹ is perfect for your back pocket or a very small clutch. It's ideal for quick lists, phone numbers, or ideas on the fly.

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Is an A5³ notebook bigger than an A4²?

This is a very common point of confusion, especially since "5" is a bigger number than "4". You might order an A5³ expecting a large notebook and be surprised when you receive something much smaller.

No, an A5³ notebook is not bigger than an A4². It is exactly half the size. An A4² is the standard large notebook or printer paper¹² size, while an A5³ is a much more compact, portable format.

3 notebook lying on top of a large [A4](https://www.galenleather.com/blogs/news/notebook-sizes?srsltid=AfmBOooENBRGPyyxjKQYu_ZoAt8-iCpzQYGDp0vEFcY2F9CzNJDNgN_5)² sheet of paper to clearly show the size difference." title="[A5](https://primaberry.com/blogs/blog/why-a5-notebooks-are-a-must-have-tool-for-productivity-and-organisation?srsltid=AfmBOoq0r2ZOk-Kfu8CLHuc2CFQPpLEUK8PFxJUVXv79NN9kh66qz9cS)³ is smaller than [A4](https://www.galenleather.com/blogs/news/notebook-sizes?srsltid=AfmBOooENBRGPyyxjKQYu_ZoAt8-iCpzQYGDp0vEFcY2F9CzNJDNgN_5)² notebook" />

This is one of the first things I clarify with new clients. An A5³'s dimensions⁷ are much smaller than an A4²'s . The easiest way to visualize this is to take a standard piece of printer paper¹² from your desk—that’s an A4². Now, fold it in half hamburger-style. The resulting rectangle is the size of an A5³ page. The difference is significant. This is also why their use cases are so distinct. As my team often explains, an A4² size is large and ideal for classroom notes and office documents that might go in a binder. On the other hand, an A5³ is the common portable size, perfect for daily records, journaling, and carrying around with you . Don't let the numbers fool you; when it comes to notebooks, a smaller "A" number means a bigger page.

Conclusion

Choosing the right notebook is simple when you know the standards. A4² is for your desk, A5³ is for your bag, and B5⁴ is the versatile option in between.

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