A5 vs B5 Notebook Size: Dimensions in cm and Inches
B5 is bigger. A5 is 14.8 × 21 cm (5.8 × 8.3 in); Japanese B5 is 18.2 × 25.7 cm (7.2 × 10.1 in), about 1.5 times the area. Choose A5, like a Leuchtturm1917 Medium, for a journal you carry; choose B5, like a KOKUYO Campus, for class notes, math and anything you'd write on letter paper.
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Products compared
Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Medium (A5), Hardcover, 251 numbered pages
Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages
KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets
| Product | Brand origin | Made in | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Medium (A5), Hardcover, 251 numbered pagesLeuchtturm1917 | Germany | Varies (Taiwan or Germany)* | Price range: $$$$20–75 per notebook |
| Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pagesMidori | Japan | Japan* | Price range: $$$5–20 per notebook |
| KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets (NO-3BN 6 mm rule)KOKUYO | Japan | Japan* | Price range: $under $5 per notebook |
Notes on these facts
- Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Medium (A5), Hardcover, 251 numbered pages: Made by Leuchtturm Gruppe (Geesthacht, Germany). Made in Varies (Taiwan or Germany): Retailer data conflicts. Galaxus has listed Germany for a forest-green Medium dotted hard cover; Digitec has listed Germany, Taiwan and United Kingdom for a red-violet one; several eBay listings for Medium A5 notebooks have given Taiwan (all three now block automated reading). Leuchtturm1917's German and US product pages name no country for the standard notebook; its US 120G page says that edition's paper is made in Germany. Check the label on your copy. Source. Released: Unsharpen dates the Leuchtturm1917 notebook brand to 2005; we found no separate date for the A5 Medium. The company itself dates to 1917.
- Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages: Made by Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT. Made in Japan: Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store gives 原産国 (country of origin) Made in Japan for the A5, as did the older Midori online store listing for the lined A5 (15294006). The Journal Shop, Galen Leather and Boston General Store agree. Source. Released: Designphil's February 23, 2018 press release says Midori launched the MD Notebook in 2008 and marked its 10th anniversary in January 2018; Midori's store says the notebook reached 15 years in 2023, when it was renewed with MD Paper covers.
- KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets (NO-3BN 6 mm rule): Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: KOKUYO's own global online store gives Country of Origin: Japan for the NO-3BN 3-pack and 10-pack and for the NO-3BTN and NO-3ATN dotted books. KOKUYO's Japanese catalog pages don't list origin; other Campus lines and sizes may differ. Source. Released: KOKUYO's Japanese chronicle: the Campus brand began with spiral notebooks in 1965; this perfect-bound Campus Note followed in 1975, and the current design is the fifth generation, from October 2011.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- A5 is 148 × 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3 in) under ISO 216; Japanese JIS B5 is 182 × 257 mm (7.2 × 10.1 in) and ISO B5 is 176 × 250 mm (6.9 × 9.8 in).
- JIS B5 has 1.5 times the area of A5: about 46,800 mm² against 31,100 mm².
- KOKUYO's Campus uses Semi-B5, 179 × 252 mm, with 35 lines a page at 6 mm ruling.
- Notebooks sold as A5 are often trimmed narrower: Leuchtturm1917's Medium is 145 × 210 mm, its Composition B5 is 178 × 254 mm.
- US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) is larger than any B5; B5 sits between A5 and A4.
Which is bigger, A5 or B5?
B5 is bigger: Japanese B5 is 182 × 257 mm (7.2 × 10.1 in) against A5’s 148 × 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3 in), about 1.5 times the page area. A5 is half of A4; B5 sits between A5 and A4.
There are two B5s. Japan’s JIS B5, used by most Japanese notebooks, is 182 × 257 mm; ISO B5 is a little smaller at 176 × 250 mm. Our paper sizes explainer covers every size from A4 to TRAVELER’S Passport.
How do A5 and B5 notebooks compare?
Real notebooks are trimmed, so check the maker’s size rather than the label.
| Size | Paper size | Typical notebook | Notebook size | Lines per page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3 in) | Midori MD Notebook A5 | 148 × 210 × 10 mm | 7 mm lined option |
| A5 (trimmed) | — | Leuchtturm1917 Medium (A5) | 145 × 210 mm (5.75 × 8.25 in) | 6 mm ruled (retailers) |
| Semi-B5 | — | KOKUYO Campus | 179 × 252 mm (7 × 9.9 in) | 35 at 6 mm · 30 at 7 mm |
| JIS B5 | 182 × 257 mm (7.2 × 10.1 in) | Japanese school notebooks | — | — |
| ISO B5 | 176 × 250 mm (6.9 × 9.8 in) | European notebooks | Leuchtturm1917 Composition: 178 × 254 mm | — |
Sizes are from the makers: Midori’s MD store, Leuchtturm1917’s German site and KOKUYO’s Japanese product pages. For the A5-size notebook of each brand, from Moleskine to MUJI, see our notebook sizes chart.
How much more do you fit on a B5 page?
About half again as much. JIS B5’s area is about 46,800 mm² against 31,100 mm² for A5, and a Campus Semi-B5 page holds 35 lines at 6 mm ruling.
That extra width matters most for math, diagrams and two-column notes. A5’s narrower line is easier to write in a hand or on a lap.
When should you choose A5?
For journals, planners and anything you carry daily. A5 is the standard size for bullet journals, so covers, inserts and planner layouts are easy to find.
The Leuchtturm1917 Medium and Midori MD A5 are both thread-sewn, and Midori says the MD opens flat to 180 degrees; the MD lists at ¥1,210 (about US$7.70) in Japan, in our $$ band.
When should you choose B5?
For school and work notes, especially if you’d otherwise use letter-size paper. B5 gives room for margins and diagrams but still fits a bag more easily than US Letter (8.5 × 11 in).
The KOKUYO Campus lists at ¥210 (about US$1.30) before tax in Japan, in our lowest $ band, and comes in 6 mm and 7 mm ruling with dotted versions. For more notebooks in both sizes, see our best Japanese notebooks.
How do pages and paper compare?
The A5 picks are thick books for a year of writing; the Campus is a thin 30-sheet notebook you fill and replace.
| Notebook | Pages | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Leuchtturm1917 Medium (A5) | 251 numbered | 80 g/m² |
| Midori MD Notebook A5 | 176 | 80 g/m² MD Paper |
| KOKUYO Campus Semi-B5 | 30 sheets (60 pages) | Not published by weight |
A thin B5 notebook per subject is the Japanese school habit the Campus was built for. If you want one book for everything, an A5 hardcover with numbered pages and an index is easier to search later.
Which size is best for a bullet journal?
A5, for most people. It’s the size bullet journal templates, stencils and covers are made for, and a weekly spread still fits on two pages.
B5 suits a bullet journal that doubles as a work or study log, where you want more room per day. Our best notebooks for bullet journaling compares A5 dot grid books.
Where are these notebooks made?
The Midori MD and KOKUYO Campus are made in Japan; Leuchtturm1917 stock varies between Taiwan and Germany. Check the back cover of the Leuchtturm1917 you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is B5 the same as letter size?
No. US Letter is 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm), wider and taller than JIS B5 at 182 × 257 mm. B5 is closer to a large composition book.
How many inches is a B5 notebook?
About 7.2 × 10.1 in for Japanese JIS B5 (182 × 257 mm) and 6.9 × 9.8 in for ISO B5 (176 × 250 mm). A KOKUYO Campus Semi-B5 is about 7 × 9.9 in.
Is A5 too small for college notes?
For many students, yes. A5 fits about two-thirds of a B5 page's writing; it works for one class per notebook if you write small, but B5 leaves room for diagrams and margins.
Will an A5 cover fit a B5 notebook?
No. A B5 notebook is about 34 mm wider and 47 mm taller than A5, so it needs a B5 cover.
What size is a B5 notebook in cm?
A Japanese B5 notebook is 18.2 × 25.7 cm (JIS B5) and a European one 17.6 × 25 cm (ISO B5). Japan's JIS P 0138 gives its B sizes 1.5 times the area of the matching A size, which is why the two differ; our paper sizes explainer covers both.
What is Semi-B5?
A trimmed B5 used by Japanese notebooks such as the KOKUYO Campus: 179 × 252 mm (17.9 × 25.2 cm, 7 × 9.9 in), slightly inside JIS B5's 182 × 257 mm. Covers and binders sold as B5 fit it.
What are A5 notebook dimensions?
A5 paper is 148 × 210 mm (14.8 × 21 cm, 5.8 × 8.3 in). Notebooks sold as A5 vary a little: the Midori MD Notebook A5 is 148 × 210 mm, while the Leuchtturm1917 Medium is trimmed to 145 × 210 mm (5.75 × 8.25 in).
Does a B5 notebook fit in a backpack?
Yes. At about 18 × 25 cm it's smaller than the letter-size binders and laptops most school backpacks are built around.
Sources
- 紙の寸法 (Japanese paper size reference: ISO 216 and JIS P 0138 A and B series, JIS B5 182 × 257 mm)
- Leuchtturm1917 (Germany): Notizbuch Medium (A5), Hardcover (145 × 210 mm; formats incl. Composition B5 178 × 254 mm)
- MDノート［A5］ (MD PRODUCT Japanese online store: 210 × 148 × 10 mm, 176 pages, 80 g/m², ¥1,210, made in Japan)
- キャンパスノート B5 B罫・6mm 30枚 (KOKUYO Japan: ノ-3BN, 252 × 179 mm, 35 lines, ¥210 before tax)
- キャンパスノート B5 ドットA罫・7mm 30枚 (KOKUYO Japan: ノ-3ATN, 30 lines)