As the largest of the B sizes, B0 paper measures 39.4 x 55.7 inches. In most non-English speaking countries, people like us who live in Asia tend to convert the dimensions to metric for ease of understanding, so it is 1000 x 1414 in mm, or 100.0 x 141.4 in cm.
And it has an approximate area of 15.07 square feet or 1.414 square meters.
B sizes are based on the same principles as A sizes and are also an ISO-generated international standard series. B sizes are also commonly used in printing and stationery, but are not as popular as A sizes. The main difference is that B sizes are designed to be slightly larger than their A size counterparts.
Just like an A size, each B size is folded from the previous one and has the same ratio: √2:1, or 1.414:1, which means that if you fold the sheet in half, the resulting halves will have the same proportions.
For example, B0 is the beginning of the whole series, so if you fold a B0 sheet in half, you get a B1 sheet, and if you fold a B1 sheet in half, you get a B2 sheet, and so on.
The B0 size is widely used in commercial printing, advertising and other large format applications. It is often used to print architectural plans and engineering blueprints, and is a popular choice for posters, banners and billboards, and offers several advantages over other paper sizes, including its large surface area, high resolution and excellent colour reproduction, and other visual displays where a significant amount of information needs to be presented in a legible manner. Of course, its size also makes it an ideal choice for displaying intricate details and ensuring they are easily visible from a distance.
Benefits – Compatibility and Scaling
One useful aspect of the ISO 216 standard is that B0 paper is designed to be easily scalable. For example, two B1 sheets placed horizontally side by side create a B0 sheet, and two B2 sheets placed horizontally side by side create a B1 sheet. This scalability gives you the flexibility to work with different sizes while maintaining consistent proportions.
Disadvantages – handling and printing challenges, availability
Due to its large dimensions, B0 paper can be challenging to handle. Its size makes it susceptible to tearing, warping or creasing, so extra care is needed when transporting and printing. In day-to-day work, you may need professional large format printers or specialised equipment to print accurately on B0 paper. Also, the size of B0 paper may not be practical in all situations, especially for smaller applications.
B0 paper may not be as readily available as smaller standard sizes such as A4 or Letter. It is more likely to be found at specialist printers, stationery suppliers or online retailers that cater for large format printing needs.
Countries that use ISO B0 include Japan, South Korea and some European countries. In the United States, the B-range of paper sizes is not commonly used, and there is no exact equivalent to B0 paper size.