Photo and drawing paperPS-10
What size is drawing paper in cm? Yotsugiri and yatsugiri dimensions, how they compare with A and B sizes, school rules and choosing a frame
Drawing paper sizes in Japan are named by how many pieces a large full sheet is cut into. We show the chart first, then explain everything from why sizes differ by a few millimeters to choosing a frame.
In this article (14 sections)
- Conclusion: What are drawing paper sizes in cm?
- How do you check drawing paper sizes with the calculator?
- What do "yotsugiri" and "yatsugiri" mean in drawing paper sizes?
- Why do yotsugiri drawing paper sizes differ by a few mm between sources?
How do drawing paper sizes compare with A and B sizes?2
What drawing paper sizes do schools specify?2
- What frame fits drawing paper sizes?
- How do you scan drawing paper on a home scanner or copier?
- What are common mistakes with drawing paper sizes?
- What terms come up with drawing paper sizes?
What else should you know about drawing paper sizes?3
What are common questions about drawing paper sizes?6
- What other articles go with drawing paper sizes?
- Sources
Drawing paper sizes in Japan are not called by standard names like A4. They are called "yotsugiri" (quarter sheet) and "yatsugiri" (eighth sheet), names that tell you how many pieces a large sheet was cut into.
Because of this, even two yotsugiri sheets can differ by a few millimeters, depending on the original sheet and the maker. The numbers written in school supply lists and contest rules do not agree either.
Here is the key point. With drawing paper sizes, check the "original sheet" and the "mm" along with the name, and you will not get lost.
This article covers the following:
- Dimensions of the full sheet, futatsugiri, yotsugiri, yatsugiri and jurokugiri (mm and cm)
- Why yotsugiri and yatsugiri dimensions differ by a few mm between sources
- How big they are compared with A and B sizes (how they differ from A3, B3 and A4)
- The sizes and orientation that schools and contests specify
- Pixel counts for drawing digitally
- How to choose a frame for drawing paper
- How to scan it with a scanner or copier
- Common mistakes
Dimensions are shown in tables based on the maker (Daio Paper) and government contest rules.
Conclusion: What are drawing paper sizes in cm?
| Size | mm (w × h) | cm |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing paper, full sheet (shiroku-ban) | 788 × 1091 | 78.8 × 109.1 |
| Drawing paper, half sheet (futatsugiri) | 545 × 788 | 54.5 × 78.8 |
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | 392 × 543 | 39.2 × 54.3 |
| Drawing paper, yatsugiri (eighth sheet) | 271 × 392 | 27.1 × 39.2 |
| Drawing paper, jurokugiri (1/16 sheet) | 196 × 271 | 19.6 × 27.1 |
Source (5)
- Daio Paper, Fresh Color drawing paper, full sheet (same as JIS P 0202 shiroku-ban)
- Half of the shiroku-ban full sheet (check the pack for the product size)
- Daio Paper, Fresh Color drawing paper, yotsugiri (100-sheet pack)
- Daio Paper, Fresh Color drawing paper, yatsugiri (100-sheet pack)
- Half of the yatsugiri sheet (Daio Paper); check the pack for the product size
The table shows dimensions in "width × height" order, for portrait orientation. Yotsugiri and yatsugiri are the values for Daio Paper's colored drawing paper (100-sheet pack).
As the table shows, when the number in the name doubles (yotsu means 4, yatsu means 8 and juroku means 16), the paper becomes half the size. Cut yotsugiri in half and you get yatsugiri; cut yatsugiri in half and you get jurokugiri.
If you are not sure, use these guidelines:
- Homework for large pictures and posters: yotsugiri
- Everyday drawing and crafts: yatsugiri
- Cards and small works: jurokugiri
- Large use, like a big sheet of craft paper: futatsugiri or the full sheet
For a list that includes other kinds of paper, see paper sizes.
How do you check drawing paper sizes with the calculator?
Choose a drawing paper size in the tool above to get the pixel count at each dpi. The same tool also gives enlargement and reduction ratios.
The tool runs entirely in your browser. The values you enter are not sent anywhere.
What do "yotsugiri" and "yatsugiri" mean in drawing paper sizes?
Yotsugiri is the size you get by cutting a full sheet into 4 pieces. Yatsugiri is the size you get by cutting it into 8 pieces.
The full sheet (zenshi) is the large base sheet made at the paper mill. For drawing paper, a base sheet called shiroku-ban is commonly used.
| Name | Pieces cut from a full sheet | How it is cut |
|---|---|---|
| Zenshi or zenban (full sheet) | 1 | Not cut |
| Futatsugiri or hansetsu (half sheet) | 2 | Cut the long side of the full sheet in half |
| Yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | 4 | Cut futatsugiri in half again |
| Yatsugiri (eighth sheet) | 8 | Cut yotsugiri in half |
| Jurokugiri (1/16 sheet) | 16 | Cut yatsugiri in half |
Futatsugiri is sometimes also called "hansetsu". The names count the cuts, so if the full sheet is different, the dimensions change too.
A-series sizes such as A4 are standards whose dimensions are set by ISO and JIS. Drawing paper yotsugiri and yatsugiri have no dimensional standard of that kind.
Why do yotsugiri drawing paper sizes differ by a few mm between sources?
Yotsugiri drawing paper differs by a few mm because there are two kinds of full sheet. The size depends on whether a shiroku-ban sheet or a B-series full sheet (B-retsu hon-ban) is cut.
| Size | mm (w × h) | cm |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | 392 × 543 | 39.2 × 54.3 |
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (contest rules) | 382 × 542 | 38.2 × 54.2 |
| Drawing paper, yatsugiri (eighth sheet) | 271 × 392 | 27.1 × 39.2 |
| Drawing paper, yatsugiri (contest rules) | 271 × 382 | 27.1 × 38.2 |
Source (4)
In the table, the maker's values come from cutting shiroku-ban. The rows marked "contest rules" are the values written in the contest rules of the Ministry of the Environment and Hyogo Prefecture.
The base sheet dimensions are set by JIS P 0202. Cutting each of the two base sheets in half gives the following:
- Shiroku-ban (788 × 1091mm): 1091 ÷ 2 ≈ 545, 788 ÷ 2 = 394
- B-series full sheet (765 × 1085mm): 1085 ÷ 2 ≈ 542, 765 ÷ 2 ≈ 382
The yotsugiri in the contest rules matches a B-series full sheet cut into 4 exactly. The maker's yotsugiri can be read as shiroku-ban cut and then trimmed at the edges.
Even from the same maker, dimensions can differ by pack size. For Daio Paper's colored drawing paper, they are as follows:
| Source | Yotsugiri | Yatsugiri |
|---|---|---|
| Daio Paper, 100-sheet pack | 392 × 543mm | 271 × 392mm |
| Daio Paper, 10-sheet pack | 390 × 540mm | 270 × 390mm |
| Contest rules of the Ministry of the Environment and Hyogo Prefecture | 382 × 542mm | 271 × 382mm |
A few millimeters do not matter for everyday drawing. They cause trouble when you put the work in a frame or a file, and when the rules say "within ○mm".
Before you buy, check the mm printed on the pack. If you choose by the word "yotsugiri" alone, it may not fit the frame.
How do drawing paper sizes compare with A and B sizes?
Yotsugiri drawing paper is larger than B3 and smaller than A2. Yatsugiri is larger than B4 and smaller than A3.
| Size | mm (w × h) |
|---|---|
| A2 | 420 × 594 |
| A3 | 297 × 420 |
| A4 | 210 × 297 |
| B3 | 364 × 515 |
| B4 | 257 × 364 |
| B5 | 182 × 257 |
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | 392 × 543 |
| Drawing paper, yatsugiri (eighth sheet) | 271 × 392 |
| Drawing paper, jurokugiri (1/16 sheet) | 196 × 271 |
Source (4)
- JIS P 0138, ISO 216, ANSI/ASME Y14.1
- Daio Paper, Fresh Color drawing paper, yotsugiri (100-sheet pack)
- Daio Paper, Fresh Color drawing paper, yatsugiri (100-sheet pack)
- Half of the yatsugiri sheet (Daio Paper); check the pack for the product size
As the table shows, lining them up with the nearest A and B sizes gives this order:
- Yotsugiri: B3 < yotsugiri < A2
- Yatsugiri: B4 < yatsugiri < A3
- Jurokugiri: B5 < jurokugiri < A4
The one people tend to overlook is jurokugiri. Jurokugiri is smaller than A4, so an A4 sheet does not fit on it.
Is the shape of drawing paper sizes the same as A sizes?
No. The aspect ratio of drawing paper is slightly different from the 1 : √2 of A sizes.
A sizes are designed to keep the same shape when cut in half. As the figure shows, cutting A0 in half again and again gives A1, A2 and so on.
The shiroku-ban full sheet has a ratio of 1091 ÷ 788 ≈ 1.38. That is slightly closer to a square than √2 (about 1.41).
So the shape changes a little with each cut. Yatsugiri is 392 ÷ 271 ≈ 1.45, longer and narrower than yotsugiri.
How do you enlarge an A3 sketch to yotsugiri?
To enlarge an A3 sketch to yotsugiri, scale it to about 129%. A small margin is left along the short side.
For the calculation, use whichever of the long-side and short-side ratios is smaller.
- Long side: 543 ÷ 420 ≈ 1.29
- Short side: 392 ÷ 297 ≈ 1.32
Use the smaller one, 1.29 times, and nothing runs off the paper. Because the ratios differ, it will not cover the whole sheet exactly.
What drawing paper sizes do schools specify?
Schools and contests often specify the size as yotsugiri or yatsugiri drawing paper. Sometimes even the orientation is set.
Government and local authority contest rules word it like this:
| Contest | Size specified | Orientation |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of the Environment, Animal Welfare Week poster contest | Yotsugiri | Portrait only |
| Hyogo Prefecture, election awareness poster | Yotsugiri or yatsugiri, or an equivalent size | Check the rules |
"Equivalent size" means that roughly the same size will be accepted. You are unlikely to be rejected over a few millimeters, but follow the orientation rule.
Which size is used in school art class depends on the school and the project. Use the size written in the school's notice about what to bring.
If you are told to "draw on B3", can you use yotsugiri?
If the rules say B3, you can cut yotsugiri down to B3 and use it. Yotsugiri is larger than B3 in both width and height.
Shops that sell drawing paper sometimes do not stock B3 drawing paper. Buying yotsugiri and cutting it to the B3 dimensions is the sure way.
If you are unsure, ask the school or organization that issued the rules whether yotsugiri is acceptable.
What size should you use when drawing digitally?
To draw digitally at a drawing paper size, make the canvas at the pixel count for 300dpi. The values are in the table below.
| Size | px (300 dpi) | px (350 dpi) |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | 4630 × 6413 | 5402 × 7482 |
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (contest rules) | 4512 × 6402 | 5264 × 7469 |
| Drawing paper, yatsugiri (eighth sheet) | 3201 × 4630 | 3734 × 5402 |
| Drawing paper, yatsugiri (contest rules) | 3201 × 4512 | 3734 × 5264 |
Source (4)
dpi is the number of dots in 1 inch (25.4mm). The formula is side length (mm) ÷ 25.4 × dpi.
- Short side of yotsugiri: 392 ÷ 25.4 × 300 ≈ 4630px
- Long side of yotsugiri: 543 ÷ 25.4 × 300 ≈ 6413px
If the rules give a digital size (A3, B3 and so on), that takes priority. How dpi works is explained in more detail in A4 size in pixels.
What frame fits drawing paper sizes?
Choose a frame for drawing paper by a "for yotsugiri drawing paper" label, or compare the inner dimensions in mm.
Watch out for "yotsugiri" and "yatsugiri" on frames. These are size names for sketch frames (dessin frames), and their dimensions differ from drawing paper yotsugiri.
On top of that, the photo size "Yotsugiri" is yet another size. The same name, yotsugiri, has three meanings.
| Name | Size of what | How the size is set |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing paper yotsugiri | The drawing paper itself | A full sheet cut into 4 |
| Photo Yotsugiri | Photographic printing paper | A round number of inches (10 × 12 in) |
| Frame yotsugiri | The paper or mat that goes in a sketch frame | A frame size name (size charts differ by shop) |
The difference between drawing paper yotsugiri and photo Yotsugiri is shown in the table.
| Size | mm (w × h) | cm |
|---|---|---|
| Yotsugiri (10 × 12 in photo) | 254 × 305 | 25.4 × 30.5 |
| Drawing paper, yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | 392 × 543 | 39.2 × 54.3 |
Source: Epson Japan, photo paper sizes (Yotsugiri) / Daio Paper, Fresh Color drawing paper, yotsugiri (100-sheet pack)
Comparing frame shops' size charts, the pairing of names and dimensions varies from shop to shop. Comparing the frame's inner dimensions with the drawing paper's mm, not the name, is the sure way.
Photo Yotsugiri is explained in photo print sizes.
Choose a frame whose inner dimensions are a few millimeters larger than the drawing paper. If it is an exact fit, the paper may buckle and not go in.
How do you scan drawing paper on a home scanner or copier?
Yatsugiri drawing paper can be scanned in one pass on a machine that reads up to A3. Yotsugiri is larger than A3, so reduce it or scan it in two parts.
Yatsugiri fits within A3 because it is smaller than A3 in both width and height.
- Short side: 271mm (the short side of A3 is 297mm)
- Long side: 392mm (the long side of A3 is 420mm)
Reducing yotsugiri to A3 takes a ratio of about 75%.
- Short side: 297 ÷ 392 ≈ 0.758
- Long side: 420 ÷ 543 ≈ 0.773
Go by the smaller value, 0.758, and set 75%, and it fits. To keep a record of a work, you can also scan it in two parts without reducing it and join the images.
Drawing paper is thicker than copy paper. Whether it can go through a printer depends on the specifications of the model.
Paint and crayon works can dirty the glass. Wait until they are dry, then scan with a clean sheet of paper in between.
What are common mistakes with drawing paper sizes?
The most common are thinking A4 fits on jurokugiri, and choosing a frame by its name. The mistakes people ask about most are in the table below.
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Trying to mount A4 on jurokugiri | The A4 sheet sticks out | Use yatsugiri |
| Buying a "yotsugiri" frame | Yotsugiri drawing paper does not fit | Compare the inner dimensions in mm |
| Assuming it is the same as photo "Yotsugiri" | The sizes do not match | Look up drawing paper in the drawing paper table |
| Missing the orientation in the rules | Drawing in landscape when portrait was required | Check the orientation in the rules before drawing |
| Submitting yotsugiri as is when B3 is required | The size does not match the rules | Cut yotsugiri to B3 |
| Enlarging an A3 sketch to cover the whole sheet | The width or height falls short | Use the smaller ratio |
Comparing the rules with the mm on the pack before you start drawing prevents almost all of these.
What terms come up with drawing paper sizes?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Zenshi or zenban (full sheet) | The large base sheet before cutting. For drawing paper, shiroku-ban is commonly used |
| Shiroku-ban | One of the base sheet sizes set by JIS P 0202 |
| B-series full sheet (B-retsu hon-ban) | One of the base sheet sizes set by JIS P 0202. The sheet that B-size paper is cut from |
| Futatsugiri or hansetsu (half sheet) | A full sheet cut into 2 |
| Yotsugiri (quarter sheet) | A full sheet cut into 4 |
| Yatsugiri (eighth sheet) | A full sheet cut into 8 |
| Jurokugiri (1/16 sheet) | A full sheet cut into 16 |
| Equivalent size | In contest rules, roughly the same size is accepted |
| Inner dimensions | The size of the part of a frame that holds the paper |
What else should you know about drawing paper sizes?
Does colored drawing paper come in the same sizes?
Yes. Colored drawing paper is also sold under the same names, yotsugiri and yatsugiri.
Daio Paper's colored drawing paper has the same dimensions as the tables in this article. However, some products, such as patterned paper, have different dimensions. Check the mm on the pack.
What size is drawing paper from 100-yen shops?
Drawing paper from 100-yen shops is also often sold under the names yotsugiri and yatsugiri. Check the dimensions in mm printed on the pack.
It can differ from the maker's chart by a few millimeters, so measure the actual sheet when matching it to a frame or a file.
What do you get when you cut drawing paper in half?
Cutting yotsugiri in half gives yatsugiri. Cutting yatsugiri in half gives jurokugiri.
The rule is to cut the long side in half. Cutting the short side in half gives a long, narrow strip.
What are common questions about drawing paper sizes?
How many cm is yotsugiri drawing paper?
Yotsugiri in cm is the mm in the table above divided by 10. The maker's values and the contest rule values differ by a few millimeters.
Check the exact value in the cm column of the table or on the pack.
How many cm is yatsugiri drawing paper?
Yatsugiri is half the size of yotsugiri. The cm values are in the table above.
It is a little smaller than A3 and a little larger than B4.
Which is bigger, yotsugiri or A3?
Yotsugiri. It is larger than A3 in both width and height.
You can compare it with A3 in the A and B size table.
Which is bigger, yatsugiri or B4?
Yatsugiri. It is larger than B4 in both width and height.
A B4 sheet fits on yatsugiri drawing paper.
What drawing paper sizes do elementary schools use?
Elementary schools often use yotsugiri or yatsugiri. Which one depends on the school and the project.
Use the size written in the school's notice about what to bring or in the contest rules.
Does an A4 sheet fit on jurokugiri?
No, it does not. Jurokugiri is smaller than A4 in both width and height.
To mount an A4 sheet, use yatsugiri.
What other articles go with drawing paper sizes?
Photo and drawing paperPhoto print sizes in Japan: dimensions and ratios of L-size, 2L-size, KG, Rokugiri and Yotsugiri, how phone photos get cropped, pixel counts and framesJapanese photo print sizes from L-size and KG to Yotsugiri, Hangiri and Zenshi in mm, inches and pixels, plus ratios, phone photo cropping, frames and ID photos.
Paper sizesPoster Size List: A0 to B3 Dimensions and How to Choose by Use, Viewing Distance and ResolutionPoster sizes A0 to A3 and B0 to B3 in mm, cm and pixels, how to choose for shops, stations, events, rooms and conferences, text size, dpi, frames and tiled printing.
Paper sizesPaper Size Chart: A, B, Letter, Photo and Postcard Sizes, Uses, How to Choose and ScalingPaper sizes in mm, cm and inches with uses. A and B series rules, ISO vs JIS B sizes, Letter, photo, postcard and business card sizes, choosing by use and scaling.
ConversionsHow many pixels is A4? A chart by dpi, how the calculation works, and how to make print dataA4 pixel counts at 72, 150, 300 and 350 dpi, how to calculate them, the dpi each use needs, Word, PowerPoint and Photoshop settings, phone photos, and common mistakes.Sources
- Recycled colored drawing paper (Fresh Color) (Daio Paper, in Japanese. Yotsugiri and yatsugiri dimensions by pack size)
- Call for entries to the fiscal 2025 (Reiwa 7) Animal Welfare Week poster design and painting contest (Ministry of the Environment, in Japanese. Yotsugiri, portrait only)
- Poster contest: call for fiscal 2026 (Reiwa 8) election awareness poster entries (Hyogo Prefecture, in Japanese. Yotsugiri, yatsugiri or an equivalent size)
- JIS P 0202 Base sheet sizes of paper (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee, JIS search; in Japanese. Shiroku-ban and B-series full sheet)
- JIS P 0138 Trimmed sizes of processed paper (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee, JIS search; in Japanese. Finished sizes of the A and B series)
- ISO 216:2007 Writing paper and certain classes of printed matter. Trimmed sizes. A and B series (ISO)
- Photographic paper sizes: photo glossary (Canon, in Japanese. Inch sizes of photo paper such as Yotsugiri)
- Photo paper, photographic paper type (Epson, in Japanese. Photo paper sizes)