Japanese Woodblock Prints: Print Dimensions

A full sheet of Japanese hand-made Hosho paper is approx. 15 x 20" (38 x 52 cm).

The most common print size is Oban, approximately 9 ½ x 14 ½ inches (24 .1 x 36.9 cm); or half the size of a full sheet. Tate-e refers to a vertically aligned print, while Yoko-e is an horizontal format.

Oban 9.5 x 14.5 24.1 x 36.8 Most common size. Half of a full-size Hosho sheet. Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi, Hasui, Yoshida.

Aiban 9 x 13 22.5 x 34.2 Smaller than Oban. Some Hiroshige, Hokusai series.

Chuban 7.5 x 10 19 x 26 Half of Oban size. One-quarter of full-size Hosho sheet.

Dai Oban 12 x 16.5 30.5 x 42 Large Oban. Normal size for Jacoulet, and large prints by Elizabeth Keith.

Double Oban (Large Oban) 15 x 20 38 x 51 Full-size Hosho Sheet. Yoshida "Sailing Boats", "Matterhorn".

Koban 5 x 7.5 12.7 x 19 One-Eighth of full-size sheet. Hasui miniatures.

Tanzaku 17 x 5 43 x 12.7 Narrow, vertical-format prints. Kacho-e.

Chu-Tanzaku 15 x 5.1 38 x 13 Slightly smaller, vertical-format prints. Kacho-e.

Hosoban 13 x 5.7 33 x 14.5 Small, vertical-format prints. Kacho-e. Koson.

Shikishiban 7.1 x 8.3 18.2 x 21.2 Square format. Fan Prints. Koson Kacho-e.

Hashira-e 28.7 x 4.7 73 x 12 Narrow, vertical format used for pillar prints. Kiyonaga, Harunobu.

Kakemono-e 30 x 9 76.5 x 23 Larger, vertical format, often vertical oban diptychs. Kuniyasu, Eizan, Eisen, Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi.

(All sizes are approximate)

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