The Definitive Envelope Size Guide: Your Handbook to Standard Envelope Sizes - The Paper Mill Blog (2024)

3. Envelope Size

Envelopes come in a wide range of styles, including:

  • Letter envelope sizes, including business envelope sizes
  • Invitation envelope sizes, including announcement envelopes, as well as baronial and Monarch envelope sizes
  • Catalog and manila envelope sizes
  • Square envelope sizes
  • Small envelope sizes, including coin and mini-lope envelope sizes

To make matters even more complicated, each of these styles comes in a range of different sizes. We’ll spend the rest of this envelope size guide digging into different US envelope sizes and other standard envelope sizes.

Let’s peek under the flap!

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Standard Envelope Sizes

No. 10 regular is the most common envelope size (bills and other business correspondence are typically sent using this size), but there are countless standard envelope sizes available for every imaginable purpose, from teeny-tiny mini-lopes to full size 9” x 12” catalog envelopes.

These are the most common standard envelope sizes used for printing and mailing:

Standard Envelope Sizes for Printing & Mailing

Shop standard envelope sizes:

A1 Envelopes
A2 Envelopes
A6 Envelopes
A7 Envelopes
A8 Envelopes
Monarch Envelopes
No. 10 Commercial Envelopes

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Letter Envelope Sizes

Letter or correspondence envelopes are the most popular envelope style for general correspondence, including most business and personal correspondence. They are typically broken down into two further categories—business and commercial.

These envelopes are used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Business and personal correspondence
  • Billing
  • Statements
  • Legal correspondence
  • Invoices
  • Promotional mailers
  • Handwritten letters

Business Envelope Sizes

Despite their name, business envelopes are commonly used for both business and personal correspondence. They are available in a number of styles with square, side, or pointed flaps (called “commercial flaps”), as well as with or without windows. The term “regular” indicates that the envelope does not have a window.

They are commonly used for:

  • Business correspondence
  • Bills and notices

Business Envelope Size Chart

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Invitation Envelope Sizes

Invitation envelope sizes include:

  • Announcement envelopes
  • Baronial and monarch envelopes

Announcement Envelope Sizes

Announcement envelopes feature a side seam and a square flap. They are more casual than other styles and are available in a wide range of different paper stocks, including different paper finishes and basis weights.

They are commonly used for:

  • Invitations and wedding stationery
  • Greeting and holiday cards
  • Photos
  • Promotional or marketing material

Announcement Envelope Size Chart

Shop announcement envelope sizes:

A1 Envelopes
A2 Envelopes
A6 Envelopes
A7 Envelopes
A8 Envelopes
A9 Envelopes
A10 Envelopes

Baronial and Monarch Envelope Sizes

Baronial envelopes have diagonal seams with a pointed flap. They are available in many of the same sizes and paper finishes as Announcement envelopes, but their flap style and seam direction make them a more formal alternative. Monarch envelopes are a type of baronial envelopes, but only come in one size (3 ⅞” x 7 ½”).

They are commonly used for:

  • Formal announcements
  • Wedding invitations
  • Hand-lettered notes

Baronial and Monarch Envelope Size Chart

Shop baronial and Monarch envelope sizes:

No. 4 Baronial Envelopes
No. 5 ½ Baronial Envelopes
No. 6 Baronial Envelopes
Monarch Envelopes
Lee Envelopes

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Catalog and Manila Envelope Sizes

Catalog envelopes are constructed using Kraft paper or Manila or other card stocks, with a strong center seam and a heavily gummed flap along the shorter dimension. They’re the perfect size for sending paper documents that can’t be folded, and their strong construction makes them durable and ideal for mailing heavy-weight materials.

They are commonly used for:

  • Catalogs
  • Large booklets
  • Annual reports
  • Documents and contracts
  • Brochures
  • Sales materials

Catalog and Manila Envelope Size Chart

Shop catalog and manila envelope sizes:

No.1 Catalog Envelopes
No. 10 ½ Catalog Envelopes
No. 13 ½ Catalog Envelopes

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Square Envelope Sizes

Square envelopes are a modern and stylish square shape (surprise!) with side seams and contemporary flat flap.

PRO TIP: The United States Postal Service considers square envelopes to be a non-standard, “non-machineable” size, so they require an extra $0.44 (or more, depending on size) in postage per letter in addition to the normal postage required.

They are commonly used for:

  • Announcements
  • Card making
  • Invitations
  • Holiday cards
  • Greeting cards

Square Envelope Size Chart

Shop square envelope sizes:

No. 5 Square Envelopes
No. 5 ½ Square Envelopes
No. 6 Square Envelopes
No. 6 ½ Square Envelopes
No. 7 Square Envelopes
No. 8 Square Envelopes
No. 8 ½ Square Envelopes
No. 9 ½ Square Envelopes

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Small Envelope Sizes

Coin and Mini-lope Envelope Sizes

Coin envelopes and mini-lopes are small specialty envelopes that are typically too small to mail, but they’re ideal for hand-delivered notes, coins, or gift cards. Mini-lopes are more decorative with eye-catching colors and styles, while coin envelopes are also commonly made of Manila card stock.

Coin and Mini-lope Envelope Size Chart

Shop coin and mini-lope envelope sizes:

No. 1 Coin Envelopes
Mini-lopes

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Wrapping Up

Envelopes come in copious styles and sizes, which can make it tricky to know which envelope to use for what purpose. The good news is that there are no “rules” when it comes to selecting an envelope, and you can usually adopt the “if I fits, I sits” approach (IYKYK). So long as the envelope contains the item you are sending and it meets postal regulations, you can send it on its way knowing it will arrive.

Shop all envelope sizes:

Business Envelopes
Announcement Envelopes
Square Envelopes
The Definitive Envelope Size Guide: Your Handbook to Standard Envelope Sizes - The Paper Mill Blog (2024)

FAQs

What size envelope fits a standard paper? ›

#10 Envelope - 4.125 x 9.5 inches. Standard envelope for a folded letter size paper to fit. #10 Window Envelope - Standard envelope for a folded letter size paper to fit with front window to allow a mailing address to show.

What is the standard envelope for 8.5 x11? ›

No. 10 commercial envelopes measure 9½ x 4⅛ inches (or 241 x 105 millimeters). Their size makes commercial envelopes ideal for mailing correspondence with normal A4 or 8½” x 11″ printer paper – the document can be folded into thirds to fit neatly inside.

How do I know what size envelope to make? ›

This is because envelope sizing is based on the ISO paper size system, so a C5 envelope is designed to fit A5 paper and a C4 envelope is designed to fit A4 paper. The ISO standard paper sizing system works by using A0 size paper as the base point and largest size.

What is a standard size envelope for USPS? ›

For a mailpiece to be eligible for First-Class Mail letter rates, it must be at least 3-1/2 inches by 5 inches by 0.007-inch thick, and no more than 6-1/8 inches by 11–1/2 inches by 1/4-inch thick. If the mailpiece falls within these dimensions, it is classified as a letter. Follow these easy steps for letters: 1.

What is the size of a standard paper? ›

Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) — the standard for everyday office print-outs and academic documents. Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) — often used for contracts and legal documents, hence the name.

What is a standard letter size? ›

215.9 x 279.4 8.5 x 11

What's the difference between #9 and #10 envelopes? ›

#9 Window Envelopes (3-7/8″ x 8-7/8″)– This size fits comfortably inside a standard #10 envelope, so is often used as a return envelope. #10 Window Envelopes (4-1/8″ 9-1/2″)– Standard business envelope. Fits an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper folded in thirds.

Is 8.5 x11 a standard paper? ›

North American Sizes

The most popular formats of the traditional sizes are the Letter (8.5 × 11 inches), Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) and Tabloid (11 × 17 inches) formats. You more than likely use these formats in your everyday life. Letter is the standard for business and academic documents.

How many pages fit in a #10 envelope? ›

#10 Envelope

It's perfect for mailing standard letters, invoices, and other correspondence. It can fit up to three sheets of standard 8.5" x 11" paper folded in thirds, making it a versatile and efficient option for day-to-day business mail.

How do I calculate envelope size? ›

Therefore, if the envelope is placed before you with its seal flap at the top, the dimension from the bottom fold to the top fold is the height. The dimension from the left to right is the width. Simply considering the position of the flap is the first step in describing envelopes.

Does envelope size matter? ›

In general, the bigger your mailpiece, the more it will cost to mail. In First-Class Mail, postcards cost less than letters. Letter size mail costs less than flat-size mail. Parcels pay the highest price due to the cost of processing and delivery.

Can an envelope be any size? ›

To be eligible for mailing at the price for letters, a piece must be: Rectangular. At least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick. No more than 6-1/8 inches high x 11-1/2 inches long x 1/4 inch thick.

Can I make my own envelope to mail? ›

Good news! You can make an envelope with any kind of paper but vary it so that it's suitable for what you're sending. If you're sending something heavier than a greetings card, use paper with a greater weight for your envelope.

How much does it cost to mail a 9x12 envelope? ›

If your letter is a standard-sized envelope and weighs 3.5 ounces or less, you will need one stamp. Large envelopes. This includes 9x12, legal, and manila envelopes, Two stamps are needed for the first ounce, and postage will be an additional $0.20 cents after.

Is a 6x9 envelope considered a flat? ›

The Postal Service uses the word "flats" to refer to large envelopes, newsletters, and magazines. The words large envelopes and flats are used interchangeably. Whatever you call them, flats must: Have one dimension that is greater than 6-1/8 inches high OR 11-½ inches long OR ¼ inch thick.

What size is an A7 envelope? ›

A7 Envelopes are a unique size and come from the “Announcement” style of envelopes. The size of an A7 envelope is 5.25 x 7.25 inches (mm: 133.35 x 184.15) which is slightly larger than the size of a classic greeting card or 5×7 photos.

What size is a A4 envelope? ›

A standard C4 envelope measures 324mm x 229mm. This is designed to fit unfolded A4 paper. Standard A4 paper size is 210mm x 297mm.

Will a #9 envelope fit inside a #10? ›

#9 / No. 9 / Return Envelope - Size: 3-7/8” x 8-7/8” Can be inserted inside a #10 envelope. Often used with bills or when return correspondence is requested. Larger envelopes used for booklets, catalogs, and large documents.

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