Envelopes Size Guide
Have a read below to see which envelope is best for your use. These are the envelopes that are most commonly used. The comparison is used to an A4 piece of paper to make it easier to describe the size.
The C4 envelopes are the traditional A4 size where a full sheet can fit in it unfolded. This is especially useful for business documents that are not suppose to be folded. To give you the exact size they are 324mm by 229mm.
The C5 envelopes are A5 size so an unfolded A5 piece of paper could fit in there or an A4 piece folded just once (which is more useful when you have over 3 pieces of A4 to fit in as the smaller DL envelope would be too tight a fit). The exact size is 229mm by 162mm.
The C6 envelopes holds a A5 piece of paper folded once or a A4 piece in quarters or an A6 size piece of paper unfolded as the size suggests. The exact size is 114mm by 162mm.
The DL size envelopes would be the most common of them all especially for business use. This envelope holds a A4 piece of paper folded into three or an A5 piece once folded. The exact size is 110mm by 220mm.
You will see that most of the envelopes come from the C series, they are the mean sizes of A and B size envelopes so this means they are bigger than A4 but not as big as B4.
C6 and C5 size envelopes from the C series were produced to try and replace the smallest of the above the DL – to help the mechanical envelope appliances produced but this has not happened really. DL measure 110mm by 220mm and are still more popular.
Envelopes with windows or not ?
You can get envelopes with or without windows the choice is yours but the benefit of a window envelope is that you do not have to write the address on the outside every time you go to send post saving unnecessary effort and time.
But sometimes you may need an envelope with no window when the document inside does not have the senders address on anyway or is doesn't line up with the window but also these are handy when you do not want anyone handling your post to know what is inside.
What type of envelopes ?
Are there different types? You probably thought an envelope is just an envelope right there are just different sizes but no there are three main types:
1. Pocket
2. Wallet
3. Banker
Differences include:
1. Pocket – is landscape with a flap to open on one the shortest side.
2. Wallet – not unlike pockets but the flap where it opens is on the longer side.
3. Banker – not unlike the wallet type as the flap opens on the longer side but the flap this time is triangular in shape. Commonly used for greeting cards e.g. birthdays, anniversaries, good luck cards etc.
Now to choose the seal
You can choose between three different types of seals:
1. Peal and seal
2. Gummed
3. Press seal
The detail
1. Peel and seal – which is becoming the most commonly used these days as the sticky bit seems to last longer and stronger than the gummed types. The strip covering the sticky bit is taken off and then you simply press on the other side of the envelope to close. – most effective but most expensive.
2. Gummed – these are what we are all use to having to wet the gum before it will stick to the other part of the envelope to close it, otherwise it will not stick to the other side. It doesn't leave the most pleasant after taste on your tongue hence why it is the cheapest option.
3. Press seal - you can simply close the flap to the envelope in order to seal it and it will simple stick once pushed down enough. This is slightly more expensive than gummed.
Ever thought what is this gum? Well it is produced from gum arabic, being a side product of hard sap from two types of acacia tree found in India and Africa.
To sum up there are many different types of envelopes available out there to suit you needs. These are all pretty standard envelopes but you can get other specialist ones, being the above sizes etc but you can have them padded, re-enforced or bubble envelopes if you have something a little fragile in side to keep it safe, printed ones to convey your businesses logo or fabric types to make what you are sending a little bit more special/different for the recipient and lots more. I am sure if there is something else you would like too a specialist company could design your very own envelope the possibilities are endless.
There are also the translucent polypropylene envelopes you see that hold your favourite magazines, these are available if you need to grab a buyers eye!
There is literally an envelope out there for every possible need, so it is essential to pick the right one to suit your personal or even business needs whether it be for a personal letter or a business document!
I hope you have found this guide useful and I trust your post will now arrive safely and how to wish it to be received at the other end!
Now move onto the task of deciding what postage to use, prices depend on the size so make sure you check the before sending!