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Choosing the right Envelope

Envelopes are often overlooked as an important part of business. Whenever a customer or supplier receives a letter or mailing from you, the envelope is the first thing they see.

To view the key points to buying envelopes please click on the link that interests you under 'Key Points' or scroll down the page, alternatively if you know what you are looking for simply click on the link under 'Buy Now' to be taken straight to our envelope range.

KEY POINTS
DL
C5
C4
Gummed
Self Sealing
Window/Plain
Weight
Security and Privacy

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Common Envelope Sizes

DL (Dimension Lengthwise) Envelope – A4 in thirds
This is for an A4 sized document that is folded over twice to create 3 roughly equal sections. A DL envelope measures 22cm in width and 11cm in height. DL envelopes are generally used for single page letters and similar (usually short) correspondence; however the need to fold each letter twice creates creases which can sometimes look unprofessional if there are more than two pages.

C5 Envelop – A4 in half

This is for an A4 document that is folded in half. A C5 envelope measures 22.9cm in width and 16.2cm in height. C5 envelopes are used mainly for A4 documents that are more than two pages long, and also quite commonly for mail shots and smaller brochures that cannot be folded. The need for only a single fold helps makes letters look more professional, but without being too large for common use.

C4 Envelop – A4

This is for an A4 document without any folding. A C4 envelope measures 32.4cm width and 22.9cm in height. C4 envelopes are used mainly for important letters and brochures that cannot or should not be folded.

Information on ISO C Series Envelopes Sizes - C0, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 and DL

Sealing

Gummed Envelope

This is the traditional way of sealing an envelope. The glue on the flap of the envelope has to be moistened (usually by licking it!) and sealed. This is the cheapest way of sealing an envelope.

Self Sealing Envelope

This is now the most common way of sealing business envelopes. The flap and envelope have strips of glue, which seal when pressed together. This is more expensive than gummed envelopes (although the price difference is small), but is more convenient and forms a tighter bond.

‘Peel and Seal’ is similar, except the glue is protected by a plastic strip; which is removed on sealing. These envelopes cost about the same as self sealing envelopes. The bonding formed is the strongest type, as the glue is protected by the plastic strip.

Windows / Plain Envelopes

A windowed envelope allows you to display the address printed on the letter: which looks great. Windowed envelopes look more professional, and should be used for almost all correspondence.

A plain envelope allows you to write or print an address onto the letter, this is good if you wish a letter to have a personal touch (e.g.: A compliment slip with a short message), but can look unprofessional in more formal situations.

Windowed envelopes are generally slightly more expensive than plain envelopes, but worth it.

Weight

Envelopes are weighed in the same way as paper, using ‘gsm’ (Grams per square metre). They start at 80-90gsm, which is suitable for most uses. For more formal or important documents you may wish to use 100-125gsm envelopes as they will feel like better quality to the person receiving the letter.

Security and Privacy

If your letter is private, or you are sending information that needs to be kept secure, you will need to use opaque envelopes. These have a pattern or colour on the inside, which means that the writing inside cannot be read from outside the envelope.

View our full range of envelopes, including C4 and DL envelopes

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