Are you confused by so many different envelope sizes?

How to choose the right envelope size is a difficult thing for many people. After we prepare a birthday card or party invitation, we want to find an adorable and right size envelope to match them. Today, Paper papers will layout ideas for best options to select the right one for your project. The very first step for making your envelope selection successful, is to know the size of your insert. Better yet, select the envelope first, and then design your insert to fit perfectly with the envelope of your choosing. Consider your insert should ALWAYS be smaller than your envelope dimensions.

This is a visual chart for the most common Announcement size envelopes (You can read more info about our A-SIZE Envelopes)

The most common Envelope

Envelopes come in all manner of sizes, styles, thicknesses and colors. Please refer to our Envelope Size Chart to find all the current available stock sizes. At paper-papers.com our most popular envelopes are A-Size (Announcement Envelopes), ranging A2 thru A10. The A-Size chart does not reflect A1, yet we refer to 4-bar with a square flap as our A1 envelope. You can learn more about A1 envelopes as we’ve discussed it in more detail.

Envelope styles and how envelopes seal

There are many styles of envelopes; Business, Catalog/Booklet, Baronial and A-Style as well as other Specialty envelope products. The seam, flap and size of the envelope are main factors typically used to classify the style of an envelope.

Seam variations are as such: Side seam, diagonal seam, center seams and single side seams.
Flap variations can be pointed, square, wallet and commercial. The flap can also take on a unique variation of these markers, for example a pointed flap can be referred to as a euro flap if it is deep and has a rounded tip. Many commercial envelopes can be given a deep, pointed flap to present a prestigious look. Some creative variations are when flaps open on the non-traditional side of the envelope which presents a uniqueness to the look or style, yet keeping the measurements the same as its traditional size identifier. In addition to seams and flaps defining the style of an envelope, they also help determine the functional application.

There are various ways of sealing an envelope: remoistenable seal gum (which is moisten to seal); press to seal which can have a self adhering latex; peel to seal is when a tape liner is applied over an adhesive, therefore once the liner is peeled away, just press to seal the envelope; clasp and string/button are additional closure methods. Lastly, simple wafer seals are excellent options to close your envelope and use some decor as a coordination to your work.

Here is our easy, visual identifier to help understand the various parts of an envelope and its proper terms.

Be sure to jump over to our envelope size chart to find the most common envelopes sizes listed in both inches and metric measurement.