Envelope Standards & Facts

January 11, 2010 by Brenda Bell · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Finishing, Mailing, Paper 

With so many different shapes, sizes and categories, envelopes can quickly become very confusing. Here some info on the most common envelopes and their sizes to hopefully help make things a little clearer.

Commercial and official:
These envelopes normally have a commercial flap (standard flap), however some manufacturers offer a square flap version as well for certain sizes.
#6 1/4 envelope – 3.5625 x 6.25
#6 3/4 envelope – 3.625 x 6.5
#8 5/8  envelope – 3.625 x 8.625
#7 3/4  envelope – 3.875 x 7.5
Monarch – 3.875 x 7.5
#9  envelope – 3.875 x 8.875
#10 envelope – 4.125 x 9.5
#11 envelope – 4.5 x 10.375
#12 envelope – 4.75 x 11
#14 envelope – 5 x 11.5

Announcement envelopes:
These envelopes have a square flap.
A-2 envelope - 4.375 x 5.75
A-6 envelope – 4.75 x 6.5
A-7 envelope – 5.25 x 7.25
A-8 envelope – 5.5 x 8.125
A-10 envelope – 6 x 9.5

Baronial Envelopes (abbreviated “Bar”):
These envelopes have a baronial (pointed) flap.
#4 Baronial envelope – 3.625 x 5.125
#5 Baronial envelope – 4.125 x 5.5
#5 1/2 Baronial – 4.375 x 5.75
#6 Baronial – 4.75 x 6.5
Lee – 5.25 x 7.25

Remittance envelopes:
These envelopes have a statement or return flap
6 1/4 Remittance envelope – 3.5 x 6
6 1/2 Remittance envelope - 3.5 x 6.25
6 3/4 Remittance envelope – 3.625 x 6.5
#9 Remittance envelope – 3.875 x 6.5

Other Envelope Facts:

  • A Booklet envelope has the flap on the long side. For example, on a 9×12 booklet, the flap is on the 12 inch side.
  • A Catalog envelope has the flap on the short side. For example, on a 9×12 catalog, the flap is on the 9 inch side.
  • A converted envelope is when the envelope is printed on a flat sheet and then made into an envelope. This is opposed to printing on a preconverted envelope. A converted envelope is most economically feasible at larger quantities.
  • A square flap envelope with rounded corners is called a pictorial flap envelope. In most cases this is only available with a converted envelope.

Tags: , , , , , ,