A4 Leaflet Printing: Flat or Folded, Paper, Prices and VAT

An A4 leaflet is 210 x 297mm (21 x 29.7cm), the size of a standard sheet of printer paper and the largest flat leaflet we print. We print A4 leaflets in full colour on one or both sides, on 135gsm gloss, 170gsm gloss or 170gsm silk paper, from 100 per design, and we also fold A4 sheets down to A5 or DL. 500 double-sided A4 leaflets on 135gsm gloss cost £56, with no VAT to add where leaflets qualify for zero-rating and free delivery to UK mainland addresses.

A4 leaflet size

A4 is twice the size of A5 and four times A6, all from the ISO 216 A series. Our guide to leaflet and flyer sizes compares the four sizes we print.

When A4 is the right size

A4 gives a full page on each side, which suits information that people read and keep:

• price lists and service lists;
• menus with a full page of dishes;
• information sheets, fact sheets and newsletters;
• event programmes and timetables;
• notices for clubs, schools and community groups.

It is also the size people expect to put in a file or pin to a noticeboard. If your content is short and punchy, an A5 leaflet is usually a better door drop; if it is long, A4 stops you cramming it in.

Flat A4 or folded A4?

An A4 sheet can be supplied flat, or folded so it is easier to hand out, post or rack. We print both.

A flat A4 leaflet may need folding to go through some letterboxes, so for a door drop consider a folded leaflet instead. Folded leaflets are always printed on both sides. Our guide to half, roll and Z folds explains each fold and its panel widths.

A4 leaflet prices

Live prices for double-sided A4 leaflets and folded A4 leaflets, read from our price list each time the page loads:

The A4 leaflets page shows every paper and side option, including single-sided and 170gsm gloss, and the folded leaflets page shows the Z fold and 170gsm gloss. Our guide to how much leaflets cost compares all four flat sizes.

Choosing the paper

For a flat A4 leaflet, 135gsm gloss is the everyday choice for large runs. 170gsm gloss is heavier and suits a price list or menu that gets handled a lot. 170gsm silk has a lower sheen, which makes a full page of text easier to read under bright light, and it is easier to write on than gloss. Our glossary explains gsm.

If you need A4 paper for letters rather than leaflets, our letterheads are A4 on 120gsm uncoated paper, made to go through an office printer and to be written on.

Setting up A4 artwork

• Flat leaflet: make the page 216 x 303mm, which is A4 plus 3mm of bleed on every edge. Keep text and logos 5mm inside the trim. Put the front on page 1 and the back on page 2.
• Folded leaflet: supply two pages of 303 x 216mm, an A4 sheet laid landscape plus bleed, with the outside on page 1 and the inside on page 2. Keep text 5mm clear either side of each fold.
• Images: 300dpi at the size they print. A full-page A4 photo with bleed needs about 2551 x 3579 pixels.
• Text: at least 6pt. A long A4 page reads more easily with clear headings and short paragraphs; our leaflet design tips cover layout.

Our free leaflet templates and folded leaflet templates have every line drawn in, and our artwork guidelines list the settings. Every upload gets a free automatic check and an on-screen proof before you pay.

VAT on A4 leaflets

A4 is the largest flat sheet that HMRC's leaflet zero-rating covers. Under VAT Notice 701/10, paragraph 3.3, a leaflet is normally a single sheet no larger than A4 (or up to A2 if printed on both sides and folded down to A4 or smaller), on paper rather than card, meant to be read and supplied in a quantity of at least 50. Under paragraph 3.4, areas to fill in or tear off should take up no more than 25% of the leaflet. Our A4 and folded leaflet prices are shown on the zero-rated basis. A menu or a leaflet that is mostly a form may be treated differently, so see our VAT on printing page before you order. This is a summary of HMRC guidance, not tax advice.

Delivery

A4 leaflets are dispatched 6 working days after you approve your proof, and mainland delivery usually takes a further 1 to 2 working days. Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses, and we quote delivery for Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and islands, the Isles of Scilly, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands before you order.

Questions

What size is an A4 leaflet? An A4 leaflet is 210 x 297mm, or 21 x 29.7cm, about 8.27 x 11.69 inches. With 3mm of bleed on every edge, the artwork is 216 x 303mm. Keep text at least 5mm inside the trim.

How much does it cost to print A4 leaflets? 1,000 double-sided A4 leaflets on 135gsm gloss cost £69, or 6.9p each, with free delivery to UK mainland addresses. The table above shows other quantities, silk paper and folded options.

Can you fold A4 leaflets? Yes. Our folded leaflets start as an A4 sheet printed on both sides, folded in half to A5 or folded twice to DL as a roll fold or a Z fold. Flat A4 leaflets are supplied unfolded.

Will an A4 leaflet go through a letterbox? It may need folding for some letterboxes. For door drops, A5 and DL post flat, and an A4 sheet folded to A5 or DL gives you the full A4 area in a smaller, easier-to-post size.

Is there VAT on A4 leaflets? Usually not. A4 is the largest flat size HMRC's leaflet zero-rating normally covers: a single sheet on paper, meant to be read and ordered in a quantity of at least 50. A leaflet that is mostly a form to fill in may be standard-rated.

What paper should I choose for an A4 price list? 170gsm gloss or 170gsm silk. Both feel more substantial than 135gsm gloss, which suits a sheet people keep and handle. Silk has a lower sheen, so a full page of prices is easier to read under bright light.