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A compliment slip is a small branded note, usually DL size (210 x 99mm, a third of A4), that goes in with goods, an invoice, a sample or documents instead of a full letter. It carries your logo, the words "With compliments" and your contact details, with space left for a short handwritten note. We print compliment slips in full colour on one side of 120gsm uncoated paper, the same paper as our letterheads, from 250 per design, starting at £33 for 250.
What a compliment slip is for
The slip says who sent something and lets you add a line or two by hand: "Samples as discussed", "Your signed copy enclosed", "Thank you for your order". It is quicker than a letter and more personal than nothing at all. Common uses:
- in a parcel of goods or samples;
- with an invoice, a cheque or a remittance;
- with a brochure, a price list or a catalogue;
- with returned documents, such as signed contracts or certificates;
- as a thank-you note in an online order.
Some people call it a comp slip or a "with compliments" slip. Our glossary has a short entry on the compliment slip.
Size, paper and envelope
| Our compliment slips | |
|---|---|
| Size | DL, 210 x 99mm, usually landscape |
| Artwork size with 3mm bleed | 216 x 105mm (105 x 216mm for portrait) |
| Safe area | 5mm inside the trim |
| Paper | 120gsm uncoated, the same as our letterheads |
| Printing | Full colour, one side |
| Envelope | Fits a DL envelope (110 x 220mm) |
| Quantities | 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,500 per design |
DL is one third of an A4 sheet, which is why slips are so often printed alongside A4 letterheads. Our guide to DL size explains where it comes from.
The uncoated paper has no shine, so a pen or pencil writes cleanly on it. Colours look a little softer than on coated paper.
What to put on a compliment slip
Most slips carry the same header as your letterhead:
- Your logo and business name
- "With compliments", or a variation such as "With our compliments" or "Thank you"
- Address
- Phone number, email and website
Leave the rest clear for writing. Some businesses add a social media handle or a short line about what they do; keep it brief, or the slip starts to look like a leaflet.
If you want the slip to carry the same legal details as your business letters, our guide to what a company letterhead must show lists them for limited companies, LLPs, sole traders and charities.
Layout
A landscape DL slip has three natural zones:
| Zone | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Top or left third | Logo, business name and "With compliments" |
| Middle | Clear space for a handwritten note, at least half the slip |
| Bottom strip | Address, phone, email and website in small type |
Keep text at least 5mm inside the trim, the safe area, and run any background colour 3mm past the trim into the bleed. A coloured strip along the top or bottom edge works well; a thin border close to the edge does not, because a small movement in the cut makes one side look wider. On items smaller than A4, make any border at least 20mm wide, or leave it out.
Use the same colours, fonts and logo position as your letterhead and business cards, so the three look like a set.
Our free compliment slip template
Our free compliment slip template is a landscape DL page at 216 x 105mm, with the trim, the 3mm bleed and the 5mm safe area marked and room left for a handwritten note. It comes as a PDF and SVG for design programs, and as a Word document.
- Download the template and open it in your program.
- Put your logo and details on the artwork layer, inside the safe area.
- Stretch any background colour to the edge of the page.
- Hide or delete the template guide layer.
- Export a PDF, CMYK if your program allows it, with fonts embedded, and images at 300dpi.
Word works in RGB, so expect a colour warning and slightly softer colours; Word is still fine for a simple slip. Our guide to using our print templates shows each program step by step, and our artwork guidelines list every rule.
Ordering slips with letterheads
Our compliment slips and letterheads are printed on the same 120gsm uncoated paper, so a set printed from the same design matches in paper and feel. Order each as a separate item, with its own artwork at its own size: 216 x 105mm for the slip and 216 x 303mm for an A4 letterhead. The letterhead template is set up the same way.
Slips for different branches or addresses are separate designs, each with its own minimum of 250.
Prices, VAT and delivery
250 compliment slips cost £33, and 1,000 cost £43, which is 4.3p a slip. These are our current prices. Compliment slips are stationery, so they are standard-rated for VAT at 20%, and the prices include it (VAT on printing). Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses, and the compliment slips page shows the dispatch time.
Before you approve the proof, check the phone number, email and web address digit by digit: the automatic check looks at size, bleed, colour mode, resolution and fonts, but cannot read your words (proofs and file checks).
Questions
What is a compliment slip? A small printed note, usually headed "With compliments", that goes in with something you send, such as goods, an invoice, a sample, a brochure or returned documents. It shows your business details and leaves space for a short handwritten note and a signature, so you don't have to write a full letter.
What size is a compliment slip? DL, 210 x 99mm, printed landscape: a third of an A4 sheet. It fits a DL envelope (110 x 220mm). Set the artwork up at 216 x 105mm, which includes 3mm bleed on every edge, and keep text at least 5mm inside the trim.
What should be on a compliment slip? Your logo, the words "With compliments", your business name and address, phone number, email and website, set out to match your letterhead. Keep those to the top or one side and leave at least half the slip clear for a handwritten note.
Do you have a compliment slip template? Yes. Our free template is a landscape DL page at 216 x 105mm, with the trim, 3mm bleed and 5mm safe area marked. It comes as a PDF, an SVG and a Word document. Hide or delete the template layer before you export your PDF.
What paper are compliment slips printed on? 120gsm uncoated, the same paper as our letterheads, so the two match. The surface has no shine, so it is easy to write on with a pen. Colours look a little softer than on gloss or silk paper.
How many compliment slips should I order? You can order 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,500 per design. The price per slip falls as the quantity rises. If you send a slip with most orders or invoices, estimate how many you send in a year; slips with your address on go out of date if you move.
Can compliment slips be printed on both sides? Our compliment slips are printed on one side, which leaves the back plain. Our letterheads can be printed double-sided if you need terms on the back of a letter.
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