Leaflet and Flyer Sizes Explained: A6, A5, A4 and DL in Millimetres

The UK leaflet and flyer sizes are A6 (105 x 148mm), A5 (148 x 210mm), A4 (210 x 297mm) and DL (99 x 210mm). Add 3mm of bleed on every edge, so an A5 file is 154 x 216mm. A5 suits door drops and events, DL suits leaflet racks and envelopes, A6 suits handouts, and A4 suits price lists and information sheets.

Leaflet sizes at a glance

Pixels are millimetres ÷ 25.4 x 300, rounded. Use these if you build a leaflet as one image. Each size name links to its page, with the full specification for that size.

The same sizes in other units, for the finished leaflet without bleed:

We print all four on our leaflets and flyers page, single or double-sided, on 135gsm gloss, 170gsm gloss or 170gsm silk paper. Our free leaflet templates give each size at the full artwork size, with the trim, bleed and safe area marked, as a PDF and an SVG.

How the sizes fit together

A6, A5 and A4 belong to the A series in the international standard ISO 216. Each size is half the one above, and all share the same proportions, so an A5 design scales to A4 or A6 without cropping. Check that small text is still readable at A6.

DL is not an A size. It takes its name from the DL envelope, and a DL leaflet is one third of an A4 sheet: 297 ÷ 3 = 99mm, with the 210mm side unchanged. That is why an A4 sheet folded twice lands at DL.

Flyer or leaflet: is there a difference?

In print terms, no. Both are a single printed sheet, and we sell them as one product. People tend to say flyer for something handed out at an event, and leaflet for something posted through doors.

For VAT, the name does not matter. HMRC uses the word leaflet in its guidance and looks at what the item is: its size, paper, purpose and quantity (see the VAT section below). A flyer that meets those conditions is treated the same way as a leaflet.

Which size for door drops, counters and menus

Door drops

A5 is the usual choice: room for a headline, a picture and a few short paragraphs on each side, and it goes through a letterbox without folding. DL also posts flat. A4 gives the most room but may need folding for some letterboxes, so consider a folded leaflet instead.

Counters and receptions

A6 and DL suit a counter or reception desk, where people pick one up and put it in a pocket or bag. A6 is postcard-sized: a headline, one offer and contact details. DL fits a standard leaflet rack and suits a single column of text, such as opening times or a short list of services.

Menus

A4 and DL are common menu shapes. A4 gives a full page for a long menu; DL gives a tall, narrow menu that fits a DL envelope or sits beside a till. For a longer takeaway menu, an A4 sheet folded to DL gives six panels. The VAT on menus depends on the item, so see our VAT on printing page and contact us before you order menus.

Folded leaflets

When one flat sheet is not enough, our folded leaflets start as an A4 sheet printed on both sides, on 135gsm or 170gsm gloss:

Keep text 5mm clear either side of each fold, and 5mm inside the trim. On a roll fold, the panel that folds inside is slightly narrower so it tucks in neatly. Our guide to half, roll and Z folds gives the panel widths and the order of the panels on each side.

Envelopes that fit

The C envelope sizes in ISO 269 are made for the A series: an A6 leaflet fits a C6 envelope, A5 a C5 and A4 a C4. A DL leaflet, or an A4 sheet folded to DL, fits a DL envelope, which is 110 x 220mm.

Choosing a paper

• 135gsm gloss: an everyday weight for large door drops; gloss makes photographs bright.
• 170gsm gloss: heavier in the hand.
• 170gsm silk: a softer sheen that is easier to write on.

All three are paper, not card, which matters for VAT. Our glossary entry on gsm explains the numbers.

Setting up your artwork

• Make the page the finished size plus 3mm bleed on every edge (the third column in the first table). Our guide to what bleed is explains why.
• Keep text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line.
• Supply a PDF in CMYK, with fonts embedded and images at 300dpi at the size they print. The minimum font size is 6pt.
• For double-sided leaflets, put the front on page 1 and the back on page 2.

Our artwork guidelines cover each step. Every upload gets a free automatic check and an on-screen proof before you pay.

VAT on leaflets

Prices include VAT. Leaflets are zero-rated where they qualify, so there is no VAT on them. 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;
• printed on limp paper, not card;
• meant to be held in the hand and read, rather than hung up for display;
• complete in itself;
• supplied in a quantity of at least 50 copies.

Under paragraph 3.4, areas to fill in and parts to tear off should take up no more than 25% of the leaflet, added together. Our VAT on printing page explains the conditions in plain English. This is a summary of HMRC guidance, not tax advice.

Prices and delivery

See live prices on the leaflets page for every size, paper and quantity from 100. Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses, and the dispatch time is shown on each product page.

Questions

What size is an A5 leaflet in mm? An A5 leaflet is 148 x 210mm, or 14.8 x 21cm. With 3mm of bleed on every edge, the artwork is 154 x 216mm, which is 1819 x 2551 pixels at 300dpi. A5 is half of A4, so two A5 leaflets come from one A4 sheet.

What size is a DL leaflet? A DL leaflet is 99 x 210mm, one third of an A4 sheet. The artwork with 3mm bleed is 105 x 216mm. It fits a DL envelope, which is 110 x 220mm under ISO 269, and suits leaflet racks and tall, narrow menus.

What is the difference between a flyer and a leaflet? In print terms there is none: both are a single printed sheet. People tend to say flyer for something handed out and leaflet for something posted through doors. For VAT, HMRC looks at the item itself, its size, paper, purpose and quantity, not what you call it.

Which leaflet size is best for a door drop? A5 is the usual choice: room for a headline, a picture and a few short paragraphs, and it goes through a letterbox flat. DL also posts flat and suits a single column of text. A4 gives the most room but may need folding, so consider an A4 sheet folded to A5 or DL.

Which size should I use for a menu? A4 suits a long menu on one page, and DL suits a tall, narrow menu or one posted in a DL envelope. For more dishes, an A4 sheet roll folded or Z folded to DL gives six panels. The VAT on menus depends on the item, so see our VAT on printing page and contact us before you order.

What resolution do leaflet images need? 300dpi at the size they print. That means an A5 leaflet built as one image needs 1819 x 2551 pixels including bleed, and an A6 needs 1311 x 1819 pixels. Our free automatic check looks at resolution when you upload, and the on-screen proof shows your design before you pay.

Is there VAT on leaflets? Usually not. Leaflets are zero-rated where they qualify under HMRC Notice 701/10 paragraph 3.3: a single sheet up to A4, on limp paper, meant to be read, complete in itself and supplied in at least 50 copies. Areas to fill in or tear off must stay at 25% or less. Our prices include VAT.

Do I need at least 50 leaflets for zero-rating? Yes. Paragraph 3.3 of Notice 701/10 says leaflets are supplied in a quantity of at least 50 copies to allow general distribution. Our minimum order is 100 leaflets per design, so every order meets that number. Different designs count separately, each with its own minimum.