Choosing the correct envelope size

The most widely used envelopes sizes are C4, C5, C6, padded and DL.

• Envelope of C4 size can hold sheet of A4 size. The dimension of this type of envelope is 324mm x 229mm. They are available with peel and seal flaps and are available in hues such as white and brown colour. Envelope of C4 size could be used for mailing hefty documents and delivery notes.
• Envelope of C5 size can hold sheet of A5 size. The dimension of this type of envelope is 229mm x 162mm. They are available with peel, seal flaps and double security self-seal flaps. They are available in brown and white hues. It is the most commonly used envelope size for purpose of mail shots and business letters. The weight of envelope of C5 size should range from 90 gsm to 130 gsm (grams per square inch).
• Padded envelopes are mostly used for mailing heavy documents. The benefit in using these envelopes is the aspect of protection and security which they provide. They are resistive to tear and damage so you can be tension free about the delivery of your stuff with utmost security and protection. Non-fragile items could be sent using this envelope. This kind of envelope has a layer of bubble wrap attached at inner side. Through the bubble wrap, one can hardly find out about the stuff inside the padded envelopes. Even non-fragile items could be sent using this envelope.

Different types of envelopes

• Common letter envelopes are the workhorse of most direct mail marketing campaigns. The common envelope types for this category are the #9 and #10 envelopes with dimensions 3 7/8 × 8 7/8 inches and 4 1/8 × 9 1/2 inches respectively. Both of those are longer envelopes, perfect for a few pages of letters with marketing messages. Of course, they have a wide area, which is useful to fit a special envelope printing design if you want. There are smaller envelopes in use as well. These are the A6 and the A7 envelopes with the dimensions 4 3/4 × 6 1/2 inches and 5 1/4 × 7 1/4 inches respectively. These are used for shorter correspondences and marketing messages. They are cheaper to print making them a perfect choice for budget marketers.
• The baronial envelope is a special kind, which is well suited for invitations, greeting cards and other formal announcements or communications. Most direct mail marketers refrain from sending these types of envelopes since baronial envelopes are not well suited to some postal services and machines. However, baronial envelopes carry a unique significance unto their own that makes people want to open and read the message inside. Since a baronial envelope's character usually portrays it as a bringer of good news, a marketing mail can exploit that character to its advantage. The typical size of a baronial envelope that can be mailed is 4.375 x 5.75 inches. Some baronial envelope can be too small however for mailing.
• Booklet and catalog envelopes are envelopes that are used to mail or store booklets and catalogs. The typical sizes for these kinds of envelopes are 6x9, 9x12 or 10x13 inches. The only difference between booklet and catalog envelopes is the location of their seams. Catalog envelopes have a seam located at the center, which makes it stronger. This makes it more apt to carrying heavier printed materials such as a thick catalog. Booklet envelopes however have a side seam, which is more typical of the seams of common letter envelopes. If you are mailing marketing booklets and catalogs, investing in custom envelope printing and design can really help make that mail more appealing. Those are the major types of envelopes to use for direct mail marketing.