UK Paper Sizes Guide for Direct Mail Marketing

A UK Paper Sizes Guide 

The world of UK metric paper sizes, aspect ratios, and the difference between A and B paper sizes can seem confusing, but we’re here to help you choose the best possible option for your direct marketing campaign. 

The A paper size is the standard sizing that is most well-known, and ranges from the largest, A0, to A10, the smallest. According to the ISO, which specifies international paper sizes used in most countries in the world, A paper sizes are the most common sizes for general printing. The ISO 216 specifies international paper sizes are used in most countries in the world. As mentioned earlier, A is the most prevalent in the paper sizes chart. 

A Paper Sizes Chart

• A0 – 841 x 1189mm
• A1 – 594 x 841mm
• A2 – 420 x 594mm
• A3 – 297 x 420mm
• A4 – 210 x 297mm
• A5 – 148 x 210mm
• A6 – 105 x 148mm
• A7 – 74 x 105mm
• A8 – 52 x 74mm
• A9 – 37 x 52mm
• A10 – 26 x 37mm

The A4 paper size is the most used for everyday printing, measuring 210 x 297 mm. A5, which is half the size of A4, measures in at 148 x 210 mm. Whether it is in a personal or professional setting, A4 is used in many sectors, but mostly for:  

• Magazines
• Small posters
• Menus
• Calendars

The A5 paper size is compact and handy for various uses, making it perfect for examples of direct mail marketing such as flyers or small leaflets.  

Moving up in size, A3 is double the size of A4 at 297 x 420 mm and is often used for posters or large documents.  

For even larger projects, the A2 paper size is 420mm by 594mm, but the largest in the series, the A0 paper size, measures a whopping 841 x 1189 mm, and is often found to be ideal for technical drawings or big presentation prints. 

At WDM, our Digital Printing Services can print up

B Paper Sizes Guide

Unlike their A size counterpart, the B paper sizes are typically less common and tend to be used for bigger jobs, such as posters. 

Like the A series, the B series paper sizes are derived from the B0 format, which measures 1 meter in width and √2 meters in length. This gives the B0 format a length-to-width ratio of √2 as well. 

The B paper size was brought in for a wider range of paper sizes and, due to this, is larger than the A. You can describe B3 as in between the sizes of A3 and A4 and B5 in the middle of A4 and A5. For those who are looking into the size of B paper for their direct mail, at WDM, our Litho Printing Services goes up to the size of B3. 

B Paper Sizes Chart

• B0 – 1000 x 1414mm
• B1 – 707 x 1000mm
• B2 – 500 x 707mm
• B3 – 353 x 500mm
• B4 – 250 x 353mm
• B5 – 176 x 250mm
• B6 – 125 x 176mm
• B7 – 88 x 125mm
• B8 – 62 x 88mm
• B9 – 44 x 62mm
• B10 – 31 x 44mm

Paper Sizes in the C series

Alongside the A and B paper sizes, there is the C paper series. However, C paper size is used for envelopes which is designed to house A paper. The A and C numbers correlate; for example, A4 will fit in a C4 envelope etc. 

Different Grades of Paper

At WDM we offer three grades of paper, which are: 

• Gloss – Gloss paper is shiny and smooth to the touch. These coated papers have are usually used for brochures, flyers, photographic printing and various other documents with an eye for presentation. 

• Silk – You could refer to silk paper as in between shiny and matt. It’s similar to granite paper and is most often printed on for postage and revenue stamps. 

• Matt – Matt paper is not as smooth as gloss. Matt paper can be coated or uncoated and provides printing without reflections for better readability. Matt can be seen in product booklets, brochures and other high quality print work. 

What to Remember Before Printing

Before printing and viewing our paper size chart, it’s important to consider how many pages you will require in your final document – such as a brochure or magazine. If you intend on producing in-depth direct mail marketing, you’ll want your paper to be lighter, so always consider the page weight.  

Another aspect of printing is the bleed and binding. The bleed refers to printing that continues to the edge after it has been trimmed, and binding is how your printing product will be held together. 

At WDM, we offer a range of printing services – including print finishing – and you can get in touch with one of our team for even more information on paper sizes, and which paper series to choose for your direct mail. 

Paper Sizes for Direct Mail Marketing FAQs

What are the different paper sizes?
In the UK, paper sizes are standardized by ISO 216, which includes the A, B, and C series, typically ranging from size 0 to 10. 

• The A series is commonly used for general printing.
• The B series is designed for printing multiple A sheets simultaneously.
• The C series is primarily used for envelopes. 

Which is larger: A2 or A3?

A2 is twice the size of A3, while A1 is twice the size of A2. In the paper size system, each number represents a size that is double the next number in the sequence.

What size is A5?

A5 paper measures 148 x 210 mm or 5.8 x 8.3 inches. It is half the size of A4, a quarter of A3, and twice the size of A6. A5 is the typical size for a standard greetings card.