We have envelope enquiries coming out of our back teeth here at LA Office which seems a little unusual that they’re all coming at once. They are a ‘trying’ item we appreciate, with so many envelope sizes available, paper thicknesses, quality and colours; which do you go for and why? It seems this one gets our customers knickers in a twist, but there’s no need, really! It very simple once you know and extremely easy to remember (that is if you know your paper sizes!), so it may be worth brushing up on the skills too. If you work in the mailing department at your place of work, I don’t envy you. I can see it now, you’ve been lumbered with the task of ordering in a year’s supply of company envelopes, but you don’t want to look silly by asking “which ones?” and “what does DL stand for?” Its okay, we have all the answers for you here. Take a look at our basic guide bellow:

• C4 Envelopes – Measuring 324 x 229mm, these envelopes are one of the more common sizes and can hold a sheet of A4 paper unfolded (C4 = A4).
• C5 Envelopes – Measuring 229 x 162mm, these envelopes are also relatively common and can hold a piece of A4 paper folded in half once or a piece of unfolded A5 paper (C5 = A5).
• C6 Envelopes – Measuring 114 x 162mm, these envelopes hold a piece of A4 paper folded into quarters, an A5 piece of paper folded in half once or a piece of unfolded A6 paper(C6=A6).
• DL Envelopes – Measuring 110 x 220mm, these are probably the most common office envelope and can hold an A4 piece of paper folded into thirds or an A5 piece of paper folded once.

There are also various different types of envelope to choose from, regardless of their size. A pocket envelope for example has it’s opening flap positioned along the short edge, where as a wallet envelope has it opening flap along the top edge. A banker envelope is the kind that has a triangular flap which we use for occasions cards and personal letters.  

Envelopes come in a variety of different seals too, three to be precise. Gummed envelopes are the sort in which you must moisten the adhesive strip in order to activate the ‘glue’. The Press & Seal variety are exceedingly popular in business as they only require that the two ‘glued’ flaps are applied together, it’s as simple as that. Peel & Seal envelopes are also straight forward and have a glued flap which is protected by a strip of paper. Peel away the strip and the adhesive is exposed ready for sealed shut the envelope.

Equipped with this knowledge you can now safely enter the world of envelopes, however should you need any further advise, please do not hesitate to call on 0870 7661722. More can be found out about the realationship between C4 Size, C5 Size, C6 Size and DL Size envelopes at EnvelopeSizes.info

I remember as a kid I used to make occasions cards for my family on birthdays, Mothers day, Fathers day, Easter, Christmas etc. To be honest, I know that my mother in particular still loves them now, so whenever I have the time I’ll take a day out to make her a card for Mothers day or her birthday. It’s quite nice to have the excuse to get out all my lovely art supplies, which by the way include the most fabulous Derwent artist pencils which I swear by! My grandparents pulled out a folder the other day filled with cards that my brothers, my cousins and I had made for them over the years, it was quite bizarre. Some of them even had homemade envelopes which gave me an idea for today’s blog. As reputable envelope suppliers we have various different customer markets; from big corporate giants to small offices, to home workers and families. Now obviously businesses will not have the time to go making their own envelopes, but for our small niche market of families, they could have a go at making envelopes of their own as a fun activity to do with the kids. You will need:

• Paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Ruler

Get yourself a sheet of paper measuring 8 ½ - by 11” and fold a half-inch seem on each long side. Next, measure 4 inches from the bottom of the paper and mark with a pencil. Fold the paper along the 4 inch line creating the bottom flap for the card to sit inside. Next, use the glue to stick the bottom flap to the folded sides and fold the top of the paper over by 2 inches forming the top flap. Taper the sides of this flap to create some style. When you have filled your envelopes, glue the top flap closed.

For businesses, unless you’re looking for a nice team building experience you may prefer to look through our selection of different envelopes available in various sizes and from some top brands. Our envelopes are made from high quality paper and are priced to suit all different budgets. Choose from the following categories:

• 15 x 10 Envelopes  
• 16 x 12 Envelopes
• C4 Envelopes (Fits A4 Page unfolded)
• C5 Envelopes (Fits A4 Page folded in half along long edge)
• DL Envelopes (Standard Business Size)
• Machine Processing Envelopes
• Padded Envelopes
• Polythene & Protective Envelopes
• Specialty Envelopes

Envelopes can be a tricky item to purchase when you have little knowledge of what the sizes mean. If you’ve been assigned the task of purchasing business envelopes to stock up for the year ahead, you could be out of your depth here! Ok, maybe I’m under estimating you, but I’m basing this theory on myself. Before I started work for LA Office I knew absolutely nothing about the names of the different sizes of envelopes and the different style closures, which would have made buying them online extremely difficult. Yes, I may have worked with them every day, but it’s not like their sizes are marked on them anywhere! The funny thing is though, is that it’s rather simple to remember once you’ve been told; in fact, if you know your paper sizes, then it’s a doddle!

Below is a chart which illustrates the envelopes and their sizes for quick reference. In basic, C4 envelopes are intended for use with A4 paper UNFOLDED. This is perfect when you are sending a document that mustn’t be creased. C5 envelopes are intended to be used with A5 paper UNFOLDED or with A4 paper FOLDED IN HALF ONCE. C6 envelopes are for use with A6 paper UNFOLDED, A5 paper FOLDED IN HALF ONCE, or A4 paper FOLDED TWISE INTO QUATERS. DL envelopes are one of the most popular envelope sizes in business and holds A4 paper FOLDED INTO THIRDS or A5 paper FOLDED IN HALF.

After choosing the correct size, you will then need to decide the style of envelope you are looking for. Wallet and banker envelopes have the opening flap placed on the long edge of the envelope which is what defines the envelope as a wallet or a banker. These are probably the most commonly used envelope styles. Pocket envelopes have their opening flap positioned on the short edge which is what defines the envelope as a pocket. There are other less commonly used envelope styles such as gusset envelopes which expand to hold their contents, or padded and protective envelopes which are reinforced with either board, foam or bubble wrap.

Your final decision is which type of seal would work best in your office (or home). For many the taste of a gummed envelope doesn’t put them off, nor does the risk of paper cuts to the tongue (ouch!). If this applies to you, then why pay the extra for a more ‘convenient’ seal? Alternatively, press and seal envelopes do not require any added moisture. To seal, simple apply the two glued flapped together. The last option is the peel and seal envelope which has a glued strip protected by a plastic strip. Simply fill the envelope, then peel back the plastic strip and close.  

Now you are equipped with the information you need, you will be able to make an informed decision, ordering the right envelopes for the job in hand. Remember, although our prices are already very low, if you buy in bulk (which is always useful with consistently used products such as envelopes) you will enjoy a further reduced price. Just ask for a quote!