A Guide to Deciding on Page Size for Printed Leaflets and Flyers

Leaflets and flyers are a popular promotional tool for businesses of all sizes, but for SMEs, they are often a core part of how they promote their products and services.  With the cost of print often putting smaller companies off using larger formats, it's important that they decide on the right size of page for the job.  Below, I take a look at some of the most popular page sizes for printed leaflets and flyers, and when these tend to be used.

Popular page sizes to use when printing leaflets and flyers

A4

A4 (297mm x 210mm) is the largest I would recommend going when printing a leaflet or flyer.  While you can print a leaflet onto A3 paper, this tends to be used more for small print runs and can often resemble posters.  A4 is a popular page size for leaflets and flyers as you have lots of room to promote your offering.  It's also a size that many of us are familiar with, and if you are printing internally to save costs, you will likely have a decent of A4 paper.  A4 leaflets and flyers are popular for trade shows and conferences, and can also be used in your shop or place of business to highlight the features and benefits of your product.

A5

A5 paper is half the size of A4 and perhaps the most popular size when it comes to printed flyers.  A5 is a popular choice because it is small enough to fit into your customers pocket, and large enough to get the detail you require on to it.  Remember though that your space is less than that of an A4 page, so be sure to use your space well.  A5 flyers are a popular choice for direct mail campaigns and can also be used to provide additional information on your product or services at a trade show or conference.

A6

A similar size to postcards, A6 flyers are becoming more and more popular as the digital age continues to impact on the retail industry.  A6 flyers are a popular size for flyers that are inserted into packages to help promote additional products or services from an online supplier.  The size and weight of A6 pages also make them an affordable way of printing large amounts of flyers, but just remember the size in which you have to work with is starting to become less and less.  A6 flyers are best used as an insert or 'filler' to try and push an upcoming sale or event, and have proved to be successful in the retail industry. 

DL

DL flyers are 1/3 A4 page (210mm x 99mm) and this means they fit perfectly into DL envelopes.  This has made them a popular flyer size for direct mail campaigns.  They are also a popular size for the food industry, with many eateries using a DL layout for their menu.  DL flyers still give you enough room to get creative, while also giving you a flyer that fits perfectly into your customers pocket or bag.  DL flyers are popular at trade shows, and as they are 1/3 of A4 page, they can also be a cost effective way for producing multiple flyers for your customers.

Which size is right for you?

Deciding on the paper size of your flyer will really come down to what you plan to use it for.  If you need to get lots of information onto your flyer then you will need an A4 or A5 flyer.  If you want something cheap that your customers can take with them on the go, consider smaller flyer sizes like A6, A7 or DL. 

Whatever size you decide on, ensure that your message is clear and easy to read.  Don't try to put too much information on to your flyer.  Make it something that your customers will want to pick up or want to read, should it land on their door mat.