Flyers, Business Cards and Stationery Printing: A UK Guide to Paper, Sizes and Finishes

Paper weights, finishes, bleed and standard UK sizes for flyers, business cards and stationery, answered in plain English.

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What size is a standard UK business card?

The standard UK business card is 85 x 55 mm, close to the size of a bank card. Landscape is the usual layout, though portrait works too. Square and slim cards exist, but they may not fit standard card holders or wallets. If you are designing the file, add bleed around the 85 x 55 mm trim size, which is covered in the bleed question below.

What is bleed in printing and how much do I need?

Bleed is extra artwork that runs past the final cut edge, so no thin white line shows if trimming is a fraction off. Most UK printers ask for about 3 mm on every side. An 85 x 55 mm card is therefore usually set up at 91 x 61 mm. Keep text and logos roughly 3 mm inside the trim line too. Requirements vary slightly, so check with your printer before finalising.

What GSM paper is best for business cards?

Cards are usually printed on thick board, commonly in the 350 to 400 gsm range, because that weight survives wallets and pockets. Anything much below 300 gsm tends to feel more like a flyer. GSM means grams per square metre, so a higher number means a heavier, stiffer sheet. Stocks differ between printers, so ask what is available and request a sample if the feel matters to you.

What GSM should flyers be printed on?

Lightweight flyers for handing out often sit around 130 to 170 gsm, while 170 to 200 gsm feels more substantial and suits double-sided designs. Heavier paper looks better but is harder to fold, and posting thicker stock may need testing. If your flyer must survive being pushed through letterboxes or carried around, go a step up. Ask your printer which weights they can supply.

What is the difference between matt, gloss and silk finishes?

Gloss is shiny and makes photos and colours look vivid, but glare can make small text harder to read. Matt has no shine, suits text-heavy designs and is easier to write on, though colours look softer. Silk sits between the two, with a gentle sheen that works for most jobs. Soft-touch laminate and similar extras exist, though availability depends on the printer.

What are the standard flyer sizes: A4, A5, A6 and DL?

A4 is 210 x 297 mm, A5 is 148 x 210 mm and A6 is 105 x 148 mm. Each A size is half the one before it, which comes from the ISO 216 paper standard. DL flyers are usually 99 x 210 mm, which is one third of an A4 sheet, and slot into a DL envelope (110 x 220 mm) or a leaflet rack. Choose by how and where they will be handed out.

Should I print flyers single sided or double sided?

Single sided suits a quick message that will be handed out or pinned to a board, while double sided gives room for details, a map or an offer on the back. Printing both sides usually helps if you would otherwise squeeze text too small. Check the paper is not so thin that the reverse shows through. If you want a clean, uncluttered front, put extra detail on the back.

How do I design a flyer or business card so it prints properly?

Build the file at the exact finished size with 3 mm bleed, and keep key text inside a safe margin. Use images that are about 300 dpi at the size they will print, because small web images look soft on paper. Keep logos as vector artwork if you have it, and turn fonts into outlines or embed them. A PDF is usually the safest format to send, though ask what your printer prefers.

Why do colours look different on paper than on my screen?

Screens glow and mix red, green and blue light, whereas print uses ink on paper, so some bright screen colours cannot be matched exactly. Uncoated and matt paper soaks up ink and looks softer than gloss. Designing in CMYK from the start gives a more realistic preview, but it is not an exact guarantee. Where one brand colour matters, mention it when you ask for a quote and check the proof.

How many flyers or business cards should I order?

Order enough for your realistic use over the next few months rather than a guess, because artwork changes and details like phone numbers go out of date. Think about how many events, drops or meetings you have planned, then add a small spare allowance. Per-piece cost often falls as quantity rises, so ask for a quote at two quantities and compare. At FabricForge there is no minimum order, so you can start small.

What paper should a letterhead use?

Letterheads usually sit around 100 to 120 gsm, which feels like good office paper and still runs through most desktop printers. Smooth uncoated paper works best if you will print letters on top, since heavily coated finishes can repel some inks or toners. Leave generous margins for the heading and keep any background colour light so text stays readable. Compliment slips and notepaper generally follow similar paper choices.

Can flyers and business cards be printed on recycled paper?

Yes, recycled paper is generally available for flyers, cards and stationery, usually as an uncoated stock. It has a natural, slightly textured feel and can show small variations in colour or fibre. Colours can look a little softer than on coated paper, and very fine detail may lose crispness. Stock choices change between suppliers, so ask what recycled options can be quoted for your job.

Will I see a proof before my flyers or cards are printed?

You should always expect to check a proof before printing, because printed mistakes cannot be undone. FabricForge sends a visual proof first, so you can check spelling, phone numbers, email addresses and layout. Read every digit aloud and ask someone else to look too. A visual proof shows layout, but paper colour and texture can differ slightly once printed, so ask if you want to know how your chosen stock will look.

How do folded leaflets and brochures work?

A folded leaflet is a larger sheet scored and folded down to a smaller finished size, such as A4 folded to A5 or DL panels. Heavier paper is stiffer and may crack along the fold unless it is scored first, so ask about creasing. Keep text away from the fold and leave extra space for it in your design. Tell your printer the flat size, the finished size and the fold style.

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