A5, A4 or DL? How to Choose a Flyer Size
The right flyer size gives your message enough room while fitting the way you will hand it out or display it. Start with what the reader needs to understand and do next. A larger sheet is useful when the information needs space; a compact format works when the message can stay focused.
IPRINTOP’s current flat flyer range offers A5, A4 and DL. Use this guide to choose a format, then check the available paper and quantity on the Flyer & Leaflet Printing product page.
Start with one clear message
Write down the main offer, event or service before designing the layout. Then list the details the reader needs: what it is, who it is for, where to find it and what to do next. Decide whether the intended response is a booking, a shop visit, a phone call or an online order.
Group supporting details around that action. If every sentence appears equally important, the size alone will not solve the layout. Try shortening the wording or separating topics before reducing the text to fit.
Compare A5, A4 and DL
| Format | A useful starting point for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A5 | An offer, event invitation or concise service introduction. | Can the headline, key details and response fit comfortably? |
| A4 | More detailed information or a layout with several sections. | Use the extra space for clear hierarchy, not unnecessary copy. |
| DL | A slim handout with a short, structured message. | Check the exact template and any holder or insertion requirement. |
A5: a practical starting point
A5 measures 148 × 210mm. It can suit a focused promotion with a strong heading, a useful image and essential contact details. Start with a rough layout at the finished size and see whether you can read it comfortably without zooming in.
Using both sides can help separate the main message from supporting information. Make sure each side has a purpose rather than treating the back as a place to squeeze everything left over.
A4: room for more detail
A4 measures 210 × 297mm. Consider it when several services, a fuller explanation or larger illustrations genuinely need room. Plan sections and headings so readers can find the part relevant to them.
Check how you will distribute it. A format that works well on a counter may be less convenient for another handout or packing arrangement. If you need the sheet folded, order the correct folded product instead of assuming folding is included.
DL: a slim, structured format
DL can suit a short service list, a concise promotion or a clearly ordered sequence of information. Its narrow shape rewards focused wording. Check the dimensions in the exact DL artwork template before designing, especially if it needs to fit a particular display holder or another item.
Choose the paper and format together
The current online flat-flyer configurations use 150gsm silk for DL, A5 and A4, with an additional 250gsm silk option for A5. They are full-colour, double-sided, square-cut sheets without added lamination. Available quantities vary by configuration.
These are flat, unfolded flyers. If your message needs separate panels, explore Folded Leaflet Printing. A folded DL leaflet and a flat DL flyer are different products, with different artwork layouts. Choose the product before building the file.
Prepare the artwork for the selected size
Use the template that matches your finished size. Follow its bleed and safe-area guides: extend background artwork where instructed, and keep essential wording and logos away from the trim edge. Do not borrow a template from another format just because the proportions look similar.
For the current double-sided flyers, supply the front followed by the back in a two-page print-ready PDF, or clearly label separate files. Follow the product’s colour, image-resolution and font instructions. Check spelling, event dates, contact details and every QR-code destination before approving the final artwork.
Order the right quantity and version
The selected print quantity is the number of flyers in one pack. Keep basket quantity at one for one pack; increasing it repeats the pack with the same artwork. Different designs or versions should be separate items, so each specification and file is clear.
Artwork changes and new designs are quoted separately. If you have a fixed event date, explain it before ordering so production and delivery can be considered for your quantity and address.
Ready to choose? Configure your flyers, or explore the wider Business Printing range. For local advice, visit our Thornton Heath shop; visits to our Croydon production location are by prior appointment.