This quick guide will go through all of the most common and popular types of envelope you might need. Most of them can even be provided by Mailcoms – view our range of envelopes here.
Paper comes in different sizes, most commonly being A4, and as such envelopes are no different. For every size of paper you can send, there is at least one envelope designed for it.
One of the most common envelopes used is the DL. A DL envelope requires standard 1st or 2nd class postage stamps and is perfect when sending a single sheet or multiple sheets of A4 paper folded twice.
C6 envelopes are designed for sending A4 paper folded into equal quarters. Alternatively C6 envelopes are also designed for sending A6 pieces of paper and card or A5 card and paper folded in half.
C5 is the largest sized envelope that can be used with standard 1st or 2nd class postage. You will need to check the weight of your envelope with its contents to ensure the correct postage has been applied and this can be easily achieved with a franking machine. Use C5 envelopes when sending a A4 sheets of paper folded once in half, or an unfolded sheet of A5 paper.
A C4 envelope is known as a large letter envelope and is perfectly designed for postage using 1st and 2nd class postage. This will depend on the contents and weight of the package however, so check with scales and a postage chart to double check. An unfolded sheet of A4 will fit in these envelopes – ideal for sending important business documents.
The weight of an envelope refers to the thickness of the paper that is used and it is measured in grams per square metre. The thickness of the envelope will depend on how much protection the content of the envelope requires, any postage costs, or even just to impress a client with a quality delivery.
A lightweight and reliable envelope, 80gsm is perfect for sending invoices and receipts. They are also great for everyday mail that includes up to three sheets of A4 paper.
A slightly stronger envelope with more opacity. This is ideal when sending more secure and sensitive contents. Usually capable of sending up to fifteen sheets of paper at one time.
These are a much thicker envelope, ideally designed for sending letterhead correspondence to make a great first impression to your customers and clients.
These are some of the strongest envelopes available. These are capable of securely holding bulkier contents and brochures through the post.
Ensuring your post gets delivered safely and sealed is a given. You have to be sure the correct seal is used and used correctly. As such there are few options available here.
These are the traditional ‘lick and stick’ envelopes where wetting the gummed flap enables it to stick down securely every time. These are the perfect envelope type for use in a folding inserting machine where the flap is automatically moistened in the machine, rather than your tongue.
These have a strip of tape applied to the envelope which is peeled to then seal the flap. These are labour intensive as they need to be done by hand meaning they are not suitable for sending large mailouts. They do however have a longer shelf life than machine compatible envelopes.
These are sealed by simply pressing down the flap to the envelope. These are perfect for convenience and are often sent out to customers as return envelopes. The seal can be considered an additional level of security as well once sealed.
We have covered the size, weight and seal of an envelope, but what about the different types of envelopes that are available? Let’s find out more below.
Pocket envelopes are used for most franked mail, next day post and general receptionist / office usage. These have the opening along the short side of the envelope.
These open along the long side of the envelope and these are the most commonly used envelopes. These are the ones you’ll see going into a folding inserting machine and used in mass mailing.
Banker envelopes will be more recognisable as greetings card envelopes coming with the triangle shaped flap sealing the envelope shut. Commonly used for birthday cards and invitations.
As the name suggests, these have a window to enable the address to be seen on the outside of the enclosed letter. This can save time with addressing your envelopes as the address will be visible via the window.
Gusset envelopes have expanding sides that allow for larger documents, catalogues and bulky paperwork to fit inside properly and securely. Most commonly used in C4 size.
Also referred to as a jiffy bag, padded & bubble lined envelopes are as the name suggest very padded and used to protect the contents inside during transportation. They are lightweight and they can be franked which makes them perfect for sending items through the post at lower cost.
Protective or security envelopes are used to protect all documents enclosed. Many are tamperproof and tear resistant. These envelopes often come with a dark opaque to prevent the contents from being seen without opening.
If you need to protect the contents of your mail from water, a strong plastic envelope such as a polythene envelope could be what you need. They can be used to protect any contents, just put one or several items inside and seal. These are used frequently for sending medical, financial and secure documents in the post.
A franking machine can be used to frank your envelopes and a franking machine is a dead set to bring down your postage costs. Franked mail is not only cheaper but it also eliminates the possibility of over or under paying for postage and is much more convenient to use. Mailcoms are one of the Royal Mail’s Authorised independent inspectors and maintainers of franking machines and as such we can provide you with a Mailmark franking machine to suit your needs.
A Mailmark franking machine can help massively when sending your mail. If you are interested in getting a franking machine or upgrading to a Mailmark franking machine with even lower prices available, then please view our franking machine page here or call us today on 01543 572 776.