What to put on a letterhead (and sizes)
A letterhead needs your logo and business name, address, phone, email and website, usually in a header across the top and sometimes a short footer. Use US letter (8.5 × 11 in) in North America and A4 (210 × 297 mm) almost everywhere else, and leave most of the page empty for the letter itself.
What to include
- Logo and business name, at the top.
- Street address, phone, email and website.
- Optional: a tagline, social handles, or the names of partners or directors.
- Company details your country requires on business letters (see below).
- A thin rule or colour band to separate the header from the letter.
Sizes and margins
| Paper | Size | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| US letter | 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm) | United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Latin America |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm (8.27 × 11.69 in) | Europe, the UK, India, Australia, Africa, most of Asia |
- Keep the header to the top 1.5–2 inches (about 40–50 mm) so there's plenty of room to write.
- Leave at least 0.5 inch (12 mm) around the edges if you'll print letters on an office printer; many can't print to the edge.
- If you'll fold the letter into a window envelope, check where the address window falls before placing your design.
Legal details some countries require
In the UK, limited companies must show their registered name, company number, place of registration and registered office address on business letters. Many EU countries have similar rules, and some ask for a VAT or tax number. In the US there's usually no federal requirement, but licensed trades and professionals (contractors, lawyers, real estate agents) may need a licence number on correspondence. Check your country's and profession's rules.
Making the letterhead
- Open a letterhead template in letter or A4 size and add your logo, colours and details.
- Keep to one or two fonts that match your business cards and invoices.
- Save it, so you can update an address or phone number in one place later.
Three ways to write letters on it
- Type in the design: add a text box for the letter body in the editor, then download a PDF.
- Use the PDF editor: download the blank letterhead as a PDF, open it in the free PDF editor, add your text and download the finished letter. The file stays on your computer.
- Pre-print stock: order printed letterhead from a print shop, then print letters onto it from your word processor.
Keep your stationery consistent
Use the same logo, colours and fonts on your letterhead, business cards, envelopes and invoices. Customers recognise a business that looks the same everywhere, and it's quicker to update when details change. CatalogProFlow has #10 and DL envelope templates and 144 invoice designs that you can match to your letterhead.
Questions
- What size is a letterhead?
- US letter, 8.5 × 11 inches, in North America; A4, 210 × 297 mm, in most other countries.
- Should a letterhead have a footer?
- It's optional. A footer is a good place for registration numbers, a second address or social handles, keeping the header clean.
- Can I use my letterhead in Microsoft Word or Google Docs?
- Yes. Download it as a PNG and set it as a header image or page background in your word processor, or write the letter in the free PDF editor on top of the letterhead PDF.
- What should be on a UK company letterhead?
- The company's registered name, company number, place of registration (for example England and Wales) and registered office address.
- Should my letterhead match my business card?
- Yes. Using the same logo, colours and fonts on your letterhead, cards, envelopes and invoices makes your business easy to recognise.