| International Paper Sizes | Home | Exploring Old Tokyo |
| International Paper Sizes | Home | Exploring Old Tokyo |
To ensure economical mailing when materials prepared in one country are to be mailed in a second country, it is necessary to know the envelope sizes commonly used in the second country. Because designers and publishers often do not have ready access to this information, EDS Inc., Editorial & Design Services, has published this selective annotated guide to a variety of commercial, general purpose, and special-use envelopes available in Japan, other countries using the metric system, and North America. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) envelope sizes are the official international metric envelope sizes; however, Japan uses JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) and metricated traditional envelope sizes.
N.B. The Universal Postal Union requires that envelopes for correspondence (1) measure at least 90 mm x 140 mm (3 1/2" x 5 1/2") and no more than 120 mm x 235 mm (4 3/4" x 9 1/4"); (2) be oblong, with the dimension of the long side being at least 1.414 times that of the short side; and (3) be made from paper weighing at least 63 gsm (grams per square meter).
In the interest of legibility, Japanese terms are not italicized in the table below.
| ISO C Series Envelopes This envelope series was designed to accommodate ISO A size papers; Metric measurements are the finished envelope size; Inch measurements are approximate (calculated at 25.4 mm = 1 inch and rounded off). N.B. Sizes identified as nonstandard do not conform to Universal Postal Union requirements for correspondence envelopes. |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Name | MM | Inches | Usage and Comments |
| C0 | 917 x 1297 | 36 1/8 x 51 1/16 | For flat A0 sheet; Nonstandard |
| C1 | 648 x 917 | 25 1/2 x 36 1/8 | For flat A1 sheet; Nonstandard |
| C2 | 458 x 648 | 18 x 25 1/2 | For flat A2 sheet, A1 sheet folded in half; Nonstandard |
| C3 | 324 x 458 | 12 3/4 x 18 | For flat A3 sheet, A2 sheet folded in half; Nonstandard |
| C4 | 229 x 324 | 9 x 12 3/4 | For flat A4 sheet, A3 sheet folded in half; Very common; Nonstandard |
| C5 | 162 x 229 | 6 3/8 x 9 | For flat A5 sheet, A4 sheet folded in half; Very common; Nonstandard |
| C6 | 114 x 162 | 4 1/2 x 6 3/8 | For A5 sheet folded in half, A4 sheet folded in quarters; Very common |
| C7/6 | 81 x 162 | 3 3/16 x 6 3/8 | For A5 sheet folded in thirds; Uncommon; Nonstandard |
| C7 | 81 x 114 | 3 3/16 x 4 1/2 | For A5 sheet folded in quarters; Uncommon; Nonstandard |
| DL* | 110 x 220 | 4 5/16 x 8 11/16 | For A4 sheet folded in thirds, A5 sheet folded in half lengthwise; Very common |
| * Although DL is not part of the ISO C series, it is a very widely used standard size. DL, probably at one time the abbreviation of DIN Lang (Deutsche Industrie Norm, Long), is now identified as "Dimension Lengthwise" by ISO 269. |
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| Common Japanese Envelopes The JIS classifies envelopes in three categories: Choukei (Long), with the opening/flap on the envelope's short dimension, in accordance with traditional practice; Kakukei (Rectangular), with the opening/flap on the short dimension; and Youkei (Western-style), with the opening/flap on the long dimension. Most Japanese envelope sizes are metricated traditional sizes; Width precedes height; Metric measurements are the finished envelope size; Inch measurements are approximate (calculated at 25.4 mm = 1 inch and rounded off). N.B. Sizes identified as nonstandard do not conform to Universal Postal Union requirements for correspondence envelopes. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIS | Name | MM | Inches | Usage and Comments |
| Chou 1 | 142 x 332 | 5 9/16 x 13 1/16 | Accepts A4 folded in half lengthwise; Nonstandard |
|
| Yes | Chou 2 | 119 x 277 | 4 11/16 x 10 7/8 | Accepts B5 folded in half lengthwise; Nonstandard |
| Yes | Chou 3 | 120 x 235 | 4 3/4 x 9 1/4 | Accepts A4 folded in thirds; Very common |
| Chou 31 | 105 x 235 | 4 1/8 x 9 1/4 | Accepts A4 folded in thirds | |
| Chou 30 | 92 x 235 | 3 5/8 x 9 1/4 | Accepts A4 folded in fourths (twice in the same direction) |
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| Chou 40 | 90 x 225 | 3 9/16 x 8 7/8 | Accepts A4 folded in fourths (twice in the same direction) |
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| Yes | Chou 4 | 90 x 205 | 3 9/16 x 8 1/16 | Accepts JIS B5 folded in fourths (twice in the same direction); Very common |
| Kaku A3 | 320 x 440 | 12 5/8 x 17 5/16 | Accepts A3 flat, A2 folded in half; Nonstandard |
|
| Kaku 0 | 287 x 382 | 11 5/16 x 15 1/16 | Accepts B4 flat, B3 folded in half; Nonstandard |
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| Kaku 1 | 270 x 382 | 10 5/8 x 15 1/16 | Accepts B4 flat, B3 folded in half; Nonstandard |
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| Yes | Kaku 2 | 240 x 332 | 9 7/16 x 13 1/16 | Accepts A4 flat, A3 folded in half; Nonstandard |
| Kaku Koku- sai A4 | 229 x 324 | 9 x 12 3/4 | Accepts A4 flat, A3 folded in half; Same size as ISO C4; Nonstandard |
|
| Yes | Kaku 3 | 216 x 277 | 8 1/2 x 10 7/8 | Accepts B5 flat, B4 folded in half; Nonstandard |
| Yes | Kaku 4 | 197 x 267 | 7 3/4 x 10 1/2 | Accepts B5 flat, B4 folded in half; Nonstandard |
| Yes | Kaku 5 | 190 x 240 | 7 1/2 x 9 7/16 | Accepts A5 flat, A4 folded in half; Nonstandard |
| Yes | Kaku 6 | 162 x 229 | 6 3/8 x 9 | Accepts A5 flat, A4 folded in half; Same size as ISO C5; Nonstandard |
| Yes | Kaku 7 | 142 x 205 | 5 9/16 x 8 1/16 | Accepts B6 flat, B5 folded in half; Nonstandard |
| Yes | Kaku 8 | 119 x 197 | 4 11/16 x 7 3/4 | Pay envelope (for salaries, wages); Common for direct mail |
| Yes | You 0* or Furusu 10 | 235 x 120 | 9 1/4 x 4 3/4 | Accepts A4 folded in thirds; Same size as Chou 3 but has opening/flap on the long dimension (Western-style) |
| You 0* | 197 x 136 | 7 3/4 x 5 3/8 | For kyabine* (cabinet) size photos (165 mm x 120 mm); Nonstandard |
|
| You 1** | 176 x 120 | 7 x 4 3/4 | Accepts B5 folded in quarters | |
| You 1** | 173 x 118 | 6 13/16 x 4 5/8 | Accepts B5 folded in quarters | |
| Yes | You 2 | 162 x 114 | 6 3/8 x 4 1/2 | Accepts A5 folded in half, A4 folded in quarters; Same size as ISO C6 |
| Yes | You 3 | 148 x 98 | 5 13/16 x 3 7/8 | Accepts B6 folded in half |
| Yes | You 4 | 235 x 105 | 9 1/4 x 4 1/8 | Accepts A4 folded in thirds |
| Yes | You 5 | 217 x 95 | 8 9/16 x 3 3/4 | Accepts A4 folded in fourths (twice in the same direction) |
| Yes | You 6 | 190 x 98 | 7 1/2 x 3 7/8 | Accepts B5 folded in thirds |
| Yes | You 7 | 165 x 92 | 6 1/2 x 3 5/8 | Accepts A4 folded in quarters, B4 folded in quarters |
| * Because two different sizes are called You 0, the JIS You 0 is normally called Furusu 10; Furusu ("fools") derives from "foolscap"; Kyabine is a metricated traditional Japanese size (see Traditional Japanese Specialty Papers). ** Two slightly different sizes are sold as You 1; the smaller size (173 mm x 118 mm) is the paper-industry standard size. |
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| Common North American Envelopes Short dimension precedes long dimension; Inch measurements are the finished envelope size; Metric measurements are approximate (calculated at 1 inch = 25.4 mm and rounded off). N.B. Except where noted, the envelope opening/flap is on the long dimension; Sizes identified as nonstandard do not conform to Universal Postal Union requirements for correspondence envelopes. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | No. | Inches | MM | Usage and Comments |
| Com- mercial | 5 | 3 1/16 x 5 1/2 | 78 x 140 | For correspondence; Nos. 5, 6, and 6 1/4 are nonstandard |
| 6 | 3 3/8 x 6 | 86 x 152 | ||
| 6 1/4 | 3 1/2 x 6 | 89 x 152 | ||
| 6 1/2 | 3 9/16 x 6 1/2 | 90 x 165 | ||
| 6 3/4 | 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 | 92 x 165 | ||
| Official | 7 | 3 3/4 x 6 3/4 | 95 x 171 | For correspondence; Nos. Data Card, 10, 10 1/2, 11, 12, and 14 are nonstandard |
| 7 1/2 | 3 3/4 x 7 5/8 | 95 x 194 | ||
| 7 3/4 (Monarch) | 3 7/8 x 7 1/2 | 98 x 190 | ||
| Data Card | 3 1/2 x 7 5/8 | 89 x 194 | ||
| 8 5/8 (Check) | 3 5/8 x 8 5/8 | 92 x 219 | ||
| 9 | 3 7/8 x 8 7/8 | 98 x 225 | ||
| 10 | 4 1/8 x 9 1/2 | 105 x 241 | ||
| 10 1/2 | 4 1/2 x 9 1/2 | 114 x 241 | ||
| 11 | 4 1/2 x 10 3/8 | 114 x 264 | ||
| 12 | 4 3/4 x 11 | 121 x 279 | ||
| 14 | 5 x 11 1/2 | 127 x 292 | ||
| Window | 6 1/4 | 3 1/2 x 6 | 89 x 152 | For invoices, statements, etc.; die-cut glassine-backed window permits name and address on enclosure to show; Standard window is 4 3/4" wide x 1 1/8" (121 mm x 29 mm); Window position is 7/8" (22 mm) from left edge, 5/8" (16 mm) from bottom (for No. 8 5/8, position is 5/8" [16 mm] from left edge, 13/16" [21 mm] from bottom); Nos. 6 1/4, 10, 11, 12, and 14 are nonstandard |
| 6 3/4 | 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 | 92 x 165 | ||
| 7 | 3 3/4 x 6 3/4 | 95 x 171 | ||
| 7 3/4 | 3 7/8 x 7 1/2 | 98 x 190 | ||
| 8 5/8 | 3 5/8 x 8 5/8 | 92 x 219 | ||
| 9 | 3 7/8 x 8 7/8 | 98 x 225 | ||
| 10 | 4 1/8 x 9 1/2 | 105 x 241 | ||
| 11 | 4 1/2 x 10 3/8 | 114 x 264 | ||
| 12 | 4 3/4 x 11 | 121 x 279 | ||
| 14 | 5 x 11 1/2 | 127 x 292 | ||
| Remit- tance | 6 1/4 | 3 1/2 x 6 | 89 x 152 | Extradeep flap (between 3 3/8" [86 mm] and 3 1/2" [89 mm]) can carry printed message; Nos. 6 1/4 and 6 1/2 are nonstandard |
| 6 1/2 | 3 1/2 x 6 1/4 | 89 x 159 | ||
| 6 3/4 | 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 | 92 x 165 | ||
| 9 | 3 7/8 x 8 7/8 | 98 x 225 | ||
| Banker's Flap & Wallet Flap | 10 | 4 1/8 x 9 1/2 | 105 x 241 | For bulky correspondence; Heavy- weight paper and deep pointed flap (banker's) or squared flap (wallet); All sizes are nonstandard |
| 11 | 4 1/2 x 10 3/8 | 114 x 264 | ||
| 12 | 4 3/4 x 11 | 121 x 279 | ||
| 14 | 5 x 11 1/2 | 127 x 292 | ||
| 16 | 6 x 12 | 152 x 305 | ||
| Announce- ment Text | A-2 | 4 3/8 x 5 3/4 | 111 x 146 | Made with matching text paper; Flap often has deckle edge; Basically square in shape, hence all sizes except Slim are nonstandard |
| A-6 | 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 | 121 x 165 | ||
| A-7 | 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 | 133 x 184 | ||
| A-8 | 5 1/2 x 8 1/8 | 140 x 206 | ||
| A-10 | 6 x 9 1/2 | 152 x 241 | ||
| Slim | 3 7/8 x 8 7/8 | 98 x 225 | ||
| Baronial | 2 | 3 3/16 x 4 1/4 | 81 x 108 | For formal correspondence, invitations, announcements, greeting cards; Deep pointed flap; Because of broad variety in sizes, availability should be con- firmed with manufacturer/supplier; Basically square in shape, hence all sizes are nonstandard |
| 4 | 3 5/8 x 4 5/8 | 92 x 117 | ||
| 5 | 4 1/8 x 5 1/8 | 105 x 130 | ||
| 5 1/4 | 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 | 108 x 133 | ||
| 5 1/2 | 4 3/8 x 5 5/8 | 111 x 143 | ||
| 6 | 5 x 6 1/4 | 127 x 159 | ||
| Booklet or Open Side | 2 1/2 | 4 1/2 x 5 7/8 | 114 x 149 | For booklets, folders, direct mail; Basically square in shape, hence all sizes are nonstandard |
| 3 | 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 | 121 x 165 | ||
| 4 1/4 | 5 x 7 1/2 | 127 x 190 | ||
| 4 1/2 | 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 | 140 x 190 | ||
| 5 | 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 | 140 x 216 | ||
| 6 | 5 3/4 x 8 7/8 | 146 x 225 | ||
| 6 1/2 | 6 x 9 | 152 x 229 | ||
| 6 3/4 | 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 | 165 x 241 | ||
| 7 | 6 1/4 x 9 5/8 | 159 x 244 | ||
| 7 1/4 | 7 x 10 | 178 x 254 | ||
| 7 1/2 | 7 1/2 x 10 1/2 | 190 x 267 | ||
| 8 | 8 x 11 1/8 | 203 x 283 | ||
| 9 | 8 3/4 x 11 1/2 | 222 x 292 | ||
| 9 1/2 | 9 x 12 | 229 x 305 | ||
| 10 | 9 1/2 x 12 5/8 | 241 x 321 | ||
| 13 | 10 x 13 | 254 x 330 | ||
| Catalogue or Open End | 1 | 6 x 9 | 152 x 229 | For catalogues, booklets, magazines, reports; Opening/flap on short dimension; All sizes are nonstandard |
| 1 3/4 | 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 | 165 x 241 | ||
| 2 | 6 1/2 x 10 | 165 x 254 | ||
| 3 | 7 x 10 | 178 x 254 | ||
| 6 | 7 1/2 x 10 1/2 | 190 x 267 | ||
| 7 | 8 x 11 | 203 x 279 | ||
| 8 | 8 1/4 x 11 1/4 | 210 x 286 | ||
| 9 1/2 | 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 | 216 x 267 | ||
| 9 3/4 | 8 3/4 x 11 1/4 | 222 x 286 | ||
| 10 1/2 | 9 x 12 | 229 x 305 | ||
| 12 1/2 | 9 1/2 x 12 1/2 | 241 x 317 | ||
| 13 1/2 | 10 x 13 | 254 x 330 | ||
| 14 1/4 | 11 1/4 x 14 1/4 | 286 x 362 | ||
| 14 1/2 | 11 1/2 x 14 1/2 | 292 x 368 | ||
| Metal Clasp & String-and- Button | 0 | 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 | 63 x 108 | For mailing bulky papers; Heavy- weight paper; Opening/flap on short dimension; All sizes except Nos. 15, 25, and 35 are nonstandard |
| 5 | 3 1/8 x 5 1/2 | 79 x 140 | ||
| 10 | 3 3/8 x 6 | 86 x 152 | ||
| 11 | 4 1/2 x 10 3/8 | 114 x 264 | ||
| 14 | 5 x 11 1/2 | 127 x 292 | ||
| 15 | 4 x 6 3/8 | 102 x 162 | ||
| 25 | 4 5/8 x 6 3/4 | 117 x 171 | ||
| 35 | 5 x 7 1/2 | 127 x 190 | ||
| 50 | 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 | 140 x 210 | ||
| 55 | 6 x 9 | 152 x 229 | ||
| 63 | 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 | 165 x 241 | ||
| 68 | 7 x 10 | 178 x 254 | ||
| 75 | 7 1/2 x 10 | 190 x 254 | ||
| 80 | 8 x 11 | 203 x 279 | ||
| 83 | 8 1/2 x 11 1/2 | 216 x 292 | ||
| 87 | 8 3/4 x 11 1/4 | 222 x 286 | ||
| 90 | 9 x 12 | 229 x 305 | ||
| 93 | 9 1/2 x 12 1/2 | 241 x 317 | ||
| 94 | 9 1/4 x 14 1/2 | 235 x 368 | ||
| 95 | 10 x 12 | 254 x 305 | ||
| 97 | 10 x 13 | 254 x 330 | ||
| 98 | 10 x 15 | 254 x 381 | ||
| 105 | 11 1/2 x 14 1/2 | 292 x 368 | ||
| 110 | 12 x 15 1/2 | 305 x 394 | ||
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Last updated January 15, 2004.