Flyer Sizes Explained: 8.5x11 vs. 5.5x8.5 vs. 11x17
Flyers come in many sizes, but most common flyer sizes flyers printed in the US use one of three: US Letter (8.5" x 11"), Half Letter (5.5" x 8.5"), and Tabloid (11" x 17").
In this guide, we walk you through what each size does best, which sizes share the same proportions (this matters more than most people think), when to fold, whether to print single-sided or double-sided, and what each option costs.
Flyer Sizes at a Glance
| Size | Also Called | Best For | 100 Flyers (Front Only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5" x 11" | US Letter | Product inserts, info sheets, conference handouts | $14.99 |
| 5.5" x 8.5" | Half Letter | Handouts, event promos, counter displays | $13.99 |
| 11" x 17" | Tabloid (Ledger in landscape) | Posters, window displays, folded brochures | $24.99 |
US Letter (8.5" x 11"): The Most Popular Flyer Size
US Letter is our best-selling flyer size by far. It's the same size as standard flyer size printer paper, so you can design it easily in almost any program, and it gives you enough room for detailed information.
We see our customers use Letter-size flyers for:
- Product instructions and inserts packed inside orders
- Company and product introductions
- Conference and trade show handouts
It also fits standard folders and binders, and it folds neatly into a bi-fold or tri-fold.
Half Letter (5.5" x 8.5"): Compact and Budget-Friendly
Half Letter is exactly half of a US Letter sheet. It's easy to hand out, slips into a bag or a shipping box, and sits nicely on a counter or a restaurant table. It works well for event promotions, coupons, menus, and short announcements.
Because each flyer uses less paper, Half Letter is the most budget-friendly size for large runs. We print 1,000 Half Letter flyers for $56.99, compared with $99.99 for US Letter.
Tabloid (11" x 17"): Big Enough to Be Seen
Tabloid is twice the size of US Letter. When you need people to notice your message from across a room, this is the size to choose. It works well for wall posters, store windows, bulletin boards, and event notices.
Tabloid also has a second life as a folded piece. Fold it in half and you get a four-panel, 8.5" x 11" piece, which is perfect for event programs, menus, and newsletters.
Can You Resize a Flyer File to Another Size?
This is one of the most common surprises we see. Many people design a US Letter flyer and then ask us to print the same file as a Half Letter handout or a Tabloid poster. Unfortunately, that doesn't work, and here's why.
International A sizes all share one shape. A3, A4, and A5 all use the same width-to-height ratio (1 : 1.41). Fold an A3 sheet in half and you get an A4 with exactly the same proportions. That's why an A4 design can be enlarged to A3 or reduced to A5 without changing the layout, as long as the image resolution holds up.
US sizes don't all share one shape.
| Size | Width : Height |
|---|---|
| Half Letter (5.5" x 8.5") | 1 : 1.55 |
| US Letter (8.5" x 11") | 1 : 1.29 |
| Tabloid (11" x 17") | 1 : 1.55 |
US Letter is wider and shorter than the other two. If you shrink a Letter file to Half Letter or enlarge it to Tabloid, you have to stretch the design, crop part of it, or leave white bars on two sides. A US Letter file can't be printed as a Half Letter or Tabloid flyer without redesigning the layout.
Good news: Half Letter and Tabloid match. Tabloid is exactly twice the width and twice the height of Half Letter, so these two sizes share the same shape. You can enlarge a Half Letter design to Tabloid, or reduce a Tabloid design to Half Letter, without changing the layout.
Keep two things in mind when you do:
- Enlarging: Photos need to stay sharp at the larger size. Aim for 300 dpi at the final print size, or design in vector where you can.
- Reducing: Small text gets even smaller. Check that the smallest text is still easy to read at Half Letter size.
Our tip: Decide on your size before you start designing. If you want the same design as both a handout and a poster, design it for Half Letter and Tabloid, not for US Letter.
Folding Options: Bi-Fold and Tri-Fold
We offer two folding options on US Letter and Tabloid flyers.
- Bi-fold (half fold): One fold down the middle. A folded Tabloid becomes an 8.5" x 11" piece with four panels, great for programs, catalogs, and menus.
- Tri-fold: Two folds that create three panels, the classic brochure format. A tri-folded US Letter flyer fits in a standard #10 envelope, which makes it a great choice for service menus, price lists, and how-to guides.
Folding adds a small fee and 1–2 extra business days. We fold in batches together with other folding orders to keep our prices low, so folded flyers can't ship the same day, even when we print them the same day.
Single-Sided or Double-Sided Flyer?
Choose single-sided flyer when only one side will ever be seen: wall posters, window displays, and bulletin boards.
Choose double-sided flyer when people will hold your flyer in their hands: handouts, product inserts, and anything with a lot of information. Folded flyers are almost always double-sided.
The difference is small. We print 100 single-sided US Letter flyers for $14.99 and 100 double-sided flyers for $19.99.
Paper Options
Our standard flyer paper is 100lb Gloss Text (148 gsm), a smooth, bright paper that makes colors and photos pop. We also print on 100lb Matte for a softer, glare-free look, and on 14pt and 16pt card stock when you want a thicker, sturdier flyer.
Same-day printing is available on 100lb Gloss Text only.
How to Choose the Right Size
- Hanging it on a wall or in a window? Go with Tabloid, single-sided.
- Handing it out or packing it in orders? Go with US Letter or Half Letter, double-sided.
- Sharing a lot of information? Go with US Letter, or fold it into a tri-fold.
- Printing a large quantity on a tight budget? Go with Half Letter.
- Need the same design as a handout and a poster? Design for Half Letter and Tabloid. They share the same shape.
Setting Up Your File
Extend your background 0.075" past the trim line on all four sides. This bleed protects your design if the cut shifts slightly. Our bleed is narrower than the common 0.125" standard, which lets us fit more flyers on each press sheet. That saves paper and ink, and it's better for the environment too. Keep important text and logos well inside the trim line.
For example, a US Letter flyer file should measure 8.65" x 11.15" with bleed (0.15" added to each dimension). A Half Letter file should be 5.65" x 8.65", and a Tabloid file should be 11.15" x 17.15".
(Our full bleed guide is coming soon.)
Need Flyers Today?
We offer same-day printing on US Letter, Half Letter, and Tabloid flyers. Place your order before 11:00 AM (PST) with a print-ready file, and we will have your flyers ready for pickup at our Chatsworth shop by 4:00 PM, or we will ship them out the same day. (Folded flyers are not available for same-day printing.)
Our Flyer Prices
Here's what you'll pay for single-sided US Letter flyers on 100lb Gloss Text:
| Quantity | Price | Per Flyer |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $12.99 | 26¢ |
| 100 (most popular) | $14.99 | 15¢ |
| 500 | $54.99 | 11¢ |
| 1,000 | $99.99 | 10¢ |
We don't set our prices by watching competitors. We set them as low as we possibly can by making our production more efficient every day. As more orders come in and our productivity grows, we will keep lowering our prices.
FAQ
What is the most common flyer size?
US Letter (8.5" x 11") is the most common flyer size in the US, and it's our best-selling size.
What size is a tabloid flyer?
A tabloid flyer is 11" x 17", twice the size of a US Letter sheet. In landscape orientation, it's also called Ledger.
Can I print my US Letter flyer file as a Half Letter or Tabloid flyer?
Not without redesigning it. US Letter has a different width-to-height ratio from Half Letter and Tabloid, so the layout would be stretched or cropped. Half Letter and Tabloid files, however, can be resized to each other.
Can I get my flyers printed today?
Yes. Order unfolded flyers on 100lb Gloss Text before 11:00 AM (PST) with a print-ready file, and we will have them ready by 4:00 PM.
What is the minimum order?
We print US Letter and Tabloid flyers from 50 pieces, and Half Letter flyers from 100 pieces.