How to Order Custom Printed Envelopes
Ordering custom printed envelopes comes down to five choices: size, style, branding, stock, and quantity. Here is how to make each one and upload a print-ready file with confidence.
To order custom printed envelopes, choose the size that fits your insert, add a return address and branding, pick a stock, and set a quantity. Build the file in CMYK at 300 DPI with bleed, keep art clear of the address and postage zones, then upload it and confirm size, stock, and quantity to print branded envelopes.
Start here
Ordering custom printed envelopes, in one paragraph
Custom printed envelopes are ordered by making five choices in a row. Pick the size that fits your insert, choose a flap or window style, add a return address and full-color branding, select a stock, and set a quantity that keeps the unit price low. Build a print-ready file in CMYK with bleed, keep art off the postage zones, and upload. The diagram below maps every part of an envelope order.
What custom printed envelopes are, and who orders them
Custom printed envelopes are envelopes with your own artwork printed on them, usually a return address, a logo, and often brand color or a marketing message. They replace the plain white envelope you buy off a shelf with one that looks like it belongs to your business, and they arrive ready to stuff and mail.
Two groups order them most. Businesses use branded printed envelopes for invoices, statements, letters, and direct mail, because a professional envelope shapes the first impression before anyone reads a word. Individuals and event planners order invitation envelopes for weddings, parties, and announcements, where a matched envelope completes the set.
Whichever camp you are in, the ordering path is the same: choose a size, add your branding, pick a stock, set a quantity, and upload a print-ready file. This guide walks each of those decisions, and if you would rather explore the full made-to-order range first, our custom printing collection gathers envelopes alongside the rest of our custom products.
Choosing the right envelope size and style
Size is the first real decision, and it is driven entirely by what goes inside. A #10 envelope at 4.125 by 9.5 inches is the business standard, sized for a letter folded in thirds, so it suits invoices, statements, and correspondence. An A7 envelope at 5.25 by 7.25 inches fits a flat 5 by 7 card, which makes it the go-to for invitations and announcements. For anything larger, a 6 by 9 or 9 by 12 catalog envelope holds brochures and unfolded documents.
Style matters alongside size. A standard flap works for most business mail, while a square or pointed flap gives invitations a more formal feel. A window envelope has a die-cut opening that shows a printed address through the front, which saves you from printing addresses twice on statements and invoices.
If you are matching envelopes to cards, our guide on pairing postcards and envelope sizes lines up the common combinations, and the standard envelope sizes guide lists every option with its intended insert.
Return-address and full-color branding
The whole point of a custom envelope is what you print on it. At a minimum, a printed return address in the top-left corner gives the post office a send-back point and looks far cleaner than a handwritten or stamped one. From there, adding your logo and brand color transforms the envelope into an extension of your identity.
For marketing mail, full-color printing earns its keep. A branded, four-color envelope reads as intentional and lifts open rates, because it does not look like the plain window envelope every bill arrives in. You can carry a teaser line, a seasonal design, or a photo right onto the envelope so the message starts before the piece is even opened. Pairing envelopes with matching stationery and letterheads makes a mailing feel like a complete package.
Design in CMYK so your colors print true, keep artwork clear of the address and postage zones, and use our online designer or free templates to lay it out inside the correct envelope dimensions.
Stocks, windows, and finishes
Envelope stock sets the feel in the hand. A standard wove text is the everyday workhorse for business mail, smooth and reliable. Step up to a heavier or textured stock for invitations and premium correspondence, where the weight of the paper signals quality before the envelope is even opened. If your mailing has to survive rough handling, a sturdier stock resists creasing and tearing.
Window envelopes deserve a second look for any address-heavy mailing. Because the recipient address prints on the document inside and shows through the die-cut window, you address the letter once instead of twice, which cuts work and keeps the address perfectly aligned. They are a natural fit for invoices, statements, and remittance mail.
Finishes and specialty options round out the choices. Whatever combination you land on, our full range of business stationery, from blank envelopes to matching letterheads, lets you keep a mailing visually consistent from the outside in.
Minimums, turnaround, and what it costs
Envelope printing has fixed setup, which is why quantity is the biggest lever on price. A larger run for a mailing campaign costs far less per envelope than a small batch, so it pays to order enough to cover your list plus a buffer for reprints. Minimums vary by style and stock, and the configurator shows the available quantities as you build the order.
Beyond quantity, price scales with size, stock, and any finishing. You set each option and the total updates live, so you can see exactly what a heavier stock or a bigger run does before you commit. For high-volume mailings, bulk discounts pull the unit cost down further as the quantity climbs.
Turnaround depends on the same choices, and the order flow shows the available production speeds so you can balance how fast you need envelopes against cost. Use the live specs and pricing below to lock the exact size, stock, and quantity for your job.
Wally gets your envelopes out the door
Right size, real branding, clean file
Wally sizes the envelope to the insert first, then adds a printed return address and your brand color so the mail looks intentional before it is opened. Keep the art clear of the address and postage zones, build the file in CMYK with bleed, and 4OVER4 prints the whole run ready to stuff and send.
Order printed envelopes →Quick reference
Envelope sizes and setup at a glance
Ordering a custom envelope comes down to the same handful of settings. Match these and your file is ready for almost any envelope run.
| Setting | Get it to | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Business size | #10 (4.125 x 9.5 in) | The standard for letters, statements, and business correspondence. |
| Invitation size | A7 (5.25 x 7.25 in) | Fits 5 x 7 cards for invites, announcements, and thank-you notes. |
| Catalog size | 6 x 9 or 9 x 12 in | Holds brochures, catalogs, and unfolded documents for direct mail. |
| Color mode | CMYK | Build in process color so brand colors print true on the envelope stock. |
| Resolution | 300 DPI at final size | Keeps your logo and address block crisp instead of soft. |
| Return address | Top-left corner | Standard placement the post office and your recipients expect. |
| File format | Flattened PDF | A single press-ready PDF prints predictably across the run. |
Step by step
Order custom printed envelopes in 7 steps
- Match the envelope to the insert Measure what goes inside, whether a folded letter, a flat 5 x 7 card, or a catalog, and pick the envelope size that holds it without forcing or leaving slack.
- Choose the style and any window Decide between a standard flap, a square invitation flap, or a window envelope that shows a printed address through a die-cut opening for statements and invoices.
- Add your return address and branding Place the return address in the top-left corner and add your logo and brand color. Full-color envelope printing is what separates a branded mailer from a plain one.
- Pick the stock A standard wove text is the everyday choice, while a heavier or textured stock signals quality for invitations and premium correspondence.
- Set up a print-ready file Work in CMYK at final size with 0.125 inches of bleed, keep art clear of the address and postage zones, place images at 300 DPI, and export a flattened PDF.
- Choose your quantity Order a run that fits your mailing, keeping in mind that larger quantities lower the unit price. The configurator shows the price at each quantity as you go.
- Upload and order Upload your file, confirm the size, stock, and quantity, and place the order. Your branded envelopes are on their way with turnaround shown at checkout.
Specs and pricing
Printed envelope specs and live pricing
Once your artwork is ready, the print decisions come down to size, stock, and quantity. Here are the live specs and price-per-unit for printed envelopes at 4OVER4.COM, straight from the configurator.
| Quantity | Price Per Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | 57.2¢ | $142.99 |
| 500 | 29.2¢ | $146.12 |
| 1,000 | 15.4¢ | $153.87 |
| 2,500 | 12.8¢ | $319.95 |
| 5,000 | 10.6¢ | $529.40 |
Order it
Order branded envelopes at 4OVER4
See it in use
Real branded envelopes, printed in-house
Explore more
Where to go next
By the numbers
Envelope printing you can count on at 4OVER4
Common Questions
Common questions about ordering printed envelopes
What sizes do custom printed envelopes come in?
The three most-ordered families cover almost every job. A #10 envelope at 4.125 by 9.5 inches is the business standard for letters, invoices, and statements. A7 envelopes at 5.25 by 7.25 inches fit 5 by 7 invitations, announcements, and thank-you cards. Catalog and booklet envelopes at 6 by 9 or 9 by 12 inches hold brochures, catalogs, and unfolded documents for direct mail. Match the size to what goes inside so the insert sits snug without buckling.
Can I print a return address on custom envelopes?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons to order custom printed envelopes. A return address printed in the top-left corner gives the post office a reliable send-back point and, paired with your logo, turns a plain envelope into a branded one. You can print the return address in a single ink color for a clean corporate look or in full color alongside a logo for marketing mail. It is set once in your design and prints identically on every envelope in the run.
What is the minimum order for printed envelopes?
Minimums vary by envelope style and stock, and the configurator shows the available quantities as you build the order. Because envelope printing has fixed setup, the unit price drops noticeably as the quantity climbs, so a larger run for a mailing campaign costs far less per piece than a small batch. If you are unsure how many you need, start from the size of your mailing list and add a modest buffer for reprints and future use.
Can I get full-color printed envelopes?
Yes. Full-color, or four-color process, printing lets you put a logo, brand colors, photography, and marketing copy right on the envelope. For direct mail this matters, because a branded, full-color envelope reads as intentional and lifts open rates compared to a plain white one that looks like every other piece in the stack. Build your artwork in CMYK so the colors print true, and keep the design clear of the address and postage areas the post office needs to read.
How do I set up an envelope file for printing?
Start your document at the exact envelope size with 0.125 inches of bleed on every side, and keep any critical art and text inside a safe margin so nothing gets trimmed. Work in CMYK, place images and logos at 300 DPI, and leave the address block and postage corner clear of heavy artwork. Outline or embed your fonts and export a flattened PDF. If you would rather not build from scratch, our online designer and free templates start you inside the correct envelope dimensions.
How long does it take to print and ship custom envelopes?
Turnaround depends on the envelope style, stock, quantity, and finish you choose, and the configurator shows the available production speeds as you build the order. Simpler jobs on standard stock move fastest, while larger or specialty runs take a little longer to produce. You can weigh how quickly you need the envelopes against cost right in the order flow, then see the shipping estimate before you confirm.
Can I create a custom envelope design online?
Yes. The online designer opens at the exact envelope size you selected, with the 0.125 inches of bleed and the safe margin already set, so you add a logo, type the return address into the top-left corner, choose your brand colors, and see the layout on the real envelope shape before you order. It handles the everyday jobs well: a return address, a logo, a tagline, a solid color block. If the envelope carries photography, full-bleed color, or type that must match a letterhead exactly, build the file in your own software and upload it instead as a flattened CMYK PDF at 300 DPI with bleed. Either route drops you into the same flow on <a href="/product/printed-envelopes">printed envelopes</a>, where you set the stock, pick the quantity, and see the price and turnaround before you confirm.
Do you have envelope templates I can start from?
Yes, and starting from one saves the most common reprint, which is artwork built at the wrong dimensions. There is a free template for each size and style: #10 at 4.125 by 9.5 inches, A7 at 5.25 by 7.25 inches, and 6 by 9 or 9 by 12 inches for catalog and booklet mailers, plus window versions that mark the die-cut opening so you can see where the address on your insert will show through. Every template is drawn at final size with the trim line, 0.125 inches of bleed on all four sides, the safe margin, and the address block and postage corner marked so you know exactly where artwork has to stop. Download the one that matches, design in Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop, keep images and logos at 300 DPI in CMYK, outline or embed your fonts, and export one flattened PDF.
Get Started
Ready to order envelopes that look like your brand?
Bring your design to 4OVER4.COM and print it on the size, stock, and quantity your mailing calls for. Adjust every option and watch your price update live.
Legal Disclaimer
Gold Standard guarantees apply to all standard orders placed through 4over4.com. Price match requires verifiable proof of a competitor's published price for an equivalent product with matching specifications and turnaround time. Satisfaction guarantee covers manufacturing defects and print quality issues. Contact support with order number and documentation. On-time delivery rate based on tracked orders 1999 to 2026. Individual results may vary based on shipping carrier performance.
