A letterhead that works in the printer, not just on screen
A letterhead is usually printed in advance and then run through an office laser or inkjet printer, or overprinted with personalised letters in a mailing. That second pass matters as much as the design. Leave clear space for the letter itself, keep the logo, address and registered details where they will not clash with the text, and check any legal details you need to include. Tell us how the sheets will be used, the quantity, and whether you also need continuation sheets.
A4 letterheads
A4 is the standard size for business letters in the UK and Ireland. Design the header and footer around the margins your letter templates use, so text never runs into printed elements.
Continuation sheets
A simpler second-page design, often with just the logo, keeps longer letters consistent without repeating the full company details. Order them with the letterhead so stock and colour match.
Mailing letters
If letters will be personalised and enclosed in a mailing, the letterhead may be printed with the letter content in one pass. Check the address position against the envelope window before artwork is signed off.
Paper & finishes
Letterheads are typically printed on 100gsm or 120gsm uncoated or laid stock, which gives a confident feel and takes office toner and ink well. The paper weight guide explains how gsm changes the feel of a sheet. FSC-certified stocks are available.
Heavily coated papers and some specialist finishes can cause problems in office laser printers. If you want foil or embossing on a letterhead, talk to us first so we can check it will survive the second print pass.
Finishing and packing
Letterheads are printed several to a sheet, then trimmed to A4 in-house. They are usually supplied boxed or shrink-wrapped in reams, ready to load into office printers.
We can drill 2–4 holes in-house if the letters will be filed in ring binders. Tell us about any perforated slip or tear-off section, as this affects production.
Litho or digital printing?
We print stationery to FOGRA-certified colour standards. For exact brand colours, Pantone inks can be printed on our B2 Heidelberg litho presses, which also suit larger runs of the same design.
For smaller quantities, or letterheads that change by office or person, our Heidelberg Versafire digital presses avoid plate costs. Letterheads start from 250 copies, and they can be produced alongside your business cards, compliment slips and envelopes to match.
Mailing & trade print
Many of our mailings use personalised letters. We can print the letterhead design and the personalised letter together, fold it, and enclose it on our camera-matched Buhrs enclosing lines, with in-house data processing and Mailmark sortation for qualifying UK mail.
For agencies and print resellers, letterheads and full stationery suites are available as unbranded trade print under NDA.
Helpful guides
All guides
GSM Calculator: Paper Weight, Thickness and Feel
Enter a gsm to see how the paper feels, what a sheet weighs, its rough thickness and whether your pack stays a Letter.
Read the guidePaper Weight Guide: What GSM Means and Which to Choose
What GSM means, the right paper weight for each job, why weight and thickness differ, and how paper weight affects folding and postage.
Read the guideFrequently Asked Questions
Have a print specification in mind?
Tell us about the format, quantity, artwork and how you plan to use the finished piece, and we will come back with a recommendation and a clear quote.
- Print, data and mailing under one roof in Keighley
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and FSC certified
- Royal Mail Mailmark and PostAim (Ireland) mailings
- Family-owned and producing since 1980