A4, A5, DL, Square: Choosing the Right Format for Your Print Materials

An A5 flyer or a DL format? An A2 poster or an A1? An A4 brochure or a square format that stands out from the crowd? The choice of format is far from trivial: it shapes how readable your message is, how comfortable it is to read, how much space it takes up in a pocket or on a display stand, and how much it costs to print. For shopkeepers, tradespeople, associations and local authorities across the Gers and the Landes, here's a clear guide to help you get it right the first time.

The A Series: The Foundation of All Your Print Materials

Almost all everyday print materials are based on the A series, an international standard (ISO 216) built on a simple idea: each format is half the size of the one before it. Starting from A0 (one square metre), you fold it in half at each step, which gives you dimensions that are easy to remember:

• A4 (21 × 29.7 cm): the quintessential office format, ideal for a product sheet, a menu or a catalogue page;
• A5 (14.8 × 21 cm): half an A4, the go-to format for flyers, programmes and booklets, both readable and easy to hand out;
• A6 (10.5 × 14.8 cm): postcard size, perfect for a coupon, an invitation or a budget-friendly flyer;
• A3 (29.7 × 42 cm): two A4s, for a shop-window poster or a placemat.

The advantage of this series is its logic: fold an A4 and you get an A5, with no paper wasted. It's the foundation of most of our commercial print range, from flyers to catalogues.

Special Formats: DL, Square and Pocket-Sized

Alongside the A series, several formats break the mould. The most common is DL format, a third of an A4 (around 10 × 21 cm): tall and narrow, it slips into a standard envelope, making it the star of flyers and three-panel leaflets. The square format catches the eye precisely because it breaks with habit: graphic and distinctive, it showcases a photo or a high-end brochure beautifully. Finally, pocket formats (A6 or smaller) bet on compactness, for a notebook or a loyalty card you carry with you.

Large Format: Posters, Panels and Bus Shelters

To be seen from a distance, you move from the table to the wall and the street. Large format climbs back up the A series: A2 for a shop-window poster, A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) for public display, A0 (84.1 × 118.9 cm) for large posters and prints. Beyond that, street furniture has its own standards: the bus shelter panel (often 120 × 176 cm) and the 4×3 roadside billboard (3 × 4 m) are designed to be read in a few seconds. These formats fall under our large-format and signage expertise, manufacturing and installation included.

How Format Influences Message, Cost and Handling

Choosing a format means weighing up three factors. The message: a large format lets the visual breathe, a small format gets straight to the point and can be distributed in bulk. The cost: the bigger the format, the more paper and ink it uses; an A5 costs less than an A4, and grouping several small formats on one sheet optimises spend. Handling: a DL leaflet fits in a pocket, an A4 catalogue displays well but isn't easy to carry around, an A1 poster makes an impact on the street but can't be handed out. It's best to start from the actual use before settling on a format.

Reading Direction and Folds: Thinking of Format in Motion

A printed piece isn't just a surface: it's a reading journey. Orientation matters first, portrait for a flyer or a poster, landscape for a placemat or a wide bookmark. And as soon as a document folds, the format takes on a new character: a folded A4 becomes an A5 leaflet, and the direction of the fold sets the order in which information is discovered. Our article on finishing, folding and creasing explains how to plan for these folds right from the layout stage.

Choosing by Use: Flyer, Leaflet, Brochure, Poster

A few pointers to help you decide quickly: a flyer for wide distribution is best printed in economical A5 or DL; a richer leaflet benefits from a three-panel DL or a folded A4; a brochure or catalogue works in A5 (compact) or A4 (generous) depending on content; a poster scales up to A3, A2 or A1 depending on viewing distance. If in doubt, a local printer can point you towards the right format, as at our print shop in Condom and across the Armagnac area.

Based in Manciet (32), a workshop bearing the Made in Occitania label, we produce the vast majority of your orders on site (94% in 2024-2025) and 100% in France, with a single point of contact from advice through to delivery. Tell us about your project and receive a free quote within 72 hours, with delivery throughout France and Europe. Getting the format right is already half the battle for a successful print job.