Flyer Printing Australia: DL, A5 and A6 Sizes Compared

Choosing the wrong flyer size is one of the most common (and costly) printing mistakes a small business can make. Too large and your unit cost blows out; too small and your message gets lost. This guide breaks down every standard flyer format available in Australia, from compact A7 inserts right up to full A4 sheets, so you can match size to purpose before you brief your artwork.

Flyer Size Comparison: DL, A5, A6, A4 and A7

The ISO A-series and DL are the five formats you will encounter at Australian print suppliers. Understanding their dimensions and area helps you visualise how much real estate your design actually has.

A note on DL: DL stands for “Dimension Lengthwise” and its 99 x 210 mm footprint is exactly one-third of an A4 sheet. It is not part of the ISO A-series, but it is one of the most widely used formats in Australian direct-mail and hospitality printing.

DL Flyers: The Letterbox and Envelope Standard

DL is the default for any campaign that involves physical delivery. The format was designed to fit a standard DL (C6/DL) envelope without folding, which makes it the obvious choice for:

• Letterbox drops: The narrow profile fits standard Australian letterboxes easily and sits cleanly when bundled for delivery contractors.
• Direct mail: Slides into a DL envelope for postage without any additional folding, which keeps production costs down.
• Hospitality menus and price lists: A DL height matches most table-holder and menu-sleeve inserts in cafes and restaurants.
• Real-estate open-home cards: Thin enough to go in a door-knock bag alongside multiple other pieces.

Because DL is tall and narrow, designs work best with a strong single image at the top, headline copy in the upper third, and a clear call-to-action anchored at the bottom. Two-column layouts rarely work at this width.

For letterbox-drop campaigns, single-sided 115 gsm gloss keeps unit cost as low as possible while still printing vibrant colour. If the piece doubles as a takeaway menu or something the recipient will keep, step up to 170 gsm matte for a cleaner hand-feel.

A5 Flyers: The Event and Campaign Workhorse

At 148 x 210 mm, A5 is exactly half an A4 sheet. It is the size that gives designers enough room to breathe without ballooning print costs.

When A5 works best

• Events and concerts: Room for a programme outline, date, venue address, and QR code ticket link all on a single side.
• Retail promotions: Large enough to feature a product image alongside pricing and terms.
• School and community notices: Double-sided A5 fits a full newsletter on two sides without requiring folding.
• Real-estate listings: Portrait orientation suits a property photo at the top with specs and agent contact below.

A5 stock and finish choices

For handout campaigns, 150 gsm gloss is the sweet spot: enough stiffness to resist wilting in a bag, but light enough to keep postage costs manageable. If you are printing double-sided and the piece is meant to be displayed on a noticeboard or window, 170 gsm matte gives a more professional, non-reflective finish that photographs well.

Print a short run first to test response before committing to a large quantity. Pricing for flyers at Paperlust Print Shop scales significantly with volume, so running 500 to proof the campaign before printing 5,000 is straightforward.

A6 Flyers: Small Format, Efficient Distribution

At 105 x 148 mm (one-quarter of A4), A6 is the go-to format when you need to print in bulk and keep per-unit cost tight. It is particularly effective as:

• Retail bag inserts: Drops into a shopping bag without adding bulk.
• Cafe loyalty or discount cards: The dimensions are close to a large business card but with more visual impact.
• Event tickets or entry passes: Compact enough to carry in a wallet.
• Hospitality vouchers: Sent with orders as a repeat-purchase incentive.

A6 is also the format most often confused with a business card. The practical distinction: business cards are 90 x 55 mm and used for contact exchange; A6 is a promotional piece with enough room for an image and a genuine offer.

For high-volume A6 runs, 115 gsm gloss single-sided is the most cost-efficient combination. If the piece needs to survive in a pocket or bag for a few days, 150 gsm holds up noticeably better.

Paper Stock and GSM: Matching Weight to Purpose

GSM (grams per square metre) is the single most important variable after size. The wrong weight undermines an otherwise well-designed piece.

Gloss vs matte: Gloss stocks enhance photographic imagery and produce punchy, saturated colour. Matte stocks suit text-heavy designs and brand work where a reflective surface would reduce readability under fluorescent lighting. Matte also avoids fingerprint marks, which matters for pieces that will be handled repeatedly.

Single vs double-sided: Single-sided printing costs less and is sufficient for most handout campaigns where the recipient will read and discard. Double-sided is worth the cost when the back of the flyer can carry additional information that extends the life of the piece, such as a map, event schedule, or terms and conditions.

When a Folded Brochure Beats a Flat Flyer

A flat flyer is a single, unfolded sheet. The moment you need to organise content into distinct sections, a folded brochure becomes a more practical format.

Consider a brochure when:

• Your content naturally divides into three or more distinct sections (bi-fold, tri-fold, or Z-fold formats handle this cleanly).
• The piece is meant to be retained and referenced, not read once and discarded.
• You need to include a map or diagram that requires its own full panel.
• You are producing a product or service catalogue with multiple items.

For guidance on fold styles and which to choose, see Brochure Printing: Bi-Fold, Tri-Fold and Z-Fold Sizes Compared. If you need a folded format now, brochure printing at Paperlust Print Shop covers bi-fold, tri-fold, and Z-fold in both A4 and A5 sizes. For a panel by panel walk through of every fold, including the gate fold and the roll fold, see Tri-Fold, Gate-Fold and Z-Fold Brochures: A Fold Guide.

File Setup for Flyer Printing

Getting your artwork ready correctly saves a round of corrections and keeps your job in the production queue.

Key technical requirements

• Bleed: Add 3 mm of bleed on all four sides beyond the trim size. For an A5 flyer, your artboard should be 154 x 216 mm before trim.
• Safe zone: Keep all critical text and logos at least 3 mm inside the trim edge to avoid content being cut off.
• Format: PDF is preferred. SVG and Adobe Illustrator files are also accepted.
• Resolution: All images must be a minimum of 300 dpi at final print size.
• Fonts: Outline all fonts before exporting to prevent substitution.
• Colour mode: Set your file to CMYK, not RGB, for accurate on-press colour.
• Crop marks: Include crop marks in your exported PDF.

For double-sided jobs, supply the front and back as separate pages (page 1 = front, page 2 = back) within a single PDF. Do not supply them as separate files unless your printer requests otherwise.

A digital proof is included with every flyer order at Paperlust Print Shop and must be approved before production begins. Production turnaround is 2-5 working days after proof approval, with dispatch within Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular flyer size in Australia?

A5 and DL are the most commonly printed formats for business and event campaigns. A5 is preferred when the design needs more visual room; DL is chosen whenever letterbox delivery or envelope mailing is part of the distribution plan. A6 is popular for high-volume, low-cost insert campaigns where unit price is the primary driver.

How much does flyer printing cost in Australia?

Pricing depends on size, quantity, stock weight, and whether the job is single or double-sided. At Paperlust Print Shop, flyers start from $0.05 inc. GST per unit at high volumes on 115 gsm gloss. Smaller runs cost more per unit. For an accurate quote based on your exact specifications, use the pricing calculator on the flyer product page.

What is the difference between DL and A5 for letterbox drops?

DL (99 x 210 mm) is the preferred size for letterbox drops because it fits Australian standard letterboxes without folding and can be mailed in a DL envelope without additional handling. A5 (148 x 210 mm) is wider and may not fit all letterbox openings, but it provides more design space and is better suited for distributions where the piece is handed directly to the recipient.

What GSM should I use for bulk flyer runs?

For high-volume letterbox or handout campaigns where per-unit cost matters, 115 gsm gloss single-sided keeps costs as low as possible. If the flyer needs to survive being carried in a bag or pocket, or if you are printing double-sided, step up to 150 or 170 gsm. The 250 gsm option is card-weight and best reserved for display pieces or items meant to be retained long-term.

Can I print flyers double-sided?

Yes. Double-sided printing is available across all sizes and stock weights. You will need to supply artwork for both sides. The back of a double-sided flyer is best used for content that extends the value of the piece, such as a map, schedule, or additional product information, rather than repeating the front-side message.

How do I set up my flyer file for print?

Use CMYK colour mode, include 3 mm bleed on all sides, outline all fonts, embed all images, and export as a print-ready PDF at 300 dpi minimum. For double-sided jobs, supply front and back as pages 1 and 2 of the same PDF. A digital proof is included with every order so you can confirm the artwork looks correct before printing proceeds.

What size is a DL flyer?

A DL flyer is 99 x 210 mm, or 3.9 x 8.3 inches. It is one third of an A4 sheet, which is why an A4 page folded twice produces three DL panels. For print, set your artboard to 105 x 216 mm so you have 3 mm of bleed on all four sides. DL is the only standard flyer size that slides into a DL envelope without folding, which is what makes it the default for letterbox drops and mailed price lists.

What size is an A6 flyer?

An A6 flyer is 105 x 148 mm, or 4.1 x 5.8 inches. That is a quarter of an A4 sheet and half an A5. Set your artboard to 111 x 154 mm to allow 3 mm of bleed on every edge. A6 is the cheapest standard flyer format per unit because four of them print on a single A4 sheet, which is why it suits high volume insert and counter card runs.

What size is an A5 flyer?

An A5 flyer is 148 x 210 mm, or 5.8 x 8.3 inches, exactly half an A4 sheet. Your artboard should be 154 x 216 mm to allow 3 mm of bleed on all sides. A5 is the most common handout size in Australia because it holds a full program, map or price list while still being comfortable to carry and hand out.

What are the standard flyer sizes in Australia?

Australian printers work to five standard flyer sizes: A7 at 74 x 105 mm, A6 at 105 x 148 mm, DL at 99 x 210 mm, A5 at 148 x 210 mm and A4 at 210 x 297 mm. Every size in the A series is a straight halving of the one above it, so an A6 is half an A5 and a quarter of an A4. DL sits outside that progression because it is a third of an A4 rather than a half, which is what lets it fit a DL envelope unfolded.