An A5 flyer measures 148mm wide by 210mm tall (5.83″ x 8.27″), exactly half a sheet of A4. Cut an A4 sheet across the short axis and you have two identical A5 flyers. That geometry is why A5 is the most practical handout format in Australia: it fits every standard brochure holder, drops neatly into a letterbox, and holds a full programme or menu without feeling cramped.
A5 sits between DL (99mm x 210mm), which is too narrow for most multi-line messages, and A4 (210mm x 297mm), which can feel oversized for a straightforward event flyer or in-store handout. When your content is more than a headline and a call to action but less than a full-page document, A5 is the right call.
- Size: 148mm x 210mm (5.83″ x 8.27″)
- Exactly half of A4 (210mm x 297mm)
- Artwork file: 154mm x 216mm (trim plus 3mm bleed on every edge)
- Safe zone: keep text at least 3mm inside the trim line (142mm x 204mm)
- Stocks: 115gsm Gloss, 150gsm Gloss, 170gsm Gloss, 170gsm Matte, 250gsm Gloss
- Printing: front only or front and back
- Price: from $0.45 each at 250 / $0.06 each at 5,000 (inc. GST)
A5 vs DL vs A4: choosing the right flyer format
Paperlust prints flyers in five standard sizes. This table shows where A5 sits in the range and what each format does best.
| Format | Width x Height | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| DL | 99mm x 210mm | Punchy short messages, envelope inserts, slim promotional strips |
| A6 | 148mm x 105mm | Postcard-style handouts, small promos, loyalty cards |
| A5 | 148mm x 210mm | Event programmes, menus, timetables, in-store handouts with body copy |
| A4 | 210mm x 297mm | Information-dense documents, multi-column layouts, detailed price lists |
| A3 | 297mm x 420mm | High-impact counter displays, large promotional standouts |
The default variant on our product page is DL, which suits quick-read promotions with a strong headline and a single call to action. Once your message runs to three or more lines of body copy, a schedule grid, or a product block alongside an image, A5 gives you the room to breathe without stepping up to a full A4 sheet.
A4 makes sense for information-dense documents such as product catalogues or multi-service price lists. Most counter displays and brochure racks, however, are designed around A5.
How much copy fits on an A5 face?
At comfortable reading sizes, a single A5 face holds approximately:
- Body text at 10pt, single column: 400 to 500 words
- Body text at 9pt, two columns: up to 700 words per side
- Event schedule grid: a full seven-day timetable with eight time slots, class name and instructor name per row
- Standard promotional layout: a headline, subheading, three bullet points, a call to action, a logo and contact details, all with generous margins
A practical benchmark: if your copy fills roughly half a standard word processor page at 100% zoom, it will sit comfortably on one A5 face with room for a logo and contact block below.
Where A5 flyers work best in Australia
Event programmes
A5 is the go-to format for Australian live event programmes: concerts, theatre nights, community festivals, graduation ceremonies and school speech days. A running order fits on one face; performer bios, a venue map or sponsor acknowledgements go on the reverse.
In-store handouts and retail promotions
Cafes, boutiques and service businesses rely on A5 for weekly specials, seasonal promotions and loyalty inserts. The format passes easily across a counter, stacks neatly at a till point and slips into a shopping bag without folding.
Menu inserts and hospitality print
Restaurants and catering companies print function menus, wine lists and tasting notes on A5. A single sheet lies flat on a place setting or slots directly into a standard menu folder.
Gym and studio timetables
Fitness studios, yoga centres and swim schools use A5 for class schedules. A five-day or seven-day grid with time slots, class names and instructor names fits comfortably on one face, with room for a logo and social handle in the footer.
Letterbox drops for local services
A5 strikes a balance between the brevity of DL and the bulk of A4, which makes it a practical choice for tradespeople, real estate agents and community organisations running local letterbox campaigns. It is wide enough to carry a photo or property image alongside the key details.
Five stocks: what each weight and finish delivers
| Stock | Weight | Finish | Ideal use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 115gsm Gloss | 115gsm | Gloss | High-volume letterbox drops, budget handouts, mass-distribution runs |
| 150gsm Gloss | 150gsm | Gloss | In-store handouts, event flyers, a step above entry level |
| 170gsm Gloss | 170gsm | Gloss | Premium promotional flyers, hospitality print, professional quality without heavyweight cost |
| 170gsm Matte | 170gsm | Matte | Programmes, timetables, menus where attendees may write or tick |
| 250gsm Gloss | 250gsm | Gloss | Counter cards, VIP inserts, reusable display pieces that need to hold their shape |
115gsm Gloss is the entry point: light, flexible and cost-effective for large runs. Ink sits bright and sharp on the coated surface. It is the right choice when the flyer is a one-use handout and unit cost matters more than feel.
250gsm Gloss is a different proposition entirely. At more than twice the weight, it is rigid enough to stand on a counter without curling and durable enough to carry in a bag for weeks without crumpling at the corners. The extra weight also reduces glare perception under bright retail lighting, and the stock delivers a noticeably stronger first impression at events, product launches and in VIP mailers. If the flyer represents your business at a first-contact moment, 250gsm returns noticeably better results than the entry-level stock.
The 170gsm Matte option fills a specific need: a surface that accepts pen marks. Attendees can tick off a timetable session, mark their table number on a function menu or annotate a conference programme. Any gloss stock, at any weight, repels ballpoint ink; matte does not.
Front only or front and back?
The default on the product page is front-only printing, the most common choice for letterbox drops and quick-turnaround promotions. Front-and-back printing is available and you select it at the product configuration step.
Front-and-back works well when:
- Your event programme has a running order on one face and performer biographies, a map or a sponsor list on the other
- Your menu has food on one side and beverages, allergens or a terms panel on the reverse
- Your studio timetable spans more sessions than fit comfortably on a single face
- Your promotional handout has a coupon, loyalty stamps or an offer code on the back
If you need a folded A5 document rather than a flat sheet (for example, a restaurant menu that closes to A5 but opens to a full A4), an A5 Bifold brochure gives you four printable faces in an A5 footprint. That is a separate product from a flat A5 flyer, and worth considering if the folded format suits your purpose.
Artwork setup: trim, bleed and file specifications
Set your document canvas to 154mm x 216mm: the A5 trim size (148mm x 210mm) plus 3mm of bleed on every edge.
Bleed zone: extend any background colours, photographs or border elements to the outer edge of the 154mm x 216mm canvas. The cutter trims here after printing, so anything intended to reach the finished edge of the flyer must run into the bleed zone or a white line will appear on the edge of the printed sheet.
Safe area: keep all text, logos and critical graphics at least 3mm inside the trim line. That gives a safe area of approximately 142mm x 204mm.
Resolution: 300 DPI at final print size for sharp reproduction on all five stocks.
Colour mode: CMYK. Files supplied in RGB are converted in pre-press, which can shift saturated blues and vivid greens in unexpected ways. Set your document to CMYK from the outset.
File format: a print-ready PDF with no crop marks or printer’s marks. The production team adds those at pre-press.
For Canva users: create a custom canvas at 154mm x 216mm, keep all critical content within the inner 148mm x 210mm area, and export as PDF (Print) with bleed enabled.
Pricing
Custom flyer printing from Paperlust is priced per piece, with the unit cost falling as quantity rises.
| Quantity | Price per flyer (inc. GST) |
|---|---|
| 250 | $0.45 |
| 5,000 | $0.06 |
Intermediate quantities fall between these two anchor points. Configure your order on the product page to see the live price for your exact quantity, stock choice and print side selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the A5 flyer size in mm?
An A5 flyer is 148mm wide by 210mm tall. It is exactly half of a standard A4 sheet (210mm x 297mm), cut across the short axis.
What is the A5 flyer size in inches?
An A5 flyer is approximately 5.83″ wide by 8.27″ tall. This is the ISO standard A5 dimension converted directly from millimetres.
How does A5 compare to a DL flyer?
DL flyers are 99mm x 210mm, which is 49mm narrower than A5. DL suits a short headline and a single call to action. A5 offers nearly 50% more width, opening room for body copy, a schedule grid, imagery and contact details without crowding.
Can I print A5 flyers on both sides?
Yes. Front-and-back printing is available when you configure your order. You supply artwork for both faces and both are printed at your chosen stock and quality level.
What paper stocks are available for A5 flyers?
Paperlust prints A5 flyers on five stocks: 115gsm Gloss, 150gsm Gloss, 170gsm Gloss, 170gsm Matte and 250gsm Gloss. Choose by weight and finish to match your use case and handling environment.
What is the correct bleed size for A5 flyers?
Add 3mm of bleed on every edge. Supply your artwork at 154mm x 216mm. The finished trim size is 148mm x 210mm. Keep all text and logos at least 3mm inside the trim line, within a safe area of approximately 142mm x 204mm.
How much does A5 flyer printing cost?
Prices start at $0.45 per flyer at a quantity of 250, falling to $0.06 per flyer at 5,000. All prices are inclusive of GST. Intermediate quantities are priced on the product page.
What is the difference between an A5 flyer and an A5 bifold brochure?
An A5 flyer is a flat, unfolded sheet at 148mm x 210mm, printed on one or both faces. An A5 Bifold brochure is an A4 sheet folded in half to an A5 footprint, giving four printable faces. Use a flyer for single-sheet handouts and a brochure when you need a self-contained folded document.
