A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing & Printing Branded Envelopes for Your Company

Summary:

• Branded envelopes can be a powerful marketing tool; it allows you to grab your customer or client’s attention before they even open it.
• Before you start designing, determine how you plan to use your envelope and which size and flap style best fits your needs.
• When you’re ready to design, use a free editing tool like Canva to help bring your envelope to life. Be sure to incorporate your company’s logo, brand colours and typography into the design but avoid overcrowding.
• Convert your finished envelope design to a print-friendly PDF. Check your margins, bleeds and graphic resolution to ensure you’re receiving the best print possible.
• For an extra-professional look, consider final touches like using premium paper or adding a matte, glossy or soft-touch finish. Make your selections before submitting your design file to Little Rock for printing or request a free proof before placing your order.

Read More:

• Matte or Glossy Paper: Making the Choice For Photos & Other Print Products  
• 10 Amazing Wedding Invitation Templates To Download & Customize

Even in a digital age, physical mail remains a powerful branding tool. Whether you’re sending business letters, invoices or promotional materials, branded envelopes can help enhance credibility and build brand recognition.

Not sure how to create branded envelopes on your own? Our Little Rock team takes you through a clear and easy process for designing and printing branded envelopes that align with your company’s goals while leaving a lasting impression.

See Also:

• Postcards
• Greeting Cards

Step 1: Define the Purpose of Your Branded Envelope

Before you jump into designing your envelope, you should decide the primary purpose of your envelope. Here are some key questions to ask yourself:

• Who is the recipient?
• What type of content will the envelope contain?
• Will the envelope be sent regularly or as a one-time campaign?
• Should the envelope be casual, formal or creative?

Understanding your purpose will guide the tone of the design and help determine the appropriate size, colour and paper quality.

Step 2: Choosing The Right Envelope Size and Flap Style

Once you’ve determined how you plan to use your envelope, you’ll need to find the right envelope size and flat style to fit your business needs. This decision will also impact your design dimensions and help influence your final product’s feel and function.

Common Envelope Sizes

• #10 Envelope (4.125” x 9.5”) – Standard business size for mailing tri-folded 8.5” x 11” sheets. Ideal for invoices, contracts and letters.
• A7 Envelope (5.25” x 7.25”) – Common for invitations or greeting cards.
• 6” x 9”, 9” x 12” and 10” x 13” – Suitable for booklets, catalogs or non-creased documents.

Popular Flap Styles

• Commercial Flap – Common for business envelopes for a clean and functional look.
• Square Flap – Offers a modern, upscale look. Great for branding and special mailings.
• Wallet Flap – Wide and elegant, often used for high-end mail or invitations.
• Pointed Flap – Traditional and formal, usually seen in wedding or premium envelopes.

Choose a flap style that complements your brand personality. For example, a modern startup might lean toward a square flap while a law firm might prefer a classic commercial flap.

Step 3: Set Up Your Envelope Design in Canva

You don’t have to be a professional designer to create custom branded envelopes—you just need a design tool like Canva! It’s free and easy to use. Get started by going to Canva and log in or sign up for an account.

There are three ways to creative a branded envelope with Canva:

1. Search “envelope” in the search bar. From there, choose the first option that says “Create a blank envelope”. This will take you to a blank A7 envelope that you can fully customize on your own.
2. Within the same search results, you can also choose a templated envelope where you can edit the colours, fonts and more. If you sign up for a paid Canva Pro account, you’ll have access to even more design options.
3. On the top left corner, click “Create” and then find “Custom size” toward the bottom. Enter your envelope dimensions in inches (switch from the default px unit) and add a 0.125” bleed on each side. (Example: a #10 envelope would be 9.75” width and 4.375” height.) Click “Create new design”.

Step 4: Incorporating Your Company’s Brand Elements

Consistency is key when it comes to branding—your envelope should communicate who you are before it’s opened. Whether you’re editing an existing envelope template or designing from scratch, it’s important to include your company’s logo, brand colours and typography.

Upload your logo (preferably in PNG or SVG format for quality) and place it in the top left corner of the envelope or centered on the back flap. In Canva, you’ll go to “File” and “Upload files” to import your logo and other important design elements.

You can also include your brand’s colours by using the official colour codes (HEX or RGB) to create backgrounds, accents or borders. With a Canva Pro account, you can save your brand colours so it’s easier to maintain consistency when designing future print products. Treat your typography the same way by uploading a custom font with your Canva Pro subscription.

Design Considerations

• Leave enough white space for mailing information and postal requirements. Always include your return address as well.
• Use high-contrast colour combinations for readability.
• Avoid placing important elements near the edges to account for trimming.
• Fill white space with your tagline or slogan to add flair (optional).

Step 5: Prep Your File For Printing

Now that your design is complete, it’s time to convert and download your envelope into a print-ready format. This is a crucial step to help avoid misalignment, trimming issues or resolution problems.

Here’s a quick checklist of how to prep your file for printing:

1. Use bleed: As mentioned earlier, be sure your background and design elements are extended at least 0.125” beyond the edge to ensure they aren’t cut off during trimming.
2. Safe margins: Keep your key elements (logos, addresses, etc.) at least 0.25” inside the trim line.
3. Double check resolution: Ensure all graphics are at least 300 dpi for sharp printing.
4. Download in high quality:
   1. Click “Share”, “Download”.
   2. Choose “PDF Print” for file type.
   3. Check “Crop marks and bleeds”.
   4. Change the colour profile from RGB to CMYK—you will need a Canva Pro account for this.

Once your print-friendly PDF is ready, double check spelling, alignment and spacing before submitting your file to your printer. Mistakes on envelopes can be costly to fix after printing.

Step 6: Adding The Final Touches

A well-designed envelope can lose its impact if it’s printed on flimsy or unprofessional paper, which is why it’s important to understand paper weight and know your finish options.

Paper Weight

Standard 24 lb. paper is great for everyday use and is affordable but not super impressive. 28-32 lb. paper has a more premium feel—perfect for branded envelopes. For marketing materials or a high-end envelope, use a heavier 80-100 lb. cover stock.

Finish Options

There are many finish options to choose from as well. A matte finish is smooth and non-reflective and will give your envelopes a professional and modern look. If you want a shiny surface, go with a glossy finish—great for marketing or colourful designs. For a more luxurious feel, a soft-touch or laminate finish is perfect for high-value clients or premium brands. If none of these options fit your brand, leave it uncoated for a natural, textured feel that’s easy to write on.

Step 7: Place Your Envelope Order With Little Rock

We always recommend having a professional print shop, like Little Rock, bring your print products to life—including your envelope order. We have a variety of envelope sizes, offer colour or black-and-white printing and can handle both small and large order sizes within the timeline of your choice. You can also order a free proof of your order using “FREEPROOF” at checkout to ensure your envelopes are exactly how you want them before placing a large order.

When you’re ready to send us your print-ready PDF, send it here. If you have any questions or concerns about your specific order, contact the Little Rock Printing experts.