Picking a flyer size looks like a technical question. It is really a strategy question. The right size depends on how you plan to hand the flyer out, how much you need to say, and what you want to spend. Get those three right and the dimensions sort themselves out.
This guide walks through how to choose. If you just want the exact measurements for each size, the flyer size guide lists every standard option in millimetres.
Start with how you will distribute it
Distribution decides more about size than anything else. Before you think about design, picture how the flyer reaches a person.
- Letterbox drops. DL and A6 work best. They are small, cheap to print in bulk, and fit letterboxes without folding. A large flyer in a letterbox campaign wastes paper and money.
- Handouts on the street or at events. DL and A5 are easy to hold, easy to pocket, and cheap enough to give away in volume.
- Counter and display flyers. A5 and A4 hold their own on a counter or in a stand and carry more detail for someone who stops to read.
- Direct mail. DL fits standard envelopes, which keeps postage simple and costs down.
- Bag inserts and goody bags. A6 and DL slip in without dominating the bag, which suits event giveaways and retail packaging.
- Noticeboards and windows. A4 reads from a step or two back, which matters when people walk past rather than pick it up.
Once you know the channel, the size shortlist is usually down to one or two options already.
Match the size to your message
How much you need to say sets a floor on size.
A single offer with one image and a call to action fits comfortably on a DL or A6. A menu, a program, or a list of services needs the room an A5 or A4 gives you. Cramming a full page of detail onto a DL makes the type too small to read, and stretching one line across an A4 leaves it looking empty. Write the copy first, then choose the size that carries it without crowding or waste.
A useful test: if you can say it in a headline, an image and a line of detail, stay small. If the reader needs to compare options, read a menu, or follow steps, size up.
Portrait or landscape
Orientation is part of the size choice, and it changes how the flyer reads. Portrait is the default for most flyers because the eye moves top to bottom, which suits a headline, an image and a call to action stacked in order. It also sits naturally in the hand and in most stands.
Landscape suits flyers built around a wide image, a timeline, or a before-and-after layout, and it stands out on a counter precisely because it breaks the usual portrait shape. Choose it when the design needs the horizontal room, not by default.
One side or two
You do not always need a bigger flyer. A second side often solves a space problem more cheaply than going up a size. Print the offer and the hook on the front, and put detail, a map, terms or a menu on the back. A double-sided DL can carry as much as a single-sided A5 while staying cheaper to post and hand out. Keep it to one side only when the message is a single, simple offer that needs no supporting detail.
Weigh size against budget and quantity
Smaller flyers cost less per copy, so the same budget buys more of them. For a letterbox drop where reach is the goal, that trade favours DL or A6. When the flyer needs to do more work per copy, such as a counter flyer that has to sell a service on its own, a larger size can be worth the higher unit cost because you are printing fewer of them.
Finishing choices move the budget too. Lamination and folding add a step to every copy, so decide whether they earn their place before you approve a quantity. A gloss laminate can lift a premium handout, but it rarely pays off on a disposable letterbox flyer.
Real campaigns, real choices
The theory is easier to trust with examples.
A cafe launching a new brunch menu wants something on the tables and something to hand out. Small A6 cards work as table talkers, and DL flyers suit the counter and nearby foot traffic. Both are cheap enough to reprint when the menu changes.
A gym running a membership drive plans a letterbox campaign across a few suburbs. Reach is everything, and the message is one strong offer. DL at high volume gives the most flyers for the budget and lands in every letterbox without folding.
A real estate agent promoting an open house needs photos, a floor plan and the key details in a reader’s hand. A5, printed double-sided, gives room for the images and the detail while staying easy to hand over at the door.
A market stall handing out flyers all weekend wants something light and pocketable that people will actually keep. A6 does the job, costs little in volume, and fits in a bag or back pocket without being folded and forgotten.
Quick recommendations by use case
| Use case | Suggested size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Letterbox drop | DL or A6 | Cheap in bulk, fits letterboxes, high reach |
| Street or event handout | DL or A5 | Easy to hold and pocket, affordable in volume |
| Counter or display flyer | A5 or A4 | Room for detail, holds up in a stand |
| Direct mail | DL | Fits standard envelopes, simple postage |
| Bag insert or giveaway | A6 or DL | Slips in without dominating the bag |
| Window or noticeboard | A4 | Readable from a distance |
Treat these as starting points rather than rules. A boutique handing out a small, premium-feeling card may prefer A6 where the table suggests DL, and that is a fine call to make for the brand.
A quick decision checklist
Run through these five questions and the size usually picks itself:
- How will people receive it: letterbox, handout, display or mail?
- How much do you need to say: one offer, or full detail?
- How many do you need, and what is the budget?
- One side, or two sides to fit the detail without sizing up?
- Portrait, or does the design genuinely need landscape?
The common flyer sizes at a glance
Australian flyers usually come in DL, A6, A5 and A4. DL is the tall, narrow one that suits letterboxes and envelopes. A6 is postcard-sized. A5 is half an A4 and the popular all-rounder. A4 is full page, for detail and display. For the exact width and height of each, see the flyer size guide, and once you know the size you need, browse flyer printing options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular flyer size in Australia?
A5 is the common all-rounder. It is large enough to carry a decent amount of detail, small enough to hand out and mail affordably, and it suits both letterbox drops and counter displays.
What size flyer is best for a letterbox drop?
DL or A6. Both are inexpensive to print in the quantities a drop needs, and both fit letterboxes without folding, which keeps the campaign cheap and simple.
Is a bigger flyer more effective?
Not on its own. A larger flyer suits jobs with more to say or flyers meant to be read from a distance. For high-volume handouts and drops, a smaller size usually gives better value because you can print and distribute more of them.
Should a flyer be portrait or landscape?
Portrait suits most flyers, since the eye reads top to bottom and it sits well in the hand. Choose landscape only when the design is built around a wide image or layout that needs the horizontal room.
Is double-sided printing worth it?
Often, yes. A second side lets you add detail, a map or a menu without moving up a size, which usually costs less than printing larger. Stick to one side only for a single, simple offer.
Can I print a custom flyer size?
Often, yes, though custom sizes can cost more and use paper less efficiently than standard formats. Unless you have a specific reason, a standard size is usually the cheaper and simpler choice.
How do I know which size fits my budget?
Work backwards from quantity. Decide how many you need to distribute, then pick the size that reaches that number within your budget. Smaller sizes stretch the same spend further.
Get help choosing your flyer
If you are still weighing sizes for a campaign, DTPS can talk through what suits your message, distribution and budget, then print it. Get a quote with the details and we will point you to the right option.
