Flyer · ISO A-series
A4 flyer
A4 (210 × 297 mm) is the most widely used flyer size internationally. It fits standard letter-rate envelopes, racks and magazine inserts. With 3 mm of bleed the export size becomes 216 × 303 mm.
Trim, bleed and safe area
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 210 | 297 |
| Centimetres (cm) | 21 | 29.7 |
| Inches (in) | 8.268 | 11.693 |
| Pixels @ 72 DPI | 595 | 842 |
| Pixels @ 96 DPI | 794 | 1,123 |
| Pixels @ 150 DPI | 1,240 | 1,754 |
| Pixels @ 200 DPI | 1,654 | 2,339 |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 2,480 | 3,508 |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 4,961 | 7,016 |
A4 — 210 × 297 mm
Common use cases
- · Event flyers and gig posters (handed out, not pasted)
- · Restaurant menu inserts
- · Retail promotional sheets
- · Real-estate property sheets
- · Conference handouts and one-pagers
Designing for scan-and-go
Most flyers are looked at for under three seconds before the reader decides whether to keep or discard them. Lead with one headline and one image; everything else is supporting detail. The headline should be readable from 1 metre away — that means at least 28 pt for a single line, or 36 pt+ for a multi-line title.
Preparing the print file
Export a PDF at 216 × 303 mm with crop marks, 300 DPI effective images, embedded or outlined fonts. PDF/X-1a is the most widely accepted press format; many workflows also take PDF/X-4. For folded jobs, supply the fold as pages in reading order plus the printer’s fold template — never pre-rotate panels yourself.
Grammage guide: 130–170 gsm for handout flyers, 170–250 gsm once the piece must stand in a rack or survive a mailbox. Below 130 gsm, double-sided ink coverage shadows through.
Frequently asked questions
Why is A4 a popular flyer size?
A4 fits in standard racks, magazines, folders and noticeboards. It is large enough to carry a substantial message but small enough to print cheaply on any modern press. Print shops can run thousands of A4 flyers in a single pass.
How much bleed should an A4 flyer have?
The standard is 3 mm of bleed on every side, giving an export size of 216 × 303 mm. The trim line stays at 210 × 297 mm.
Where should I keep important content?
Inside a safe area 5 mm in from the trim line — 200 × 287 mm of usable space. The corners and edges of an A4 flyer often get nicked or curled in transit; pulling content inward gives the design tolerance.
What paper weight makes a good flyer?
130–170 gsm gloss or silk for mass-distribution flyers. 250–300 gsm for premium handouts that need to feel substantial. Anything below 100 gsm reads as office paper rather than a printed flyer.
Single-sided or double-sided?
Double-sided printing only adds about 30% to the cost in most printers and effectively doubles your design area. Unless the back is intentionally blank for note-taking, double-sided is usually the better value.
What pixel size is a print-ready A4 flyer?
With 3 mm bleed the artwork is 216 × 303 mm — 2551 × 3579 pixels at 300 DPI. Trim-only is 2480 × 3508 px. Poster-duty A4 (pinned to a wall, read from a metre or two) survives 150 DPI, but handheld flyers are inspected up close — stay at 300.
Which fold should an A4 flyer use?
Half-fold gives a 4-page A5 booklet feel — good for programmes and menus. Tri-fold (roll fold at 99/99/99 mm panels) produces the classic rack card that drops into a DL envelope for mailing. Set panel guides before designing: on a tri-fold, the panel that folds inward is usually 2–3 mm narrower so the edges nest cleanly — ask the printer for their fold template.
When does an A4 flyer become an A4 poster?
When it goes on a wall. The layout rules flip: headlines jump to 36 pt or larger, body text becomes optional, and the safe area matters less than a strong focal image. If both uses matter, design the wall version first — shrinking drama is easier than adding it.