Printing Planet UK
Business stationery is often the first physical impression a client has of a company. A well-printed letterhead or compliment slip signals that a business takes its brand seriously. Here is a practical guide to the main stationery items and how to choose materials and finishes correctly.
What Business Stationery Includes
Letterheads: A4 sheets printed with the company name, logo, address, phone number and website at the top (and sometimes footer). Used for formal correspondence, proposals and invoices. Typically 100 to 120gsm uncoated paper so they can be printed on by office printers or laser printers after the letterhead design is applied.
Compliment slips: One-third A4 size (DL size: 210 x 99mm), printed with branding and a short compliments line. Slipped into envelopes alongside deliveries, samples or documents. Inexpensive to produce in quantities of 500 to 1000.
Envelopes: DL and C5 sizes most common. Branded envelopes with a logo or return address can be printed digitally or with a window cut for the address to show through.
NCR pads (carbonless copy paper): Two or three-part pads that transfer writing to duplicate or triplicate copies without carbon paper. Used for delivery notes, invoices in the field and work orders. Usually A5 or A4.
Notepads: Branded notepads for client meetings, events or office use. Usually 50 sheets with a backing board and glued head.
Why Consistency Matters
Stationery printed at different times by different suppliers often does not match in colour. The PMS or CMYK values for brand colours must be consistent across letterheads, compliment slips and envelopes. Ordering all stationery in a single run from one supplier is the most reliable way to maintain colour consistency.
Paper Weight Guide
| Item | Recommended Weight | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Letterhead | 100 to 120gsm | Must feed through office printers |
| Compliment slip | 120 to 150gsm | Slightly stiffer than letterhead |
| Notepad | 80 to 90gsm | Standard writing paper weight |
| NCR pad | 55 to 70gsm | Multi-part transfer paper |
| Envelope | 90 to 100gsm | Standard envelope stock |
Finish Choices
Letterheads and compliment slips are generally uncoated or silk, as the surface must accept writing and additional printing. Gloss finishes are inappropriate for letterheads that need to be overprinted by an office printer.
Business cards are a separate category but are often ordered alongside stationery. These benefit from heavier stock (350 to 400gsm) and can use gloss, matt, soft-touch or spot-UV finishes.
Digital vs Offset Printing
Digital printing suits short runs (under 250 units) with fast turnaround and no setup costs. Colour consistency across a short run is very good with modern digital presses.
Offset printing suits longer runs (500 plus) where consistent colour matching across thousands of sheets is important. Setup costs exist but unit price drops significantly at volume.
For pricing and turnaround, visit the stationery service page.