The standard wedding stationery sizes
Most wedding stationery is built around a handful of sizes, each with a matching envelope. This table follows our guide to wedding invitation sizes and formats:
| Size | Inches | Typical use | Envelope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 7 (A7) | 5 x 7 | Main invitation | A7 |
| A2 | 4.25 x 5.5 | RSVP card, small enclosure | A2 |
| A6 card | 4.5 x 6.25 | Details or reception card | A6 |
| Slim | 4 x 9.25 | Tall invitation, menu or program | A9 or #10 |
| Square | 5.25 x 5.25 | Modern invitation | Square (extra postage) |
Pick a size in the tool above to see it to scale, with its envelope behind it, the pixel size you need for printing and the postage class it falls into.
Trim, bleed and the safe area
If your design has color or a pattern running to the edge, add bleed: about 1/8 in of extra artwork past the cut line on every side, so a 5 x 7 card is designed at 5.25 x 7.25 in and trimmed down. Keep names, dates and other important text at least 1/8 to 1/4 in inside the cut, the safe area, so nothing is clipped if the blade drifts. A design with a plain white border needs no bleed at all.
How size and shape change the postage
The USPS Domestic Mail Manual, section 101 sets the rules the tool applies, and the prices come from the USPS Notice 123 price list (the same figures as our postage calculator):
- Postcards. A single rectangular card from 3.5 to 4.25 in high, 5 to 6 in long and 0.007 to 0.016 in thick mails at the card price, $0.65 with a stamp.
- Letters. An envelope from 3.5 x 5 in up to 6.125 x 11.5 in, no more than 1/4 in thick and up to 3.5 oz, mails as a letter: $0.82 for the first ounce and $0.29 for each extra ounce.
- Nonmachinable letters. If the envelope's length divided by its height is below 1.3 or above 2.5, as with a square envelope, or if the piece is rigid or lumpy, add the $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge.
- Large envelopes. Anything bigger than the letter limits pays flat prices; weigh it at the post office.
Weight matters as much as size: a full suite with an RSVP card, its envelope and a details card often passes one ounce. Weigh one assembled invitation before you buy stamps.
Pixels for printing
Print shops usually ask for 300 dots per inch. Multiply each side in inches by 300: a 5 x 7 card needs 1500 x 2100 pixels, or 1575 x 2175 with bleed. The maker on this site exports at exactly that resolution when you choose the 3x print setting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard wedding invitation size?
5 x 7 inches, often called A7. It fits a full invitation without crowding, pairs with the widely available A7 envelope and is what most templates and printers expect.
What is bleed on a printed invitation?
Bleed is about 1/8 in of extra artwork past the cut line on every side, so edge-to-edge color has no white slivers after trimming. A 5 x 7 card with bleed is designed at 5.25 x 7.25 in.
Do square invitations cost more to mail?
Yes. USPS treats letters whose length divided by height is below 1.3 as nonmachinable, so a square envelope pays a $0.49 surcharge on top of the letter price, according to the USPS Domestic Mail Manual and the Notice 123 price list.
Can a 4 x 6 card mail as a postcard?
Yes, if it is a single rectangular card on card stock between 0.007 and 0.016 in thick, mailed without an envelope. USPS card limits are 3.5 to 4.25 in high and 5 to 6 in long, and the stamped card price is $0.65.
What resolution do I need to print a 5 x 7 invitation?
At 300 dpi, a 5 x 7 card needs 1500 x 2100 pixels, or 1575 x 2175 pixels with bleed. The maker's 3x print setting exports at that resolution.