Wedding Invitation Sizes & Formats (Standard Dimensions)

Q: What is the standard size for a wedding invitation?

The standard wedding invitation size is 5 by 7 inches, often called A7. It is the default for good reasons: it fits a full invitation comfortably without crowding, it pairs with the widely available A7 envelope, and it sits at a familiar, formal proportion that photographs and displays well. Most templates, envelopes and printers are built around 5 by 7, which makes it the easiest and most economical choice.

Q: What size is a wedding RSVP card?

A wedding RSVP card is typically 4.25 by 5.5 inches, the A2 size, which is roughly a quarter of a standard sheet and matches the A2 envelope. This smaller card is large enough for a reply line, a meal choice and a by-date, yet small enough to tuck neatly behind the main invitation in the suite. Smaller postcard-style RSVPs around 3.5 by 5 inches are also common to save on return postage.

Q: Do square wedding invitations cost more to mail?

Yes. Square envelopes cannot run through the automated sorting machines that handle standard rectangular mail, so postal services apply a non-machinable surcharge on top of the regular rate, regardless of weight. A square invitation looks distinctive and modern, but budget for that surcharge and weigh a finished one before buying stamps so you are not caught short at the mailbox.

Q: What is bleed on a wedding invitation?

Bleed is a small margin of extra artwork, usually about an eighth of an inch, that extends past the final trim line on every edge. It exists because cutting machines vary slightly, and the bleed guarantees that a background colour or pattern runs all the way to the edge with no white slivers after trimming. Keep important text inside a safe margin away from the trim, and add bleed if your design has colour or a pattern reaching the edges.

By Mustafa Bilgic · Last updated 20 June 2026

Before you design anything, it helps to know the handful of sizes the whole wedding-stationery world is built around. Pick a standard one and envelopes, printers and templates all just work. Here are the dimensions that matter, why 5×7 rules, and the print basics that keep your edges clean.

The short answer: The default wedding invitation is 5×7 inches (A7) — it fits everything, pairs with a common envelope, and looks formal. RSVP cards are usually 4.25×5.5 in (A2). Other standards include A6, 4×9.25 (slim), square, and folded or pocket-fold formats. Match each card to its named envelope, and if your design has colour or a pattern running to the edge, add about ⅛ inch of bleed and keep text in a safe margin. This site's editor exports a print-ready 5×7.

Standard sizes & their matching envelopes

Stationery sizes follow a lettered system (A2, A6, A7…) where each card has an envelope made to fit it with a little breathing room. Use this table to choose a size and immediately know which envelope to buy. Dimensions are in inches, width × height.

Format / size name	Dimensions (in)	Typical use	Matching envelope
5×7 — A7 (the classic)	5 × 7	Main invitation — the default	A7 envelope (fits a 5×7 card)
4.25×5.5 — A2	4.25 × 5.5	RSVP card; small enclosure	A2 envelope
4.5×6.25 — A6	4.5 × 6.25	Details / reception card; smaller invitation	A6 envelope
Slim / menu	4 × 9.25	Tall invitation or details card; mails in a #10-style envelope	A9 or #10 (slim) envelope
Square	5.25 × 5.25 (or 5.5×5.5)	Modern, distinctive invitation	Square envelope (adds postage surcharge)
Folded (flat-folded)	5×7 folded (from a 10×7 or 7×10 sheet)	More interior space; fewer enclosures needed	A7 envelope
Pocket-fold	~5×7 with a built-in sleeve	Holds RSVP + detail cards together in one piece	Outer envelope sized to the pocket (often A7.5)

The big takeaway: choose a standard size and the matching envelope is a solved problem. Go off-standard and you'll spend time (and money) sourcing custom envelopes — and risk the postage surprises in our postage guide.

Why 5×7 is the default

Five by seven inches isn't an accident — it's the size everything else is built to accommodate:

It fits a full invitation — host line, names, date, venue and a reception line — without crowding or shrinking the type.
Envelopes are everywhere. A7 envelopes are stocked by every supplier in every colour, so you're never hunting.
Printers expect it. Templates, print shops and home printers all default to it, which keeps cost down and avoids setup headaches.
It just looks right. The proportion reads as formal and photographs beautifully — it's the size guests subconsciously associate with "wedding invitation."

Unless you have a specific reason to go square or slim, 5×7 is the safe, economical, handsome choice. It's exactly what our editor exports.

Flat vs. folded vs. pocket-fold

Size is one decision; format is the other. The three you'll choose between:

Flat card. A single card printed on one or both sides. The most common, cheapest and lightest option — ideal when you're keeping the suite lean and pairing it with separate insert cards.
Folded. A larger sheet folded in half (or as a gatefold), giving interior panels for extra information without separate enclosures. More elegant and roomy, but it costs more, weighs more, and may need extra postage.
Pocket-fold. A folder with a built-in sleeve that holds the RSVP and detail cards together as one tidy package. Great for destination weddings with lots of inserts; it's the heaviest and priciest format, so weigh one before buying stamps.

Square looks great — just budget for it

A square invitation feels modern and stands out in a stack of rectangles. The catch is mailing: square envelopes can't run through automated sorting machines, so they carry a non-machinable surcharge on top of the regular rate, no matter how light they are. If you love the square look, go for it — just weigh a finished one and buy the right postage. Our postage guide spells out the surcharge and how to avoid "insufficient postage" returns.

Trim & bleed basics for printing

If you're printing a design that has a background colour or pattern reaching the edges, two print terms matter:

Trim line. The final cut size — e.g. 5×7. It's where the blade lands.
Bleed. A small margin of extra artwork (about ⅛ inch / 0.125″) extending past the trim on every edge. Cutting machines drift a hair; bleed guarantees the colour runs fully to the edge with no white slivers after trimming. So a 5×7 with bleed is designed at roughly 5.25×7.25, then cut down.
Safe margin. Keep names, dates and any important text at least ⅛–¼ inch inside the trim, so nothing gets clipped if the cut shifts.

If your invitation has clean white borders and no edge-to-edge colour, you can skip bleed entirely — there's nothing to run off the edge. Only edge-bleeding designs need it.

Print-ready 5×7, straight from the editor

You don't have to manage any of this by hand. Our editor outputs a clean, print-ready 5×7 invitation as a high-resolution PNG, ready for home printing or a print shop, and sized to drop straight into a standard A7 envelope. Design it, download it, print it — no setup, no software, no sign-up. New to printing your own? Our DIY invitations guide walks through paper and printing choices.

Design a print-ready 5×7 now

Start from the standard size everything fits and skip the math. Build your invitation free, choose your fonts and colours, and download a print-ready 5×7 PNG that matches a common envelope. No sign-up.

Open the free editor →

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard size for a wedding invitation?

5 by 7 inches, often called A7. It's the default because it fits a full invitation without crowding, pairs with the widely available A7 envelope, and reads as formal. Most templates, envelopes and printers are built around 5×7, making it the easiest and most economical choice.

What size is a wedding RSVP card?

Usually 4.25 by 5.5 inches (A2), about a quarter sheet, matched to the A2 envelope. It's big enough for a reply line, meal choice and a by-date, yet small enough to tuck behind the invitation. Smaller postcard-style RSVPs around 3.5×5 are also common to save return postage.

What is the difference between a flat and a folded wedding invitation?

A flat invitation is a single card printed on one or both sides — the most common, economical and lightweight format. A folded invitation is a larger sheet folded in half or in gates, giving interior space for extra information, but it costs and weighs more. A pocket-fold adds a sleeve that holds the RSVP and detail cards.

Do square wedding invitations cost more to mail?

Yes. Square envelopes can't run through automated sorting machines, so postal services add a non-machinable surcharge on top of the regular rate, regardless of weight. They look distinctive and modern — just budget for the surcharge and weigh a finished one before buying stamps.

What is bleed on a wedding invitation?

Bleed is a small margin of extra artwork, about an eighth of an inch, that extends past the final trim line on every edge. Because cutting machines vary slightly, bleed guarantees a background colour or pattern runs fully to the edge with no white slivers. Keep important text in a safe margin inside the trim.