Letter Envelopes
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Letter envelopes are an essential office supply for any home or office. These standard, versatile envelopes can be used to mail letters, checks, documents and more. At Staples, you can buy letter size envelopes in bulk in packs of anywhere from 25 to 2,500. Learn about the different types of letter envelopes below.
What Are Letter Envelopes?
A letter envelope is a sealable paper envelope typically measuring 4 ⅛ inches by 9 ½ inches, also known as a #10 envelope. Letter envelopes are not meant to contain thick or heavy objects. Rather, they’re meant to hold paper and other thin, light and flat materials. A letter-size envelope is also often compatible with a printer for those who want to print addresses rather than write them by hand. These #10 envelopes are the perfect size for mailing letters or documents because they are not too small to be accepted by postal services and not too big to require extra postage.
Types of Letter Envelopes
Letter envelopes also come in several different styles, the most common of which are described below.
- Environmentally Friendly Envelopes - These are made from recycled paper and are great for households or businesses that do a lot of mailing to reduce environmental impact.
- Business Envelopes - These envelopes include a clear plastic window for parts of the documents inside to be made visible. These windows have securely gummed closures to ensure that the contents of the envelope stay protected.
- Multi-Colored Envelopes - Letter envelopes come in a variety of color options, including beige, pink, yellow, green, purple and more.
- V-Flap Envelopes - The standard letter envelope is designed with a rectangular adhesive flap, but triangular, or “v-flap,” adhesive flaps are also available and are commonly used with greeting cards and invitations.
- Linen Envelopes - Some letter envelopes come with a linen finish to set your letter apart and add an elegant touch.
How Do I Mail a Letter Envelope?
Here are the steps needed to mail a classic #10 letter envelope:
- On the side without the seal, write or print the recipient's address in the middle with a legible pen (pencil marks can dull or rub off in transit). Write the sender’s address in the envelope’s top left corner.
- In the top right corner, you will need to place adequate postage for the envelope to reach its destination.
- With the material you want to send inside the envelope, seal it by adding a light amount of moisture to the adhesive flap. If you don’t prefer to use your tongue, you can use a moist sponge or cotton swab to do this. Alternatively, you can even use tape or glue sticks to seal envelopes. Some letter envelope varieties are self-seal or peel-and-seal and are able to seal on their own without needing added moisture.
- Place the envelope in a USPS mailbox or bring it to a post office.