Presentation folder sizes: 9 × 12 in pocket folders
The standard presentation folder is 9 × 12 in closed, which holds letter and A4 sheets with a little room to spare, with two pockets about 4 in deep inside and a slit for a business card on one or both. Legal folders are 9 × 14.5 in, and A4 folders are about 220 × 310 mm closed, varying by maker. The print file is the flat die, covers and pockets in one piece, and its size and shape differ between printers, so place the artwork on the printer’s die template. One 9 × 12 in cover is 2700 × 3600 pixels at 300 ppi.
Presentation folder sizes: dimensions and pixels
| Size | Inches | Millimeters | Pixels at 300 ppi | Notes and template |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, closed | 9 × 12 in | 228.6 × 304.8 mm | 2,700 × 3,600 px | Holds letter and A4 |
| Legal, closed | 9 × 14.5 in | 228.6 × 368.3 mm | 2,700 × 4,350 px | Holds legal |
| A4, closed (typical) | 8.66 × 12.2 in | 220 × 310 mm | 2,598 × 3,661 px | About 217–225 × 305–315 mm by maker |
| Pocket of a 9 × 12 in folder | 9 × 4 in | 228.6 × 101.6 mm | 2,700 × 1,200 px | Depth varies by die |
| Business card for the slits | 3.5 × 2 in | 88.9 × 50.8 mm | 1,050 × 600 px | Slits are cut to hold this |
The flat die
A pocket folder is printed as one flat sheet and then die cut, scored, folded and glued. The two covers sit side by side (18 × 12 in for a 9 × 12 in folder), the pocket flaps hang off the bottom and fold up over the inside, and glue tabs at the pocket ends hold them shut, so the flat die is around 18 × 16 in or more. Pocket depth and shape (straight, angled or curved), tab positions and capacity spines for thicker contents all differ between printers’ dies, so there is no single flat size to design to. Download the printer’s template before you start, and keep its die line on its own non-printing layer: see setting up a dieline.
The pocket faces usually print on the same side of the sheet as the outside covers, upside down, because they fold up over the inside; the template shows which way each panel faces. Run backgrounds 0.125 in past every cut edge, the pocket flaps and tabs included, and keep type at least 0.25 in from every score and fold.
Pockets, slits and what goes inside
A 9 × 12 in folder leaves about 0.5 in of width and 1 in of height around a letter sheet, and A4 fits too; legal documents need the 9 × 14.5 in size. Inserts printed for a folder are often stepped, each sheet a little shorter than the one behind it, so their headings show above the pocket.
Business card slits are cut by the die, usually in the inside right pocket, as two cuts that hold the corners of a 3.5 × 2 in card. Many printers offer them on both pockets, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, but the positions are fixed by the die, so keep artwork that matters out of the card’s corner area. Folders are printed on heavy cover stock, typically 14 pt or 16 pt; the matching cards and letterhead are in business card sizes and letterhead sizes.
Questions
- What size is a standard presentation folder?
- 9 × 12 in closed, with two pockets about 4 in deep, which holds letter (8.5 × 11 in) and A4 sheets. A legal folder is 9 × 14.5 in, and an A4 folder is about 220 × 310 mm, depending on the maker.
- What is the flat size of a 9 × 12 folder?
- It depends on the printer’s die. The two covers alone are 18 × 12 in flat, and the pocket flaps and glue tabs add to that, so a flat die is around 18 × 16 in or more. Use your printer’s template rather than drawing your own.
- What size is a presentation folder in pixels?
- One 9 × 12 in cover is 2700 × 3600 pixels at 300 ppi, and the two covers side by side 5400 × 3600. An A4 folder cover (220 × 310 mm) is 2598 × 3661 pixels. Photos only need that resolution over the area they cover; type and logos should be vector.
- Where do the business card slits go?
- Usually on the inside right pocket, sized for a 3.5 × 2 in card; many printers offer them on both pockets. The die sets their position, so place artwork around the slits shown on the printer’s template.
If the printer sends the file back
Terms on this page: Dieline, Die cut (die cutting), Scoring (creasing), Bleed, Safe area (safe zone), GSM (paper weight).
More print sizes, or all of them on one page:
Cards, paper and stationery: Business card · Postcard · Paper · Envelope · Letterhead · Greeting card
Flyers, brochures and handouts: Flyer · Brochure · Rack card · Door hanger · Menu · Table tent · Bookmark
Stickers, labels and tags: Sticker · Label · Hang tag
Bottle, can and jar labels: Wine label · Beer label · Water bottle label · Candle label · Jar label
Boxes and packaging: Mailer box · Shipping box · Tuck box · Stand-up pouch · Pizza box
Posters, books and calendars: Poster · Book · Calendar
Signs, billboards and vehicles: Banner · Yard sign · Car magnet · Billboard
T-shirts and apparel: T-shirt
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