C5 Envelope vs. DL Envelope
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
The C5 envelope is an ISO 269 standard postal envelope measuring 162 × 229 mm (6.38 × 9.02 inches). Designed to enclose an A4 sheet folded once in half (V-fold) or an unfolded flat A5 document (148 × 210 mm), it is standard for greeting cards, invitations, company invoices, and small paperback book shipments.
The DL envelope (Dimension Lengthwise / DIN Lang, standardized under ISO 269 and DIN 678) measures 110 × 220 mm (4.33 × 8.66 inches). Engineered specifically to hold an A4 sheet folded horizontally in thirds (Z-fold or C-fold), it is the dominant standard across Europe and most of the world for automated corporate billing, bank statements, and commercial direct-mail advertising.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Width × Height (Metric)
|
162 × 229 mm | 110 × 220 mm |
|
Width × Height (Imperial)
|
6.38 × 9.02 in | 4.33 × 8.66 in |
|
Target Paper Pairing
|
A4 folded in half (148 × 210 mm) or flat unfolded A5 stationery | Standard A4 sheet folded in thirds horizontally (99 × 210 mm) |
|
Paper Insertion Clearance
|
+14 mm width / +19 mm height clearance | +11 mm height / +10 mm width clearance |
|
Geometric Mean Origin
|
Geometric mean of A5 (148×210 mm) and B5 (176×250 mm) | — |
|
Window Options
|
Standard left-hand or right-hand clear address window (45 × 90 mm) | — |
|
Primary Applications
|
Greeting cards, event invitations, invoices, corporate brochures | — |
|
Address Window Position
|
— | Standard DIN window: 45 × 90 mm, located 20 mm from left, 15 mm from bottom |
|
Automated Insertion Standard
|
— | High-speed optical inserter machine standard (thousands of pieces/hour) |
|
Comparison to US #10
|
— | DL is 110 × 220 mm; US #10 is 4.125 × 9.5 in (104.8 × 241.3 mm) |