Envelopes Price Comparison
Compare 275 envelopes from Blake, Clairefontaine and more. Find the best price across multiple UK retailers, from DL to C4 formats.
Envelopes price comparison UK
Blake dominates this category so thoroughly — accounting for the vast majority of the 275 products listed — that choosing an envelope in 2026 is, for most buyers, really a question of which Blake rather than which brand. That said, the range is genuinely broad: from a pack of 50 everyday DL wallets at just 0 £ to premium padded gusset mailers pushing towards 0 £, there's a meaningful spread that reflects very different use cases.
What strikes us most when analysing the data is the gap between the entry-level packs and the mid-range. The median sits at 0 £, but that figure masks a lot: a pack of 1,000 gummed DL+ mailers and a pack of 50 self-seal C5s can land at similar price points while serving completely different purposes. Volume matters enormously here — the cost per envelope drops sharply once you move into packs of 500 or 1,000, which is why office buyers and mailing houses almost always buy in bulk. If you're sending the occasional letter, a small pack is fine; if you're running regular mail campaigns, the economics strongly favour larger quantities.
Sustainability credentials are increasingly non-negotiable for UK businesses. Blake's "Purely Environmental" line — 100% recycled, FSC-certified — has become a default choice for companies with procurement policies tied to environmental standards. Antalis and Evolve also offer credible eco options, though at a narrower range of formats. For personal use or craft projects, Creativ Company and Clairefontaine bring colour and texture that standard office stock simply doesn't offer.
One practical point worth flagging: gsm matters more than most buyers realise. An 80gsm envelope is fine for a single A4 sheet, but anything thicker risks tearing during Royal Mail's automated sorting. For anything over a few sheets, or for documents you'd rather not have crumpled in transit, 90–100gsm is the sensible baseline. The padded and board-backed options in Blake's Purely Packaging range solve this for bulkier items without the cost of a full jiffy bag.
Prices across retailers can vary more than you'd expect on identical products — comparing offers before buying is genuinely worthwhile, particularly on the larger pack sizes where even a small per-unit difference adds up quickly.
How to Choose the Right Envelopes: Format, Weight and Closure
Blake alone lists over 230 products in this category, which tells you something: envelopes are deceptively varied. The wrong format costs you in postage; the wrong gsm costs you in damaged mail; the wrong closure costs you in processing time. Here's what actually matters.
Format and ISO dimensions
This is the single most important decision. DL (110×220mm) takes a standard A4 sheet folded in thirds — the workhorse of business correspondence. C5 (162×229mm) fits an A4 folded once, ideal for invoices or multi-page documents. C4 (229×324mm) takes a full A4 unfolded — essential for contracts, certificates or anything that mustn't be creased. Go larger (C3, E4) only if you're regularly sending A3 or oversized items, as postage costs rise sharply. Getting the format wrong can result in Royal Mail surcharges or outright refusal at automated sorting — not a risk worth taking on a bulk mailing.
Paper weight (gsm) relative to contents
80gsm is the minimum for a single sheet; it's fine for everyday correspondence but prone to tearing under mechanical sorting if overfilled. 90–100gsm is the sweet spot for most business use — sturdy enough for automated handling, light enough not to push you into a higher postage bracket. 120gsm and above is for premium presentation mailings or board-backed envelopes where rigidity matters. One common mistake: buying 80gsm envelopes for multi-page documents. The seam gives way in transit more often than you'd think.
Closure type for your workflow
Peel and seal (strip-and-press adhesive) is the current standard for volume mailing — fast, reliable, no licking required. Gummed (traditional moisture-activated) is cheaper per unit but slower to process and requires a damp sponge for large runs. Self-seal is sometimes used interchangeably with peel-and-seal but can refer to press-to-seal designs — check the product spec. For machine-insertion environments, confirm compatibility with your franking or inserting equipment before ordering a pallet.
Window or no window
A window envelope eliminates the need to print or write the address separately — the recipient's address shows through from the document inside. This is standard practice for invoices, statements and utility bills. The key is window position: left-aligned windows suit most UK business letter templates, but double-check your document layout before ordering in bulk. Some Blake products offer a DL+ format (114×235mm) with a slightly larger window area, which works better with certain franking machine templates.
Gusset depth for bulky contents
A flat envelope handles up to about 5mm of content comfortably. Beyond that, you need a gusset. 25mm gussets cover most multi-document needs; 50mm suits small catalogues, samples or padded items. Blake's EcoCushion range adds internal padding to the gusset format, which is a genuinely useful hybrid — protective enough for fragile items, still recyclable. Don't try to force thick contents into a flat envelope: the seal fails, the envelope tears, and you've paid postage for something that arrives open.
Pack size and cost per unit
The price difference between a pack of 50 and a pack of 1,000 of the same envelope is dramatic on a per-unit basis. If you send more than a few dozen letters a month, buying in packs of 500 or 1,000 is almost always the right call financially. The caveat: don't over-buy a format you're not sure about. A pallet of the wrong size envelope is an expensive mistake. Start with a smaller pack to verify fit and quality, then scale up.
- Small packs and occasional use (From 0 £ to 0 £) : Mostly small packs (25–50 envelopes) of standard DL or C5 formats. Blake's Purely Everyday range sits here — perfectly adequate for home or light office use. Don't expect premium gsm or eco certification at this end.
- The volume sweet spot (From 0 £ to 0 £) : This is where the best value lies for regular business users. Packs of 250–500 in C4, C5 or DL with self-seal or peel-and-seal closures. Blake's Purely Environmental range is well represented here — recycled stock, solid gsm, sensible pricing.
- Bulk and specialist formats (From 0 £ to 0 £) : Large packs (500–1,000) of standard formats, or smaller packs of specialist products: gusset envelopes, board-backed mailers, window variants. Herlitz products appear in this range. Good for mailing houses or businesses with high monthly volumes.
- High-volume or padded mailers (Over 0 £) : Blake's EcoCushion padded gusset range and very large bulk packs. Justified if you're sending fragile or bulky items regularly. The per-unit cost can still be competitive — it's the upfront outlay that's high. Herlitz also features here at the premium end.
Top products
- Blake Purely Environmental Pocket Self Seal White C4 324×229mm 100gsm (Pack 250) (Blake) : The go-to choice for eco-conscious business buyers sending A4 documents flat. 100gsm is the right weight for automated sorting, and the self-seal closure is fast enough for volume use. Hard to fault at this price point for a pack of 250.
- Blake Purely Everyday White Self Seal Wallet DL 110X220mm 80gsm (Pack 50) (Blake) : The cheapest entry point in the top 15 and genuinely useful for occasional home or office use. The 80gsm weight is a limitation — don't overfill these. Fine for a single folded A4 sheet, nothing more demanding.
- Blake Pocket Self Seal Window White C4 324×229mm 100gsm (Pack 250) (Blake) : Essentially the same spec as the Environmental version but without the recycled credentials — marginally cheaper. A solid workhorse for invoice or statement mailings where the window position suits your template. Check the window alignment before ordering 250.
- Evolve RD7882 envelope DL (110 x 220 mm) White (Evolve) : The only non-Blake product to reach 3 offers, which suggests genuine retailer confidence. A credible alternative for DL format buyers who want to diversify away from a single supplier. Less range than Blake, but worth comparing on price.
- Blake Purely Packaging EcoCushion Gusset Pocket Peel and Seal E4 400x280x50mm (Pack 100) (Blake) : The most expensive product in the top 15 and the most specialised. The 50mm gusset and E4 format make it the right tool for sending catalogues, samples or padded items — but overkill for standard correspondence. Fully recyclable, which justifies the premium for sustainability-focused buyers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between C4, C5 and DL envelopes?
DL (110×220mm) fits an A4 sheet folded into thirds; C5 (162×229mm) fits an A4 folded in half; C4 (229×324mm) fits a full unfolded A4 sheet. These are the three formats you'll use for the vast majority of business correspondence. DL is the most common for letters and invoices; C4 is essential when you need to send documents flat — contracts, certificates, anything that shouldn't be creased.
Is 80gsm heavy enough for business envelopes?
For a single sheet, yes — 80gsm is adequate. For anything thicker, or for envelopes going through automated Royal Mail sorting at volume, 90–100gsm is the safer choice. The seams on 80gsm envelopes can give way under mechanical handling if overfilled, which means damaged mail and potential postage wasted. Most of Blake's standard business range sits at 90–100gsm for exactly this reason.
Are self-seal and peel-and-seal the same thing?
Not always — and the distinction matters. Peel-and-seal has a protective strip you peel away to expose a permanent adhesive; it's fast, reliable and the current standard for volume mailing. Self-seal sometimes refers to a press-to-close design that doesn't require moisture, but the term is used inconsistently across manufacturers. Always check the product description rather than assuming — especially if you're using an envelope inserting machine, where the wrong closure type can cause jams.
What does 'Purely Environmental' mean on Blake envelopes?
Blake's Purely Environmental range is made from 100% recycled paper and is FSC-certified, meaning the fibre content is traceable to responsibly managed sources. For UK businesses with sustainability procurement policies — increasingly common since the introduction of stricter environmental reporting requirements — this certification provides the paper trail needed for compliance. The quality is comparable to standard stock; there's no meaningful performance trade-off.
Should I avoid buying envelopes in bulk if I'm not sure about the format?
Yes — always test a small pack first. Buying 1,000 envelopes of the wrong size or with an incompatible window position is a costly mistake that's difficult to reverse. Order a pack of 50 or 100 to verify the format works with your documents and franking setup, then scale up. The per-unit savings on bulk packs are real, but only if you've confirmed the product is right for your needs.
Do window envelopes cost significantly more than plain ones?
The price difference is modest — typically a small premium over equivalent plain envelopes at the same gsm and pack size. For businesses sending invoices or statements at volume, the time saved by not printing or writing addresses separately far outweighs the cost difference. The main thing to check is window position: left-aligned is standard for UK business templates, but confirm against your document layout before ordering in bulk.
Are padded envelopes worth it, or should I just use a jiffy bag?
For lightweight fragile items — photos, thin electronics, jewellery — a padded envelope is often cheaper and lighter than a jiffy bag, which matters for postage. Blake's EcoCushion gusset range is a strong option here: it combines padding with a gusset for bulkier items and is fully recyclable, which jiffy bags typically aren't. For heavier or irregularly shaped items, a proper padded bag or box is still the better call.